Students on this year's team hail from West to East valleys, Zillah, Selah and White Swan. They come from public, private and home schools, and they're charged with serving as the eyes and ears of their campuses, communities and generation. They document issues and ideas, events, people, places and things that are important to today's young people.
Their stories, columns, reviews, photographs and works of art appear weekly in Unleashed, the youth section of the Yakima Herald-Republic. Published Tuesdays, the section is now in its eighth year.
And it belongs to this group of students until another team is selected just before school's out next spring.
Alyssa Patrick, student editor
School/year in school/age: Eisenhower, junior, 16.
Subject: U.S. government.
Interests/activities: Drama, writing, spending time with friends and family, ballet, reading, leadership, talking, listening to John and loving life.
Food: Almost any flavor ice cream.
Musicians or bands: John Mayer, Corrine Bailey Rae, Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, The Fray, Counting Crows and Queen.
Films: "Freedom Writers," "Benny and Joon," "Chocolat" and "The Pursuit of Happyness." Books: "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury and "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd.
If you could leave tonight on an all-expense paid trip to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? I would go to Uganda to assist those who are working on the Invisible Children project. So many beautiful children are suffering there, and I know I could learn so much from them.
What would you do with $1 million? I would donate a large sum to the Invisible Children project. The rest I would use to pay for my college tuition, the tuition of my siblings, and tickets to see John Mayer again!
If you could meet anyone -- living or dead -- who would you choose and why? Erin Gruwell. She changed the lives of students who not only had given up on themselves, but everyone else had given up on as well. Her heart and perseverance are truly outstanding.
Who is you hero and why? Lisa Ling. She is the reporter I wish I could be, finding the unheard story, going where no one else will, and risking her life to make America aware of the stories we don't always want to hear.
Biggest fear: The dark, in both its literal and figurative meanings. And time.
Greatest wish: That I can help at least one person to feel the amount of love and support that I am surrounded by every day.
Olivia Hernandez
School/year in school/age: Davis, senior, 17.
Subject: American literature.
Interests/activities: Music and talking and writing and laughing.
Food: Powdered, raspberry-filled donuts.
Musicians: Elliot Smith, among others.
Film: "City of God." Books: Anything by Christopher Moore, Jonathan Safran Foer and -- of course -- Chuck Klosterman, or "The Chuck." Trip: Spain, so I could practice my Spanish (in secret).
$1 million: Go to college and assist a few friends in doing the same.
If you could meet anyone: Chuck Klosterman, again.
Hero: My family. I admire any group of people with the amount of humor and intelligence that they possess.
Biggest fear: Dolls and mannequins.
Greatest wish: To keep the people I care about happy.
Kateri Town
School/year in school/age: La Salle, sophomore, 15.
Subject: Art.
Interests/activities: Photography, reading and (I'm a little sick of) my MySpace addiction. And sleeping is fun, too.
Food: My mom's lasagna.
Music or musicians: I don't think you'd have time to read my entire list, so I'll sum it up: Gorillaz, alternative and classics. I'll try anything but country once!
Films: Another long list, including "Fight Club," "Donnie Darko," "Mean Girls," "Snakes on a Plane" and anything Disney.
Books: The "Harry Potter" series, "Fight Club" by Chuck Palahniuk, "Jurassic Park" by Michael Crichton and "1984" by George Orwell.
Trip: Japan with my brother so he could try out his new language.
$1 million: Help my parents go to Ireland, buy my nephew some toys and buy myself clothes.
If you could meet anyone: My future self, just to see how cool I am.
Hero: My nephew Adrian; he makes me smile and I love seeing him grow up. He truly is an amazing kid.
Biggest fear: Losing my amazing family.
Greatest wish: Happiness.
Alex Bacon
School/year in school/age: Eisenhower, senior, 17.
Subject: English.
Interests/activities: Reading, blogging, finding new music, going to movies with friends, feeding ducks and going to concerts.
Food: Kung Pao duck or anything mint.
Musicians or bands: Panic! at the Disco, AFI, Blue October, The Medic Droid, Saosin, Senses Fail, Fall Out Boy, Rammstein, Styx and kazillions of others.
Films: "Accepted," "V for Vendetta," "Donnie Darko," "The Covenant," "Underworld," the "Harry Potter" movies, "The Incredibles" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen."
Books: The "Harry Potter" series, "Abarat" by Clive Barker, "The Wee Free Men" by Terry Pratchett, "Johnathon Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach and anything by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Tamora Pierce or T.A. Barron.
Trip: The Mall of America for a free shopping spree.
$1 million: Go to college and buy a sweet crib!
If you could meet anyone: The people that built Stonehenge; I want to know why it was built.
Hero: Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day because he uses his position to help people in need.
Biggest fear: Silence.
Greatest wish: To know everything.
Ana Ramirez
School/year in school/age: Davis, junior, 16.
Subject: History.
Interests/activities: Tennis, soccer and basketball.
Food: Enchiladas.
Music or musicians: PXNDX and mostly what comes out new on the radio.
Films: "Spider-Man 3," "The Sandlot" and "The Notebook."
Author: Gary Soto.
Trip: I would go to Spain to look at the buildings and get acquainted with a new culture.
$1 million: Buy a huge house somewhere out of Yakima.
If you could meet anyone: Albert Einstein, to ask why he was so good at math -- and why I'm not so good.
Hero: Frida Kahlo, because she was a powerful Latin woman.
Biggest fear: To fall from a building.
Greatest wish: To be rich and never work for the rest of my life.
Matt Rossow
School/year in school/age: East Valley, senior, 17.
Subjects: Math and history.
Interests/activities: Golf, guitar, hanging out with friends, eating and sleeping.
Food: Chicken.
Bands: Bad Religion, Bon Jovi, Dropkick Murphys, Social Distortion and Van Halen.
Films: "Borat," "Dumb and Dumber" and "Joe Dirt."
Books: "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown and "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger.
Trip: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to worship my idols.
$1 million: Buy a new guitar and amp, then put the rest away to collect interest.
If you could meet anyone: Tiger Woods, so he could give me a golf lesson.
Hero: Eddie Van Halen, because he is an amazing guitar player.
Biggest fears: Spiders and heights.
Greatest wish: To be successful.
Janessa Mains
School/year in school/age: Eisenhower, sophomore, 15.
Subject: American Sign Language.
Interests/activities: Photography, reading and playing piano.
Food: New Thai's No. 24.
Musicians or bands: Disturbed, Gackt, JRock and Malice Mizer.
Films: The "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies and "Moon Child."
Books: Anything by Tamora Pierce and Terry Goodkind
Trip: Scotland, because it's beautiful.
$1 million: Buy more cameras, camera things and lots of books.
If you could meet anyone: Ansel Adams, because he is an amazing photographer.
Hero: My mom, because I look up to her and she speaks her mind.
Biggest fears: Spiders, bugs and being buried alive or trapped in the dark.
Greatest wish: To find true love.
Kate Flatt
School/year in school/age: Davis, senior, 17.
Subject: American Sign Language.
Interests/activities: Photography, deaf events and music.
Food: Fruit, oddly enough.
Music: Rock and country.
Films: "Beauty and the Beast" and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.
Favorite books: "Capt. Hook" by J.V. Hart and "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown.
Trip: Europe.
$1 million: This page is too short.
If you could meet anyone: My granddad; he got to do wonderful things, like sit in the Nuremberg Trials and travel a lot.
Hero: My mama. She is strong and all-around amazing.
Biggest fear: Spiders.
Greatest wish: Good question.
Loren Antonio
School/year in school/age: Davis, senior, 18.
Subject: English.
Interests/activities: Music in all of its forms, movies, writing, reading, the Internet and wasting time.
Food: Macaroni and cheese.
Musicians or bands: Justin Timberlake, Pink Floyd, Blue Man Group, Gnarls Barkley and Dropkick Murphys.
Films: "Star Wars," "The Departed," "Pulp Fiction," "Edward Scissorhands" and the "Spider-Man" movies.
Books: "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown, "Native Son" by Richard Wright and "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss.
Trip: Spain, so I can practice my Spanish and see a beautiful country.
$1 million: Half for college and half for the AIDS Foundation.
If you could meet anyone: Arthur Miller, because his writing is amazing and his ideas of the American dream still apply today.
Hero: Batman. There isn't another superhero that's the coolest guy ever and has absolutely no superpowers besides intelligence and money.
Biggest fear: Failure.
Greatest wish: To live long and prosper.
Mia Walsh
School/year in school/age: Davis, sophomore, 15.
Subject: Biology.
Interests/activities: Dance (jazz, ballet, tap and clogging), cooking, reading, rock climbing and taking pictures.
Food: My mom's eggplant caponata.
Music and musicians: Hip hop, techno, Fergie and Shakira.
Films: "Catch and Release," "How to Deal" and "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."
Book: "Looking for Alibrandi" by Melina Marchetta
Trip: Italy, because I love the people, beaches, food and the land.
$1 million: I would donate it to the World Wildlife Fund and other organizations like this. I would also save it for my future.
If you could meet anyone: I would want to meet Dolce and Gabbana to ask them how they come up with ideas for clothes.
Hero: Bono, because he used his talents to make money and give it to the poor.
Biggest fear: To be tortured.
Greatest wish: To remove all species from the endangered species list.
Colleen Fontana
School/year in school/age: Davis, sophomore, 15.
Subject: Photography.
Interests/activities: Volleyball, track, writing, watching movies, acting, piano and reading.
Foods: Spaghetti and peanut butter.
Bands: Death Cab for Cutie and The Killers.
Films: "Ocean's Eleven," "The Italian Job," "She's the Man," "Moulin Rouge," "Gilmore Girls" and "Rent."
Books: "The Truth About Forever" by Sarah Dessen and "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin.
Trip: Australia, Italy or India, because I've never been and I love to travel.
$1 million: Travel the world! Then go Bungee jumping and hang gliding and save the turtles. And buy Urban Outfitters.
If you could meet anyone: Dane Cook. He'd be hilarious.
Who is your hero and why? My parents, because they're totally awesome!
Biggest fears: Losing someone I love. And drowning.
Greatest wish: Make a difference in the world.
Hannah Naughton
School/year in school/age: Davis, sophomore, 14.
Subject: Biology.
Interests/activities: Soccer, golf, swimming, piano, reading and writing.
Food: Pavlova with strawberries and homemade whipped cream.
Music and musicians: Hip Hop, techno, oldies, Spice Girls and Akon.
Films: "The Italian Job," "Gilmore Girls" and "She's the Man."
Book: "Saving Francesca" by Melina Marchetta.
Trip: I would go to New Zealand so I could see all of the spectacular views and lush green landscapes. I would Bungee jump of steep mountains and white water raft in raging waters.
$1 million: Buy out Anthropologie, and donate the rest to Children's Village.
If you could meet anyone: Walt Disney, because how cool would that be?
Hero: My daddy, because, man, that guy can swing a golf club. He is very loving and helps me improve my golf game.
Biggest fear: Creepy, crawly bugs.
Greatest wish: To find a cure for cancer and AIDS.
Jasmine Okbinoglu
School/year in school/age: Eisenhower, sophomore, 15.
Subject: Science.
Interests/activities: I love to play tennis and read.
Food: I don't have one.
Musicians or bands: The Shins, The White Stripes, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, U2 and Weezer.
Films: So many options, so little space.
Book: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.
Trip: Italy. I love Italian food and Italy has a really rich culture, but the main attraction for me are the ancient ruins. I'd love to see the ruins of Pompeii and the old architecture in Venice.
$1 million: Build a library and give the rest to charity.
If you could meet anyone: Thomas Jefferson, because he wrote The Declaration of Independence, which gives U.S. citizens so many beautiful freedoms, including freedom of press.
Hero: Oprah Winfrey. She has helped so many needy people worldwide. She helps any way she can and she doesn't let anyone get in her way.
Biggest fear: I won't tell you because then you could hold it against me.
Greatest wish: World peace and for all people to start recycling.
Kandice Leigh Cross
School/year in school/age: Eisenhower, freshman, 14.
Subject: English.
Interests/activities: Volleyball, dance, tennis, track, singing, acting, drawing, writing and watching "One Tree Hill."
Food: Jamoca ice cream.
Music: I like all kinds of music, except country.
Films: The "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, "Drop Dead Gorgeous," "Mean Girls," "She's the Man," "Troy" and all Disney movies.
Books: "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens and "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen.
Trip: I would go to Ireland because it has beautiful landscapes and my family is from there.
$1 million: Put most of it in savings and sponsor lots of children in Africa and take my family on a big, fun trip.
If you could meet anyone: I would choose to meet the entire cast of "The O.C.," "One Tree Hill," "Grey's Anatomy," "Smallville," "October Road" and "Lost," because they are my favorite shows of all time!
Hero: I can't choose just one. I have so many people in my life who have made an immense impact on me.
Biggest fear: Thinking of things I have done in the past that could have changed who I am.
Greatest wish: To live a life of happiness and to never regret anything I've done.
Kami Cross
School/year in school: Eisenhower, junior, 16.
Subject: English or leadership.
Interests/activities: Leadership, drama, tennis, reading, writing, hanging out with friends, watching "One Tree Hill," scrapbooking and dance.
Food: Pretzels.
Music: The only music I don't like is country, with the exception of Rascal Flatts.
Films: "The Patriot," "Drop Dead Gorgeous," "She's the Man," "Troy," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "The Little Mermaid."
Books: "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas, "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Forbes and the "Stephanie Plum" novels by Janet Evanovich.
Trip: Boston to visit my big sister, Katie, at college.
$1 million: Put it in the bank to help pay for my and my siblings' college costs.
If you could meet anyone: The cast of "One Tree Hill," because it is my favorite show and I secretly want to live in Tree Hill with Nathan, Haley, Lucas, Brooke and Peyton.
Hero: My parents, because their commitment to all of their children is phenomenal.
Biggest fear: Needles.
Greatest wish: To succeed in life.
Felicia Teter
School/year in school/age: White Swan, junior, 17.
Subject: Science.
Interests/activities: Basketball, laughing and having fun.
Food: Anything Italian or Mexican.
Music: Rock, but not scary, heavy metal stuff.
Films: "Office Space" and "Pinocchio."
Book: "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel.
Trip: Paris, because it's beautiful!
$1 million: Buy a car, a house and a dart board!
If you could meet anyone: Julia Roberts, because I love her movies and she seems like a really great person.
Hero: Wonder Woman, because she was the first great female superhero.
Biggest fear: Bees.
Greatest wish: That everyone ends up happy!
Andrew Vye
School/year in school/age: Riverside Christian, junior, 17.
Subject: English.
Interests/activities: Hanging out with friends, golf, reading and writing.
Food: Bread.
Band: The Vines.
Films: "Green Street Hooligans," "Pulp Fiction" and "The Departed."
Books: "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller, "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess and "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury.
Trip: Denmark, to visit family.
$1 million: Save it.
If you could meet anyone: Socrates, to learn all that he knew.
Who is your hero and why? Anybody who has ever lived their dreams, because it's inspiring.
Biggest fear: To be unsuccessful.
Greatest wish: To finally understand everything.
Emily Ankney
School/year in school/age: Running Start at YVCC, junior, 16.
Subjects: Writing and literature.
Interests/activities: Playing guitar and hammered dulcimer, singing, camping, hiking, playing ping pong and Frisbee, crocheting and knitting.
Food: Chocolate.
Music or bands: Newgrass and progressive bluegrass, and Nickel Creek.
Films: "Amazing Grace," "Lord of the Rings," "Chariots of Fire" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
Books: The Bible, "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis and "The Last Jihad" by Joel Rosenburg.
Trip: The British Isles, because of the beautiful scenery and culture.
$1 million: Give half to organizations I support and save the rest.
If you could meet anyone: My great-grandma Day, because her legacy has touched my life.
Hero: My parents, because they model integrity, love, friendship and so many other things.
Biggest fear: Losing the people I love.
Greatest wish: To bring joy and peace to someone's life and to grow to be more like Jesus.
Andy Carroll
School/year in school/age:
La Salle, junior, 16.
Subject: English.
Interests/activities: Writing and watching movies and baseball.
Food: Pizza.
Bands: Aerosmith, U2 and Nickelback.
Films: "The Departed," "American Beauty" and "Batman Begins."
Books: "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown and "Little Children" by Tom Perrotta.
Trip: Fenway Park in Boston. I love baseball and would love to see a game at one of the most legendary stadiums in the game's history.
$1 million: Give some to my school and save the rest.
If you could meet anyone: William Shakespeare. That way writing all those essays about what he's saying would be a snap.
Hero: My dad. I can't think of a better living model for how I should live the rest of my life.
Biggest fear: Failure.
Greatest wish: To live the most awesome life I can.
Lety Clark-Olivero
School/year in school/age: Eisenhower, sophomore, 15.
Subject: Science.
Interests/activities: Soccer, singing in the shower, running, basketball, dancing like no one's watching, talking on the phone, reading Unleashed, laughing and mostly "chillaxing" with friends!
Food: Chicken fettucine alfredo from the Olive Garden.
Music: Everything except country.
Films: "The Notebook," "Finding Nemo" (I love Dory), "Cars," "The Green Mile," "She's the Man," "The Lord of the Rings" series and a whole bunch of scary movies. I love those!
Book: "The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver.
Trip: I would go alone to a beach in Mexico.
$1 million: Spend about $5,000 on a new wardrobe, put a large amount toward college, buy a car and give the rest away to starving babies.
If you could meet anyone: Jesus. He would come back from the dead and I would want to just ask him a few questions.
Hero: Mahatma Gandhi. He had a great philosophy about life and his beliefs are amazing.
Biggest fear: Being fearful.
Greatest wish: To have all of my wishes come true.
Ariel Villaseñor
School/year in school/age: West Valley, sophomore, 15.
Subject: Language arts.
Interests/activities: Track, reading and talking to new people.
Food: Lasagna.
Music: Anything but jazz.
Films: "The Truman Show" and "The Phantom of the Opera."
Books: The "Harry Potter" and "Chronicles of Narnia" series.
Trip: Europe, because I love the accents!
$1 million: Shop, go to college, buy a car and save the rest.
If you could meet anyone: Adam and Eve, to ask them why they named the animals certain names.
Hero: Jesus, because I strive to be like him everyday.
Biggest fear: Needles.
Greatest wish: To accomplish everything I ever want to do.
Samantha Knittle
School/year in school/age: Davis, junior, 16.
Subjects: Band and art.
Interests/activities: Bowling, marching band, crocheting and croquet.
Food: Anything my mom makes, except eggplant spaghetti.
Band: I don't have one.
Films: "The Great Escape," "The Court Jester" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."
Book: "The Great Escape" by Paul Brickhill.
Trip: A cross-country trip to all of the American historical places, ending on one of Florida's beaches because I don't like flying.
$1 million: Put it in the bank.
If you could meet anyone: Jesus. I want to ask him when he realized he was God's son.
Hero: Abraham Lincoln, because he did what he knew was right even when many people were against him.
Biggest fears: Dying a horrible death or having to see someone die a horrible death. And spiders.
Greatest wish: I wish everyone would go to heaven.
Wyatt Kanyer
School/year in school/age: Riverside Christian, junior, 17.|
Subjects: Spanish and English.
Interests/activities: Basketball, writing, reading, Spanish and traveling.
Food: Mexican.
Musicians and bands: Brand New, Bright Eyes, Jack Johnson and Ben Harper.
Films: "Garden State," "Superstar," "Thank You for Smoking" and "Kids."
Books: The "Harry Potter" series.
Trip: A summer-long trip to South America, because I would like to immerse myself in Spanish.
$1 million: Buy a house and car and donate the rest to cancer research.
If you could meet anyone: Mitch Albom, because of his accomplishments in journalism and writing in general.
Hero: Jesus, because he is my savior.
Biggest fear: Not succeeding in life.
Greatest wish: To make an impact on the world, preferably positive.
Kelly Biegler
School/year in school/age: West Valley, senior, 17.
Subjects: Art, drawing and reading.
Interests/activities: Reading, drawing and hanging out with friends and family.
Food: Fried rice with orange chicken.
Bands: My Chemical Romance, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.
Films: "Moulin Rouge," "The Green Mile" and "Troy."
Favorite books: The "Dead Until Dark" series by Charlaine Harris.
Trip: Japan, to see all the different sights.
$1 million: Donate some to a charity, but save the rest and splurge once in a while.
If you could meet anyone: Past family members and past artists.
Hero: My parents, because they are always there for me no matter what.
Biggest fear: Being alone.
Greatest wish: To be happy for the rest of my life.
Brandon Riel
School/year in school/age: Riverside Christian, senior, 17.
Subjects: English and drama.
Interests/activities: Theatre, track, volleyball and youth group.
Food: Pasta.
Music: Country, especially Rascal Flatts.
Films: "Secret Window," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Benny and Joon."
Book: "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.
Trip: Hollywood, to pursue a career in acting.
$1 million: Deposit it and let it collect interest.
If you could meet anyone: Johnny Depp, because I would love to learn some of the secrets of his amazing acting range.
Hero: Anyone who stands on their beliefs.
Biggest fear: Ending up with nothing to show for all I have done in life.
Greatest wish: To be successful in all I attempt to do.
Molly Scofield
School/year in school/age: Eisenhower, junior, 17.
Subjects: Biology and leadership.
Interests/activities: I like to swim, play tennis, read and watch "One Tree Hill," "Dawson's Creek" and "Roswell."
Food: Mangos.
Music: Alternative rock.
Films: "Drive Me Crazy" and "Ever After."
Books: "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" by Ann Brashares and "A Great and Terrible Beauty" by Libb Bray.
Trip: Spain, to run with bulls.
$1 million: Buy my mother a big house and car, then pay for college.
If you could meet anyone: The cast of "Roswell," because the boys are good looking.
Hero: My parents, because they are my biggest role models.
Biggest fear: I don't dwell on my fears.
Greatest wish: To learn how to fly a plane.
Ashley George
School/year in school: West Valley, junior, 16.
Subjects: Math and Web design.
Interests/activities: Tennis.
Food: Cheesecake.
Musicians or bands: Underoath, Secondhand Serenade, Kelly Clarkson and Alesana.
Films: "The Pursuit of Happyness," "Minority Report," "Pirates of the Caribbean" and "Ferris Beuller's Day Off."
Books: "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury and "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer.
Trip: I would travel to New York because I'd like to see the Statue of Liberty.
$1 million: Donate money to cancer research and spend the rest on a shopping spree and private concert.
If you could meet anyone: Mischa Barton, because I love how she dresses and her ads for Keds shoes.
Hero: My aunt Christie is my hero because she is the strongest person I know.
Biggest fear: Spiders.
Greatest wish: I wish I could be 3 inches taller.
Desiree Pebeahsy
School/year in school/age: White Swan, senior, 17.
Subject: They're all good.
Interests/activities: Writing, reading and having fun.
Food: Mac and cheese that I make, not that Easy Mac stuff.
Musician: My brother-in-law, Mike.
Film: I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the sky.
Books: "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" by Hunter S. Thompson and "The Philosophy of Andy Warhol" by Andy Warhol.
Trip: Europe, because it seems interesting and apparently Europe's "where it's at."
$1 million: Give it to Native American education and make a movie.
If you could meet anyone: Sarah Silverman and Fred Armisen, because laughing is my favorite and I don't like people who aren't funny in some way.
Hero: I'm lucky to have many heroes in my life but my nephew Eric is my favorite hero because I'm his hero, too.
Biggest fear: Going blind or deaf.
Greatest wish: To be rich and famous and make it in the history books.
Veronica Quintero
School/year in school/age: Wahluke, junior, 16.
Subject: History.
Interests/activities: Reading, Knowledge Bowl, ASB, National Honors Society, writing and community involvement.
Food: Pasta.
Music, musicians or bands: Nickelback, Linkin Park, any Spanish music, Kelly Clarkson and Daughtry.
Film: Anything scary.
Book: "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.
Trip: Italy, because I love Italian food.
$1 million: Donate it to children with cancer and those who come from families with financial needs.
If you could meet anyone: Cesar Chavez. I admire what he sacrificed for migrant workers' rights.
Hero: My mother, because she has done so much for me and my family.
Biggest fear: Death.
Greatest wish: Graduate high school and attend college.
Jordie Ricigliano
School/year in school/age: Zillah, senior, 17.
Subject: Anthropology.
Interests/activities: Writing, photography, watching animé, listening to indie music, traveling the world and experiencing new cultures.
Food: Broccoli. (Weird, I know!)
Musicians or bands: Brand New, Morrissey and MIA.
Films: "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "Pulp Fiction." Book: "Inherit the Wind" by Jerome Lawrence.
Trip: Italy, to see my family roots and learn about the Roman civilization.
$1 million: I would buy myself a hybrid car and give the rest away to the World Wildlife Fund and C.A.R.E., or Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, my two favorite organizations.
If you could meet anyone: J.R.R. Tolkien, the legend himself. Considering I obsess over his work and read his books religiously, I think it might be somewhat interesting to meet the man!
Hero: My brother, who has gone through so much in his life and has given me the inspiration to always push through my problems.
Biggest fear: A big mob of angry Republicans headed by George Bush.
Greatest wish: That broccoli and chocolate, my two favorite foods, actually tasted good together. Oh, and world peace!
Haley Henderson
School/year in school/age: Davis, senior, 17.
Subject: Biology.
Interests/activities: Being a duck.
Food: Sushi.
Musicians or bands: Imogen Heap, Death Cab for Cutie, Rich Boy and Young Buck.
Films: "Borat" and "Madonna: Truth or Dare." Books: "Molokai" by Alan Brennert, "Walden" and "Civil Disobedience" by Henry Thoreau.
Trip: Hawaii, because it would be warm, quiet and I'd be able to sleep, something I don't do a lot of anymore.
$1 million: I would first be frivolous and spend a few thousand on a new wardrobe, then I would save for college and a house, and buy a panda.
Hero: My hero is definitely my mom, because she's the only one who can dig me out of bed in the a.m. and get me to dance to oldies in the kitchen. She also is the only older woman I would trust .
Biggest fear: To lose faith in myself, to be unable to express myself.
Greatest wish: To live with a purpose and to love that purpose.
Evalyn Suarez
School/year in school/age: West Valley, sophomore, 15.
Subject: English.
Interests/activities: Role-playing, poetry, writing, reading, rock and shell collecting, drawing and songwriting.
Food: Goo-goo cluster ice cream.
Musicians or bands: Rock, Superchic[k], Rebecca St. James, Rascal Flatts and Delirious?
Films: "Lord of the Rings," "Running Free," "Eragon" and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.
Books: "Eragon" and "Eldest" by Christopher Paolini, "Song of the Lioness Quartet" by Tamora Pierce and "Dragon Riders of Pern" by Anne McCaffrey.
Trip: I would go on a trip around Europe to see my ancestors' lands and to minister to those who don't know the gospel.
$1 million: Part of it would go into a college fund, and the rest would be donated to a ministry.
If you could meet anyone: Anne McCaffrey, because I love her books and look up to her as an author.
Hero: My grandpa, because he is a fair and kind man whose authority is benevolent. He is also a former state patrolman.
Biggest fear: Probably heights.
Greatest wish: To fulfill the purpose the Lord has for me.
Becky Lynn Paulson
School/year in school/age: Davis, senior, 16.
Subject: Math, Spanish or photography.
Interests/activities: Piano, photography, swimming, running and leadership.
Food: Sushi.
Musician: Raffi.
Films: I could never choose in a million years.
Books: The "Harry Potter" series.
Trip: Spain, because everything is beautiful: the language, the people, the history and the architecture.
$1 million: Invest in Apple stock.
If you could meet anyone: Henry David Thoreau, because I strive to live deliberately and originally, which sort of defeats the purpose of idolizing him but would help me in making every day of my life more worth living.
Hero: Kate Fontana, because she chases her dreams and fights for what she knows to be right and true, and she's spunky.
Biggest fear: Arriving at the end of my life and realizing that I didn't do it right.
Greatest wish: That I would find the meaning of life and live it
Jessica Cummings
School/year in school/age: Bickleton, sophomore, 15.
Subjects: English and band
Interests/activities: Drawing, writing, crocheting and spending time with my birds.
Food: Seafood.
Band: Casting Crowns.
Film: I don't really have one.
Books: The "Chronicles of Narnia" series, "Eragon" and "Eldest" by Christopher Paolini and bird books.
Trip: The British Isles, because I find the history fascinating and scenery beautiful.
$1 million: Save it for college, and donate to the church for our new building project.
If you could meet anyone: I would want to go back in time and meet Jesus and his disciples.
Hero: Jesus Christ for redeeming me.
Biggest fear: Spiders and bugs in general.
Greatest wish: To find peace and joy in all I do.
Kirsten Ford
School/year in school/age: Selah, junior, 16.
Subject: Band/jazz.
Interests/activities: Fastpitch softball.
Food: Pasta.
Music: Punk, rock and country.
Films: Chick flicks.
Books: The "Christy Miller" and "Harry Potter" series.
Trip: Egypt, because anything ancient Egyptian is really interesting.
$1 million: If I had $1 million I would pay off all of my debts and get a house where there would be no payments needed. I could get everything just so that I would never have to work again.
If you could meet anyone: Avril Lavigne, because she is such a role model and I love her music.
Hero: My dad. He pretty much helps me through everything and is always there for me.
Biggest fear: Somebody who is close to me dying.
Greatest wish: To get through life
Chelsie Standfill
School/year in school/age: Highland, senior, 17.
Subject: Creative writing.
Interests/activities: Writing, reading and going to the movies.
Food: Chocolate.
Musicians or bands: John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band and Jason Mraz.
Film: "Pride and Prejudice."
Book: "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell.
Trip: France, because I've been learning about it all year and would love to experience that culture.
$1 million: Pay all four years of my college tuition.
If you could meet anyone: John Mayer, because I love him and I love his music.
Hero: My family, because they support me through everything.
Biggest fear: Spiders.
Greatest wish: To become a surgeon.
Jessica Serrano
School/year in school/age:
La Salle, sophomore, 16.
Subject: English.
Interests/activities: Family, friends, tennis, cheer and writing.
Food: Swedish fish, strawberries and Thai food.
Music, musicians or bands: Indie rock, Placebo, Muse, Brand New, Spinto Band, Regina Spektor and Death Cab for Cutie.
Films: "Armageddon" and "The Holiday."
Authors: Sarah Dessen and Edgar Allen Poe.
Trip: I'd go to Tokyo or London because I'd love to experience their culture first hand.
$1 million: Share the love.
If you could meet anyone: Elie Wiesel. I'd love to converse with him about his first-hand experience of the Jewish genocide during World War II. Marilyn Monroe, also, to ask how she made it big.
Hero: My mother; she's one-of-a-kind, and she never judges me.
Biggest fear: Fearless.
Greatest wish: My greatest ambition, or wish is to make a difference in this world by the time my life ends. A difference for the greater good of humanity.
