This year's 15 winners and 45 honorable mentions were selected from about 400 nominees. Fifteen Broward County students were named Silver Knights in a ceremony earlier this month.

The winners each receive $1,500, a Silver Knight statuette and medallion, and a round-trip ticket from American Airlines.

The honorable mentions receive $500 and a plaque. Each nominee receives a certificate. The event was sponsored by American Airlines and the Blank Family Foundation.

MIAMI-DADE SILVER KNIGHTS

JERI LYN STONE

KILLIAN

Jeri gives free clarinet lessons to underprivileged middle school students. Every student she worked with earned superior ratings on their solos at district competition.

She has also received superior ratings for her clarinet interpretations of Mozart. Teachers describe her as someone who exemplifies "perfection in music and academics."

She has been drum major of her school's marching band, president of the Music Honor Society and Science Honor Society. She's also played with the University of Miami Honor Band, South Florida Honor Band and Festival of Winds.

She's an advocate for the environment, having insisted her school begin a recycling program. She is ranked sixth in her class of 765 students and has a 6.0 (weighted) GPA.

*Honorable Mentions: Nasya Mendoza-Elias, Palmetto; Kellie Gayoso Calzon, South Miami; Loubins Richard, Miami Central.

BUSINESS

DANIEL REDLICH

RASG HEBREW ACADEMY

Daniel has managed hundreds of stocks. For the past two summers, Daniel worked as a stock trader in New York. He decided to teach other high school students around the world the basics of stock trading by creating a website called www.TheBizBasics.com, which includes daily lesson plans and business competition.

But Daniel has also given back more than just business knowledge. He also raised money to send Passover baskets to Jewish soldiers serving in Iraq. His fundraising events included a mother-son dinner. He also created a video documentary about 9/11 and volunteered at the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center as a youth director.

He plans to attend the University of Rochester this fall on a $24,000 scholarship.

He has a 5.9 (weighted) GPA.

* Honorable Mentions: Nikhil Mehta, Miami Beach; Brittany Clarke, Turner Tech; James Rowan, Palmetto.

DRAMA

JODY ELLENBY

PALMETTO

Nearly every role Jody performs on stage has led to an award.

Off-stage, Jody played a more important role as an advocate against drunken driving. The death in 2000 of Helen Marie Witty, whose portrait hangs in her school's drama room, motivated Jody to organize a walk in honor of the 16-year-old killed by a drunken driver. Jody's Walk for Witty raised $26,000, much of which will replenish a scholarship fund in Helen's memory.

Jody is president of the Thespian Honor Society. She has been a member of the Palmetto Players and Imagination Theater, the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization Holocaust Impact Theater and has worked for the Chicago Children's Choir and the Chicago Summer Opera.

She is 58th in her class of 860 and has a 5.45 (weighted) GPA.

* Honorable Mentions: Lisandra de la Caridad Vidal, Coral Gables; Andrea Adkins, Robert Morgan; Gabriela Tejedor, Coral Reef.

ENGLISH

REGINA MENDA

MICHAEL KROP

Regina's brother was recently diagnosed with an auditory disorder. That diagnosis motivated Regina to found A.L.E.R.T -- Assisting Autistic Latinos and Minorities in Education, Research and Technology. She raised $2,100 and donated it to seven schools. The money allowed them to purchase the software needed to enhance the communication skills of autistic and auditory-deficient children. She's also created a website to educate others about the program and helps autistic students at her school with the technology.