The Next Step Magazine wanted the best. Scratch that—we wanted the best of the best. So we asked your guidance counselors, parents and friends to nominate the best teen volunteers, students, athletes, singers, leaders and more for the annual Next Step Magazine Super Teens contest!

We asked each applicant these questions:
What activities or qualities make you stand out from your peers?
In what clubs, volunteer organizations or youth groups are you involved?
Explain an opportunity you had to act as a leader. What did you learn from the experience?
Who or what experience has had the greatest impact on you?
What are your plans for the future?
How do you want to be remembered at your high school?

We know there are a lot of great teens out there. So let us know about you! Log on to www.nextSTEPmagazine.com/superteens for a Super Teens application to apply for next year's contest.

Congratulations to the cream of the crop, presented right here. We think you're great!

A good heart and a commitment to others set senior Rebecca Burnamen apart from her peers at Etowah High School. She has devoted much of the last two years to helping teach other girls as a leader with “the Wood,” a Christian outreach program. This summer she plans to attend the Student Leadership University in Washington, D.C., and another similar conference in Europe. Rebecca’s goal is to go to Nigeria and work with children who are infected with AIDS and living in orphanages.  She is active in First Priority, Habitat for Humanity and Future Business Leaders of America as well as a number of other volunteer organizations.

West Georgia Christian Academy senior Jase Crenshaw is one student who is commended as much for his character as for his achievements. Each summer, he spends a week at Camp Viola where he works as a counselor for children. “I would like to be remembered as someone who always made the right choices,” he says. Jase is active in his church youth group and graduated from the Youth Leadership Program of Troup County. He also plays soccer, baseball and basketball and is seen by his basketball coach as a leader on the team. He plans to attend college and follow God’s plan for his life, whatever it may be.

Senior class president Kaitlen Fulp of Berrien High School has learned that one of the greatest things you can do for others is to listen to what they have to say. As a peer mediator, she has learned how to help her classmates work through troubles in their lives. Kaitlen is also active as vice president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a member of the Beta Club and captain of the cheerleading squad. She also works in the physical therapy department of the local hospital through a work-study program. Kaitlen plans to attend Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah and purse a career in physical therapy.

Patience and determination keep Dylan Henderson of Social Circle High School on the road to success. Through his participation in FutureBusiness Leaders of America, he has assisted with running a store that sells food to students looking for an alternative to the cafeteria. Dylan has also been elected president of his Beta Club and serves as an editor for the school newspaper. He is able to share his love of computer technology as a leader of a Web design apprenticeship class. Following high school, Dylan hopes to pursue a degree in computer programming and work for a video game design company.

Innovation and cooperation are characteristics that help Kenneth Jackson of Frederick Douglass High School distinguish himself. An active member of the Technology Students Association, he plans to pursue a degree in electrical engineering in hopes of improving his family, his environment and his world. He also hopes to earn an MBA to bring technological skills to the business world. Kenneth has been commended for his public speaking ability and is a member of the mass communications club. In addition, he was named “Youth of the Year” by the Salvation Army Metro Atlanta Boys and Girls Club and participates in Youth 2 Leaders and the Junior Statesman Foundation.

Harris County High School’s Adam Johnson is best known for his development of the “Medical Minute,” a morning news segment created for students at his school. In an effort to help his peers be more conscious of their own health and safety, he collaborated with others to create, perform and edit entertaining segments about health-related topics for teens. Adam’s work has been recognized nationally and is now aired by the local NBC/WB affiliate to the community every Saturday, where it reaches an audience of more than 150,000. He is also active in 4-H, youth leadership, soccer, drama and volunteer work in his community. Adam plans to attend college in Georgia and is considering a career in medicine.

Euphrasia Kawalie has excelled at Benjamin Mays High School despite coming to America without being able to speak English. Perhaps her greatest achievement has been overcoming the language barrier to win state and national awards for essay writing. A member of the library, art, chess and computer clubs, Euphrasia is also active in the National Honor Society and Kiwanis Club. Euphrasia excels as a long-distance runner and holds a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do. Positioning herself “somewhere between excellence and perfection,” Euphrasia is sure to continue to make her mark.

Kianta Key of Southwest Dekalb High School has been a Girl Scout for 11 years and is currently working on her Gold Award, the highest honor in scouting. Her project focuses on awareness of AIDS/HIV and sexually transmitted diseases and involves hosting awareness assemblies for her peers where various speakers share their experiences. Kianta is also commanding officer of her Naval JROTC program, editor of the yearbook staff, varsity football cheerleader and manager of the women’s basketball team. Currently, Kianta is developing a scholarship called M.A.M.A., Making A Monumental Achievement, for seniors who have lost women in their lives to breast cancer.  The award is in honor of her godmother, who died last year. Kianta will attend Hampton University and major in broadcast journalism or advertising.

Demarcus McCarthy is the first student from Upson Lee High School and

Thomaston, Ga., to be selected for an internship at UGA’s Griffin Campus. “I am hoping this will open the door for more Thomaston students to get involved in bettering their education,” he says. Demarcus is also the vice president of the National Honor Society and head of the executive board for the Beta Club. As a member of Youth Leadership Upson, he says he has learned that sometimes being a good leader means being willing to be led. He plans to attend Georgia State University and continue on to Harvard to study psychology.

Annesley O’Neal of Heard County Comprehensive High School is the co-founder of a community organization called FUNdamentals that helps children in kindergarten through eighth grade broaden their horizons in the arts and humanities. Through this experience, she has learned that, even as a teen, she can do something to fix problems and address needs in her community. Annesley is an active member of the Future Business Leaders of America, student council and Beta Club. She is also senior class president. Annesley plans to become the first member of her family to graduate from college, and she intends to major in accounting.

Seminole County High School’s Kerry Orrick is a state officer of the Future Business Leaders of America. He serves as Region I vice president and is responsible for coordinating the regional competition and speaking to large groups. Kerry is also active in the National Honor Society, student government, Future Farmers of America, Boy Scouts and other clubs. He is also a member of the golf and tennis teams. Kerry plans to study at the University of Georgia and earn a degree in business administration. Afterwards, he plans to earn an MBA/JD at law school and be involved in state and national politics.

Neelam Patel, a Worth County High School senior, has been an officer on the student council, senior class president, yearbook editor and has led several other school activities. She was recognized by her school’s faculty as a true leader who stands above and beyond her peers and was nominated to compete in the national Principal’s Leadership Award scholarship program. Neelam credits her parents for her success because they moved to America from India to create a better life for themselves and their children. She plans to attend the University of Georgia and acquire a degree in pharmacy or psychology.

Nekeisha Randall of Peach County High School has been active in her 4-H club for seven years. Through her committed participation, she has achieved national leadership positions, such as being the only Georgian ever to serve on the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees. “All areas of my life help me to use my head for knowledge and understanding, my heart for sympathy and compassion, my hands for community service and productivity and my health for awareness and nutrition,” she says, embodying the 4-H motto. She is also president of her senior class and is active in a wide variety of volunteer projects, such as Boys and Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity and a local nursing home. She is an accomplished public speaker and plans to pursue a degree in mass communications or public relations.

Freshman Jena Sims of Winder Barrow High School has three personal mottos: “Volunteering is free; you are never too old to volunteer; and impossible is just a word.” As the captain of a Relay for Life team since the age of 10, she has helped to raise more than $32,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society in memory of her two grandfathers who died from cancer. Most recently, she has developed an online giving campaign with the goal of selling 2,003 homemade ornaments in support of charity. Some of the ornaments are made by children in pediatric hospitals in an effort to take their minds off the medical environment. Jena also speaks about her work with cancer every chance she gets. In all, she volunteers more than 200 hours a year with the American Cancer Society and eventually hopes to be director of marketing for the organization.

B.E. Mays High School drum major Paul Sparks is a diligent student and leader. He is active with the Men of Mays, National Honor Society, jazz band, science and math clubs and Mu Alpha Theta. Paul attended a summer program at Clark Atlanta University where he met a professor who greatly influenced him by truthfully and compassionately discussing African-Americans’ role in contemporary society. He hopes to be remembered as upholding the ideals of his school’s namesake, Dr.

Benjamin E. Mays. One of 13 children, Paul has already made his mark on his school, and he hopes to continue to make a difference when he attends Vanderbilt University to study architectural engineering.

Laken Stogner of Bowden High School was selected for the 2003 USA Swimming Scholastic All American Team. Hard work, dedication and a positive attitude have helped her excel in swimming and other pursuits. She serves as vice president of the Future Business Leaders of America, president of the junior class and president of the Spanish National Honor Society. Laken was also selected to serve as part of a leadership academy in her community. She hopes to be remembered by her peers as one who followed her own path. Laken plans to attend college and study industrial engineering and business management.

Sequoyah High School’s Mike Thomas shines in a variety of roles. As president of his student government, he displays leadership skill. Mike also leads as captain of his cross-country team. “I learned that being a leader means always being under the scope,” he says. “I have to make good choices so the people around me do the same.” He also is sports editor for his yearbook, a peer mediator and a member of the drama and pingpong clubs. Mike plans to major in theater and pursue a career in acting.

Leaving a legacy of excellence in athletics and academics is a goal for Kathryn Thornton of Landmark Christian School. As captain of a state championship volleyball team, she has made her mark on her school’s athletics. She also is on the swimming and track teams. For her academic achievements, she has been named to the Beta Club and National Honor Society. Kathryn has also made an impact on other teens as a speaker for a gathering of 5,000 where she spoke about abstinence and why it is important to her. Kathryn participates in the Norfolk Youth Leadership Council, praise band and Community Character Development Coalition. She has traveled to Russia and Honduras on mission trips. In college, Kathryn plans to major in sports medicine.

Tony Wanna is an outstanding teen by any standard. A senior at Westside High School, he is president of the Beta Club and has been recognized with many academic awards. He has also been a student of the violin for eight years. “Music is a passion of mine,” he says. Tony also keeps active teaching Sunday School, swimming on the Westside swim team, and assisting with Meals on Wheels, Red Cross blood drives and elementary tutoring programs in the community. He plans to pursue a career in pediatric medicine and open his own practice. When asked how he hopes to be remembered, he jests, “A statue would be nice, but if that will not work, I would like for the teachers to remember me as hardworking, honest and goal-oriented.”

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