Art

Zachary Saltzman

Pine Crest School

An avid doodler from the time he could pick up a crayon, Zachary began taking art classes in high school and very quickly became passionate about painting. Using this talent to benefit the community, Zachary transformed an afterschool center for low-income children, painting classrooms with different themes. He was initially asked to contribute a few sketches for a Fort Lauderdale centennial project, but ended up creating an entire coloring book to educate children about the city's historic sites. For each illustration, he photographed the sites and interviewed staff to learn more about the landmarks. Zachary is an AP Scholar, National Hispanic Honor Society member, volunteer at the Ann Storck Center and musician in the University of Miami Honors Band.

Honorable mentions: Julia Marie Sarduy, Pembroke Pines Charter High; Melanie Nicole Columbo, North Broward Preparatory School; Alexis Lyndsey Weisel, Monarch High School.

Athletics

Courtney Brant

Archbishop McCarthy High School

Seeing the hungry and homeless on the streets of Fort Lauderdale inspired Courtney to get involved. During the past four years, she has served numerous meals to the homeless at the Cooperative Feeding Program of Broward. Before each Thanksgiving, Courtney helps pack and distribute boxes of food and works in the soup kitchen. In December, she hosts an annual toy drive for children served by the shelter. She has enlisted about 30 volunteers a year, inspiring many friends to start their own projects. Courtney brings sandwiches to the shelter year-round and manages an annual food drive. She also ran a summer soccer camp for children. An avid athlete, she lettered in volleyball and soccer (she's known for her gravity-defying flip throw-in at games) and she runs track.

Honorable mentions: Shayna Rebecca Palmer, St. Thomas Aquinas High; Adrian A. Romero, Pembroke Pines Charter High School; Amanda Tyler Novatnack, Pompano Beach High.

Business

Benjamin Gajus

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

A budding businessman with awards at state and international levels, Benjamin turned a summer gathering supplies for sick children into a three-year program that ultimately collected 40,000 items. After visiting the Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Fort Lauderdale with his Scout troop, Benjamin returned to see how he could best help the kids, who are uninsured or underinsured, and battling chronic diseases. Initially, he and a friend launched a small campaign asking for gently used supplies for babies and children. Benjamin has since expanded the project, collecting beds, cribs, car seats, household items and school supplies. He is also a varsity football player, plays piano, helped rebuild a parsonage and is an Eagle Scout.

Honorable mentions: Alexandra Kaplan, North Broward Preparatory School; Taylor Lynne Brown, Coral Springs Charter High School; Matthew Joseph Diamond, South Plantation High School.

Drama

Tatiana Becker

Fort Lauderdale High School

When Tatiana learned the drama department at Fort Lauderdale High was being cut and her teacher fired, she mobilized a campaign to save both. Tatiana and her classmates formed United Students for the Arts to protest the cuts. They created a website, designed T-shirts and rallied 4,000 Facebook supporters. Once the school's drama department - and other arts programs - were safe, Tatiana continued her efforts to promote and sustain arts education through her nonprofit group. Described as a talented performer, Tatiana earned Superior ratings at yearly Thespian District Competitions, was Drama Club vice president, and her school's National Honor Society president. She has also volunteered as an usher at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.