At 12, he began mentoring a boy. The pair forged a friendship that would eventually lead Adam to write a play about the experience to help educate others and to become one of the organization's top recruiters. Today, the group numbers 100. Adam's play will be performed this month at a community center.

Adam is a gifted performer who has participated in eight plays and won best actor at the District 8 acting competition. Two of his short films have been finalists at the Miami Jewish Film Festival. For the last three years, he coached youth basketball at Temple Beth Am, earning a service award and coaching his team to the championship.

• Honorable Mentions:

Deborah Esther Swilley, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School

Angelica Marie Spicer, Monsignor Edward Pace High School

Leticia Lazara Mora, Coral Reef Senior High School

ENGLISH & LITERATURE

MOLLI JACKSON

DR. MICHAEL M. KROP SENIOR HIGH

For some, life doesn't offer many choices. Molli recognized this one day when she walked into her school cafeteria and found her older sister eating alone.

Diagnosed with autism at age three, her sister had often faced misunderstanding, solitude and sometimes cruelty. As a freshman, Molli joined Best Buddies to help kids facing the same obstacles. Her Best Buddy friendship led her to start an organization two years ago that would better explain autism, in part through a book club that explores works relating to the disorder. She expanded the program to middle school students.

While volunteering hundreds of hours, Molli excelled academically. She was named an AP Scholar with Distinction, awarded the University of Miami book prize and was a National Merit Commended Scholar. She was her yearbook copy editor and is an award-winning debater.

• Honorable Mentions:

Marilyn Horta, Coral Reef Senior High School

Natalie Gravier, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart

Michelle Lynne Evans, Palmer Trinity School

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

NATALIE ALBERT

ST. BRENDAN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Inspired by her love of martial arts, Natalie started a karate program for underprivileged kids.

After visiting the San Juan Bosco Learning Center in Little Havana to tutor students, she discovered the center had no athletic program, so she persuaded the director to let her start one. The champion black belt convinced other black belts to help teach, raised money for uniforms and applied to make Kids for Karate a non-profit.

As a freshman, Natalie took third year Spanish honors. This year, she earned a top score of five on her AP Spanish test. She is president of the Spanish Honor Society, an officer in the Social Sciences Honor Society and director of marketing for Future Business Leaders of America.

She has also placed first and second at the U.S. Open and first in the Pan American karate competitions.

• Honorable Mentions:

Maricielo Jesus Solis Santiago, Miami Sunset Senior High School

Grethel Zegarra, Miami Coral Park Senior High School

Maria Camila Rodriguez, Maritime and Science Technology High School

GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP

OMAR ANDRE CANCIO

CORAL GABLES SENIOR HIGH

Omar dedicated countless hours to defending troubled teens in the county's teen court. In addition to defending them, Omar took the time to mentor teens and help them avoid future trouble.

While enrolled in his school's international baccalaureate program, he achieved a weighted GPA of 8.174, setting a school record. He is the only student at his school ever designated an AP National Scholar in his sophomore year and has passed every AP test he's ever taken, a total of 14.

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