A volunteer with Kristi House, an organization that helps young victims of sexual abuse, Regina makes goody bags to be given out.

She has a 5.16 (weighted) GPA and ranks 33rd in her class of 841.

*Honorable Mentions: Benjamin Abramowitz, RASG Hebrew Academy; Britney Martinez, Turner Tech; Paige Rivkind, Miami Country Day.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

JOSE INSUA

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

As a leader of his school's Catholic youth group, Jose organizes homeless feedings, pro-life marches and tutoring sessions. Jose is a peer minister in LIFE, Living in the Faith Experience, a highly selective program that involves traveling to Texas in the summer.

But it's his ability to articulate the most complex subjects that has impressed his teachers. As an Advanced Placement Spanish Literature student, Jose seeks to understand the cultural nuance of classical texts. He earned a 5 on the AP Foreign Language Exam.

He also volunteered at Mercy Hospital in the physical therapy unit and tutored twin brothers, helping them pass their FCAT exam.

The National Honor Society member ranks sixth in his class of 326 students. He has a 4.6 (weighted) GPA.

* Honorable Mentions: Jennifer Vargas, Coral Gables; Virgilia Zabala, John A. Ferguson; Sara Edelman, Palmetto.

ART

TIFFANY AGAM

HILLEL

After reviving her school's National Art Honor Society, Tiffany organized an auction that raised funds for children's chemotherapy treatments. "While we all see art as a form of therapy, in this case, art is really saving lives," she wrote.

She also compiled a 150-recipe cookbook: This fundraiser was dubbed the "Chicken Fund" because proceeds helped feed poor families.

Tiffany also created a photographic collage depicting the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. She displayed her work for a week to raise awareness of the atrocities in the African region.

But while her art focuses on global events, she also acts locally. Last year, she saved two chickens from slaughter. They now live in her backyard.

She has a 4.7 (weighted) GPA and ranks in the top 10 percent of her class.

* Honorable Mentions: Raquel Kalil, Coral Reef; Melissa Tablante, New World; Eric Rodgers, South Dade.

JOURNALISM

ANDREW RUIZ

HIALEAH

Andrew's mother died of breast cancer when he was 14. Determined to honor her memory, Andrew founded Teens Against Cancer. As a team captain for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life event, he helped raise more than $22,000.

Andrew also reaches out to classmates whose lives have been affected by cancer, putting aside his own feelings as he helps others cope. He has written about families living with cancer in his school paper.

In addition to being managing editor of his school yearbook, Andrew is president of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Key Club and a member of Quill and Scroll, Law Club, FBLA and Mu Alpha Theta.

Academically, Andrew ranks 26th in his class of 887 students, and he has a 5.0 (weighted) GPA.

*Honorable Mentions: Logan Jaffe, Michael Krop; Jamie Hoffman, Beach High; Brittney Jones, Miami Jackson.

SOCIAL SCIENCE

MEI LI

PALMETTO

Mei spent every Saturday morning for eight years at Chinese school, learning that language's more than 1,000 characters.

She used that knowledge to translate medical data from a researcher at the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miamis Medical School. The translated information was presented to researchers in Shanghai.