He also created a program that collects donations of food for the homeless from restaurants and grocery stores in Hollywood.

Brandon is an avid reader of The Washington Post and The New York Times.

"I have no doubt that Brandon's altruism and political involvement will continue as he pursues his education and his career as an adult," said Sandra S. Coleman, a retired U.S. immigration judge.

* Honorable mentions: Maria Gabriela Alvarez, Cypress Bay; Jasmine Nebhrajani, Miramar; Brittany Stevenson, Northeast.

ATHLETICS

LAURA FRANCES TEISCH

COOPER CITY

Laura's world was shaken in eighth grade when her mother was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. As a high school sophomore, she and another student created a cancer awareness club called Cowboys Against Cancer.

Laura coordinates fundraising events like the Relay for Life, Walk for Hope and Hoops for Hope, a three-on-three basketball tournament.

Laura also volunteers at Camp Jenny for underprivileged kids from Atlanta and at Weston's Temple Dor Dorim.

As captain of the Cooper City High volleyball team, Laura was part of the Broward County Athletic Association All-Star game and was nominated for the Wendy's High School Heisman Award.

* Honorable mentions: Harrison P. Grove, Cypress Bay; Nadia Marie Ouhib, Deerfield Beach; Michael Charles Shepherd, Chaminade-Madonna.

ENGLISH

ALISA TAO

NOVA

For Alisa, books are as vital to life as food and water. So she helped create a project called Books for Hope to ask publishers for donations to provide the kinds of texts she loved growing up to poor schools and villages in China. The effort yielded 1,000 books worth about $10,000.

She has won numerous awards for her writing and earned applause as a dancer and singer in school plays and musicals. She also taught English at a senior citizens college one summer in Shanghai. She plays the violin in the Florida Youth Orchestra. And she was a semifinalist in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship Program.

A top student at her school, Alisa has been accepted to Princeton University.

* Honorable mentions: Elizabeth Chenoweth, Coral Springs Charter; Nicole Greenwood, Pompano Beach; Catherine S. Pao, Cooper City.

MUSIC

CHRISTINE PAO

COOPER CITY

Christine's aunt has been hampered by polio since an early age. That inspired her to create a project with her sister to brighten the lives of children with disabilities.

Through Serving the World, Christine has done everything from providing arts and crafts activities for disfigured children to teaching music to children at a special-education school in Taiwan.

Using her award-winning piano talents, she has put on music programs for several years at the Memorial Manor Nursing Home in Pembroke Pines. She also is president of the Florida Federation of Music Clubs, which comprises 1,300 young musicians.

Christine is ranked second in her class along with her sister.

* Honorable mentions: Erica Falk, Douglas; Kate Ashton Gallagher, Pine Crest; Hali Reed Hutchison, St. Thomas Aquinas.

VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL

GREGORY MEYERS

CYPRESS BAY

Gregory's investment of time and effort repairing and upgrading machinery and software -- as well as building a pulse jet engine -- propelled Cypress Bay's technical education program to award-winning state recognition.

"Through his hard work and dedication to the class, Gregory has helped make the technical education classes fun and stimulating," said Christopher Ulman, who coordinates the school's Technology Student Association.