The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald are celebrating current and past Silver Knight winners this month to mark the 50th anniversary of the program that recognizes extraordinary high school seniors.
In April, 60 Broward high school students earned Silver Knights or honorable mentions.
On May 20, the same number of students in Miami-Dade will be bestowed with the annual honors at 7 p.m. at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami.
Also May 20, past winners will return to their high schools and speak to students about how winning the award has helped them become the people they are today.
The goal is for Silver Knight Day to become an annual event.
And at noon that day, past Silver Knight winners will be honored with an alumni luncheon at the Miami Hilton Biscayne.
Among the current group is a high school senior who was inspired to throw a prom for military veterans to make up for a chance they may have missed during their service.
Another collected 7,000 books for schools and libraries.
Yet another made a 30-minute documentary about the lack of running water in some South African schools and raised thousands of dollars to change that situation.
A winner and three honorable mentions in each of 15 categories -- including art, English, foreign language, new media, journalism and vocational-technical -- were chosen from among 335 nominees from schools throughout Broward.
In addition to their community service projects, many of the students are ranked at or near the top of their class.
The 45 honorable mentions received $500 and an engraved plaque at the ceremony April 29 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise. Fifteen other students took the top honors, receiving a Silver Knight Award, a medallion and $2,000.
John S. Knight, then publisher of The Miami Herald, started the Silver Knight Awards in Miami-Dade County in 1959. The program came to Broward in 1984.
The awards are sponsored by American Airlines, The Blank Family Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida.
Those who want to watch the ceremony on television have three chances: at 7 p.m. May 14 and 1 p.m. May 18 on WLRN-Channel 17, and at 2:30 p.m. June 22 on WBFS-Channel 33.
Here are profiles of all 45 honorable mentions, along with the names of the 15 winners, who were profiled in The Miami Herald on April 30.
ART
SHEYLA RICHARDS
Deerfield Beach
When she organized Operation Create, an arts program at a Broward homeless shelter, Sheyla discovered that even small things, like a mother and daughter assembling a collage together, can help a struggling family.
''I believe [projects] such as these show students and the community that amazing benefits can result from a little selfless giving,'' she wrote.
She has volunteered on church missions to Texas and Mexico and helped run summer art classes for children at a local library.
| Sheyla won artist Guy Harvey's Environmental Art contest, received the Wellesley College Book Award and was named an AP Scholar. |
JENNIFER SENN
Douglas
In addition to having photographs exhibited at the Museum of Art/Fort Lauderdale and the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Jennifer helped create an organization to assist teens aging out of the foster care system.
With money earned from making bracelets out of soda tabs, she hosted birthday parties and bought needed supplies for the teens.
| She was named an AP Scholar with Distinction for passing five exams and was named a semifinalist in the Scholastic Art Competition. She was also selected to represent her school in the 2007 Congressional High School Art Competition. |
LAUREN SHOOSTER
Taravella
Inspired by her father's commitment to charity, Lauren founded her own relief organization that eventually collected 350 pounds of supplies for an impoverished hospital in Guatemala.
Her work earned her personal thanks from the country's first lady.
''Lauren Shooster is a powerhouse of a young woman who quietly goes about incredible work,'' her art history teacher wrote. ``She is practical, realistic and systematic.''
| She has counseled camp children, tutored third-graders and has been named to the National Art Honor Society the last four years. |
ATHLETICS
KELSEY ELISE ABEL
Pompano Beach
Collecting prom dresses for needy teens inspired Kelsey to come up with a different kind of prom: one held for military veterans to bring attention to the plight of families disrupted by war.
''My grandmother didn't go to her prom because my grandfather was away. My aunt lost many memories when my uncle passed while serving,'' she wrote. ``I feel showing veterans that we realize they lost these memories shows our gratitude.''
Her school honor society plans to continue the dance.
| Kelsey has also competed in varsity track, cross-country and soccer while volunteering for many other groups. |
LAUREN HEIL
Flanagan
After her best friend's mother died of cancer, Lauren devoted herself to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, chairing events to raise money and starting a youth chapter at her school.
She is a talented softball player who won a scholarship to the University of Florida. She played in an international warm-up tournament for the Olympics in 2007 and for the past four years captained her school's team.
| Lauren was also named an AP scholar, was invited to join the National Society of High School Scholars and was accepted into the mathematics honor society, Mu Alpha Theta. |
BRANDON KARSCH
North Broward Prep
After eight years as a player, Brandon became an assistant head basketball coach for his local youth basketball league, sometimes taking over as head coach. At age 16.
He was advocate general for his school's honor court system, captained his varsity track and field team and volunteered at a nearby hospital.
Brandon won the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal for outstanding math and science students, qualified for the state Public Forum Debate, earned magna cum laude in the National Latin Exam and received a National Merit letter of commendation.
Winner: Lianne Epstein, Pine Crest
BUSINESS
JARED BRUSSELS
David Posnack
If it weren't for that pesky Internal Revenue Service, Jared might still be expanding his business empire.
In 2005, he transformed a growing business that fixed computers and filmed parties into a computer business registered as an LLC with the state. But when the IRS discovered he was under 18, he was forced to close.
Undaunted, Jared's interest in computers grew. He designed his school's website and set up more than 100 computers at his school.
| Jared volunteers at a legal aid law firm, has captained his school's robotics team and was invited to join the National Society of High School Scholars. |
ANDREW CUSTAGE
North Broward Prep
As student government president, Andrew rallied not only his own school, but 12 schools across the country and abroad to organize walkathons that helped raise $80,000 for an impoverished community in Mexico.
He volunteers at Women in Distress and the Homeless Center of Fort Lauderdale.
He has been named an AP Scholar, was a finalist at the Florida Blue Key Speech and Debate Tournament and was champion of the Yale Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament.
| Andrew plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. |
KRISTIN GIBSON
Fort Lauderdale
As the youngest volunteer at her church working at Camillus House, Kristin learned firsthand that one person can make a difference.
''I look back now and see that it was because I did not realize the gravity of their situation that I could offer hope to the people,'' she wrote. ``Although I was not a named leader, I was the leader of hope, faith and goodness.''
| Kristin is state president of Business Professionals of America, volunteers at a senior center and a thrift store that raises money for AIDS research and collects care packages for soldiers. |
DRAMA
CHRISTIAN CASTRO
Coral Springs Charter
Christian helped produce his school's version of Seussical The Musical, bringing theater and reading to children throughout the community.
He is also an award-winning actor.
| He won a Critics Choice Award at the Florida Thespian Competition for monologue and duet singing. He was also nominated for a Cappie for best actor and comic actor in a musical. |
JILLIAN GOLTZMAN
Flanagan
Being adopted gave Jillian special insight into the hardships of students with special needs. She was able to show others through her work with Best Buddies that kids with special needs can be truly remarkable friends.
''I was thrown the hardest curve ball that only pushed me further in the fight for equality and friendships with the intellectually disabled,'' she wrote.
| She also traveled to Austria and Scotland for volunteer work and served as a camp counselor. She is a gifted actress who won a superior rating in publicity and excellent ratings for a solo musical and monologue in the Florida State Thespian Competition. |
KELLY RILEY
Cooper City
Kelly turned her own passion for theater into a writing program for children at her local Boys and Girls Club, teaching children to write through drama.
Her acting talents won her a superior rating at the district and state competition for Large Group Musicals.
| She has devoted hundreds of hours performing in 10 plays since 2004, including The Taming of the Shrew and Little Women. She also received a Gold Presidential Service Award for logging more than 500 hours of community service. |
ENGLISH
AMANDA BENNIS
North Broward Prep
Inspired by her love of literature, Amanda collected more than 7,000 books in the past three years for schools, libraries and other organizations.
She was named an AP Scholar for earning 4 or 5 on three or more exams and received the Mount Holyoke Book Award.
| A gifted dancer, she has won numerous awards and helped found her school's competitive dance team. She has been accepted into the honors programs at Florida State University and the University of Central Florida. |
JARED FRIEDER
Cooper City High
Jared not only collected hundreds of books for abused children, but single-handedly built the bookcases to hold them.
He is a gifted scholar who earned a perfect score for his SAT writing exam and essay. He has been recognized for short-story and essay writing as well as poetry.
He received a commendation in the National Merit Scholarship program and placed in the top 20 internationally for financial services in DECA's Business Competition.
| Jared devoted countless hours to organizing annual holiday parties for the Sexual Assault Treatment Center and acted as student manager in Broward County's Teen Court. |
ALISON ROGERS
J.P. Taravella
Trips with her father to assisted-living facilities led Alison to create an organization that provided books, music, DVDs, even a fax machine, to improve the lives of hundreds of elderly and disabled residents.
The organization eventually won first place in Mount Holyoke College's Take the Lead program.
She is a gifted trumpet player named to the Florida All-State Jazz Ensemble, the All-State band and the Florida-Georgia-Alabama Tri-State Band, and is a talented writer and varsity basketball player.
| She earned a perfect score on her SAT writing essay and was named an AP Scholar with Honor. |
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
KATHRYN BUDD
Cardinal Gibbons
Kathryn rallied her school to raise money to build a school in the Dominican Republic one coin at a time after spending 10 days living in poverty.
''It changed who I was then and the passions I have now,'' she wrote. ``I came back wanting to advocate the cause that is backed by real, struggling individuals who deserve a chance at hope.''
| Kathryn has received highest honors on the National Latin Exam, is a member of the math honors society, Mu Alpha Theta, volunteered at a local hospital and competed on her school's swim team. |
REBECCA DRUCKER
Western High
Rebecca helped bridge the divide between hearing and deaf children by creating a sign-language program at her local YMCA to teach dozens of students American Sign Language.
She has won numerous awards for her work in sign language.
| She was named an AP Scholar with Distinction and invited to the National Society of High School Scholars. |
GRIFFIN FROST
North Broward Prep
Griffin took a chance meeting with the director of a Haitian youth center and turned it into a successful mentoring program for disadvantaged Haitian youths.
After coming up with a business plan and collecting donations, he bought teaching material and motivated other teen mentors to join. The students later reported earning better grades and raising their FCAT scores.
| In 2007, he was named the Student Volunteer of the Year by Volunteer Broward. He also plays the trombone. |
GENERAL SCHOLARSHIP
ALISON KEARNS
Flanagan
Alison became involved in the American Cancer Society when a friend's mother died. Over the next two years, her uncle and then her father were also diagnosed with cancer. Rather than retreat into grief, she became more devoted, creating crystal bracelets to raise money for the organization.
''With every bracelet I have sold and dollar raised, that will be another step closer to finding a cure,'' she wrote.
| She volunteers as a math tutor, played varsity soccer until sidelined by an injury this year, was named an AP Scholar and was an honorable mention in the Broward All-County soccer team. |
KATHERINE KENDRICK
St. Thomas Aquinas
Her love of math and science led Katherine to create a summer program at her local Boys and Girls Club to encourage girls to explore engineering, rockets and other areas of science that they might otherwise avoid.
She was so moved by the girls' interest that she decided to start a Girl Scout Troop at the club.
| She has won the Girl Scouts of America's highest honor, the Gold Award, was a National Merit semifinalist, received the Harvard Book Award, was named an AP Scholar with Distinction and has earned the highest score on the National Latin Exam. |
PATRICK STAROPOLI
Plantation
When he's not racing stock cars or receiving academic accolades, Patrick volunteers as a spokesman for Race Against Drugs. In the last year, he has reached thousands of children and adults alike at races and other events.
He has also volunteered at the Bonnet House, finding no job too menial, from maintaining the grounds to computerizing the gift shop's inventory.
| He was named an AP Scholar with Distinction and received the Harvard Book Award as well as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal for his work in math and science. |
JOURNALISM
YVEKA PIERRE
Stranahan
When her school started a literary club, Yveka joined with some trepidation.
''I was born in a country where men and women were killed for simply voicing thoughts and opinions,'' she wrote.
She quickly overcame her hesitation and within the year, she and her friends had organized an open-mike poetry jam. The sessions eventually drew students from all over the school and established her as a voice to be heeded.
| By 11th grade, this once-timid poet was reading her work at the Broward Performing Arts Center. She also serves as editor in chief of her school's literary magazine and competes in local poetry competitions. |
CHELSEA QUINN
Flanagan
For the first time in her school's history, Chelsea served as her paper's editor in chief for three consecutive years.
What makes her achievement all the more remarkable is the personal tragedy that struck her sophomore year when her mother died of cancer.
In addition to award-winning journalism, she has volunteered for the American Cancer Society for the past four years. Chelsea's English teacher was prompted to write this:
| ``The best compliment I can pay her as a teacher for 40 years is that if I had a daughter, I would want her to be just like Chelsea.'' |
ISAAC SCHAMIS
Douglas
What started as a small coaching job with Special Olympics led Isaac to a position coordinating activities for a residential care center.
His countless visits and enthusiasm have created a kind of fan club at the center, according to the center's activities director.
| He also serves as news editor of his school's paper, has won awards for his investigative journalism and news writing, and received the Harvard Book Award. |
MATHEMATICS
BRANDON BRESLOW
Pembroke Pines Charter High
After problems arose in his school's annual blood drive, Brandon's principal approached him and asked him to take over. Not only did he rally the school to collect more than 200 units, Brandon broke its record, surpassing far larger schools.
Brandon has served as his paper's managing editor and Key Club president.
| He has devoted countless hours to charity, organizing events to benefit AIDS patients and UNICEF and organizing wacky Olympics and food and toy drives. |
ANDA LUPSE
Plantation
A native of Romania who speaks four languages, Anda used her love of mathematics and physics to organize a NASA-sponsored team examining the affects of air friction on rockets. The team is one of only 16 nationwide.
| In addition, Anda helped her school's rocketry team become a national finalist, placed first in a state French competition, won a special prize in the Physics Olympiad and was an honorable mention in the Geography Olympiad. She also found time to devote hundreds of hours assisting her school's teachers as a computer tech. |
NICHOLAS WENGRENOVICH
St. Thomas Aquinas
If it weren't for Nicholas, the purple martins of Coral Springs might perish.
As part of a Boy Scout project to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Nicholas designed and built shelters for the birds that depend almost exclusively on humans to provide protection. While the number of birds is not declining, it is also not increasing.
''With the continual urban [sprawl] in America, purple martin houses are becoming fewer and further between,'' he wrote.
| Nicholas is a National Merit semifinalist, was named an AP Scholar with Distinction, qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination, served as a math tutor and captained his cross-country team. |
MUSIC
ALEXANDRA JEREZ-FERNANDEZ
Cypress Bay
Frustrated by the declining emphasis on music in schools, Alexandra founded a brass ensemble that collected money to teach music to underprivileged kids.
She collected enough to send one student, an orphan, to summer string camp. The girl now attends the music magnet program at Dillard High School.
| She was also her school's band captain, taught piano at a children's home, performed in the Florida Youth Orchestra and was selected for the Broward All-County Band four years in a row. She is president of her school's National Honor Society. |
CHARLES SOUTH
American Heritage
To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Charles created a project to collect shoes for children in homeless shelters. Not only did he win the badge, he rounded up enough shoes for 1,200 children.
A gifted singer, he has performed solo at Carnegie Hall as part of the National Youth Choir, was selected for the University of Miami Mixed Honor Choir, plays the organ at his church and has performed in numerous musicals.
| He earned the state's critics choice award for a duet and ensemble and received a superior rating for solo. |
GABRIELA WAGNER
Pine Crest
Despite being kicked on the head by a horse and critically injured the summer before her junior year, Gabriela pursued her passion for animals and formed a group to raise money for the Humane Society, a Kenyan animal preserve and other charities that care for animals.
Her interest in biology and veterinary medicine also led her to a summer internship at Scripps, Florida.
| She is a gifted flutist and pianist who was selected as Miss Palm Beach County USA for 2009, was a semifinalist in the Siemens Science and technology competition, and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction and a semifinalist for a Coca-Cola scholarship. |
NEW MEDIA
CATHELINE ANDRE
Western
After volunteering at a day-care center for poor children one summer with a friend, Catheline decided the kids needed to learn more about digital design and created a program.
''I envision that when these children grow older, they will remember that a good education along with working hard in school can be fun,'' she wrote.
| Catheline has also volunteered as a tutor and mentor, received a Links Inc. scholarship and was awarded the Pursuit of Excellence award from the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. |
HEATHER CABRERA
Flanagan
Her church's 40-day journey through Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life, inspired Heather to create an instructional video that can be used by other groups.
''It has always been my nature to dwell on the paradoxes and unanswered questions of life,'' she wrote.
| Heather also is a black belt in karate, was named an AP Scholar, helped lead her school's rocketry team to 10th place in the national Team America Rocketry Challenge and was a finalist in the Miss Teen Florida pageant. |
JONATHAN OSSIP
North Broward Prep
When a classmate suggested visiting South Africa to make a documentary about impoverished schools, Jonathan jumped at the chance and came back with Water, a 30-minute film.
The film will be used to raise awareness for A Spring of Hope, which has raised more than $50,000 for schools in that country.
| Jonathan is a gifted musician who has been named to the Broward All-County Honors Orchestra, is managing editor of his school newspaper and was named the 2007 Outstanding Physics Student of the Year by the American Association of Physics Teachers. |
SCIENCE
KELLY CHACON
American Heritage
Her love of science inspired Kelly to create a science curriculum for her local Boys and Girls Club that proved so successful it is now being expanded to include other clubs in Broward, and could eventually help mentor 15,000 children.
She also helped raise more than $200,000 for pediatric cancer patients at Broward General Medical Center as part of her school's pre-med society.
Her work on identifying the gene that regulates the growth of a fungus harmful to many crops has been recognized by the Intel Foundation, the U.S. Air Force and others.
| She is an AP Scholar with Honor and has been accepted through early admission to Yale. |
PAUL JASINTO
Miramar
After discovering that his classmates suffered a critical need for information on how to take college entrance exams, Paul created a resource library for his school.
Paul, a gifted chemistry student who took organic chemistry at Broward Community College while still in high school, also started a chemistry tutoring program that led him to develop his own lesson plans.
| He captained his school's wrestling team and, as of January, was undefeated in his high school career. He was also named the Sunshine State Scholar for Miramar High. |
KIMBERLY SPARLING
Fort Lauderdale
The summer before her senior year, Kimberly tediously isolated peptides in the venom of poisonous sea snails during an internship at Florida Atlantic University.
Her hard work paid off when she discovered a new peptide that will help research into the treatment of chronic pain.
She was named a semifinalist in both the Intel Science Talent Search and Siemens Science competitions and received the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award. She represented Florida at the American Association for the Advancement of Science convention in 2007.
| She is an AP Scholar and was awarded the Smith College Book Award. |
SOCIAL SCIENCE
GLORIA DOCILAIT
Blanche Ely
As president of her student government, Gloria created an initiative to renew pride and dedication in her school. The campaign urged students to behave well and show respect to both the school and its teachers.
In response, her peers selected her as the student most likely to be elected to public office, as well as the most likely to succeed.
| She has been honored for her work in marketing, volunteers at her church, has participated in her school's dance team for the past four years and was selected for the National Honor Roll. |
GEORGINO HYPPOLITE
Chaminade Madonna
A friendship with the Sunny Isles Beach city attorney led Georgino to devote hundreds of hours helping the city historian preserve the city's history.
''The city needs to maintain a balance between the old and new,'' he wrote. ``Hopefully, the history will remain important to the bustling city.''
Georgino is a tutor, volunteers as an altar server at his church and is a gifted soccer player who has started on his school's varsity team since his sophomore year.
| He won the FIU Book Award and was an outstanding participant in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. |
DANIEL METTER
Fort Lauderdale
Navigating the sometimes Byzantine rules of city and county government, Daniel succeeded in having a street renamed in his school's honor.
Thanks to the skills he honed in his pre-law class, a section of Northeast Fourth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale will be called Flying L Drive.
| Daniel has volunteered in the county's division of consumer affairs and is a keen competitor in the Academic Games who was named to the national team for the last three years. He is a talented table tennis player and certified table tennis umpire. |
SPEECH
NICOLE BILLER
Cooper City
Using her speaking and leadership skills, Nicole helped raise more than $4,000 for a rare and little-known pain disorder that contributed to the death of her cousin.
The club she founded, which offers support to those who suffer from Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, now counts more than 300 members.
| She has also contributed hundreds of hours to, among other things, coaching cheerleading, teaching swimming and working at a senior center. She placed fifth in the Cypress Bay 2007 debate tournament and won best speaker in the North Broward Preparatory tournament in 2007. |
JONATHAN FISTEL
Douglas
After the shootings at Virginia Tech, Jonathan rallied students around the state to show their support for the victims' families.
Once completed, a scrapbook he compiled weighed more than 30 pounds.
He also organized a basketball tournament that raised $2,500 for Special Olympics and is a gifted debater who was ranked 53rd in the country last year.
| He was a quarter-finalist in the Yale Invitational debate tournament and placed first in the Florida Forensic League County Championship. He was also senior class president and an AP Scholar. |
DANIELLE KEREM
Hollywood Hills
Frustrated by a lack of involvement in community affairs by her peers, Danielle created a service organization at her high school to campaign for social justice and change.
''As a first generation American, and daughter of Moroccan and Iraqi-Kurdish immigrants, I view the safeguarding and exercise of liberties that accompany citizenship as both a remarkable privilege and essential responsibility,'' she wrote.
| A gifted speaker, she was asked to moderate a debate between two of her city's mayoral candidates and was the only high school student invited to a Washington forum on leadership among young women activists. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction and has varsity letters in water polo, swimming and tennis. |
VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL
ANTHONY CRUZ
J.P. Taravella
When Anthony was told he would be in charge of food for 300 at a memorial for three graduates killed on 9/11 and in the Iraq war, he knew he was right for the job.
''It's because of events like the 9/11 memorial that I got into this business,'' he wrote. ``It's for the moms who entered that room and saw how hard we worked to make this effort special for them, for the dads wearing military uniforms that came in and saw our precision and the sister [who remembered] how she used to love baking cakes with her brother.''
| Anthony is a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and the math honor society. He was president of his school's culinary arts program and an honorable mention in the Broward All-County boy's volleyball team. |
ALYCIA OPPENHEIM
Hollywood Hills
After learning about the devastating effects of AIDS while training as a peer counselor, Alycia became an advocate for awareness and eventually developed an educational workshop.
She is currently working with the Urban League to expand her program and is a prolific writer who has self-published one novel and is editing a second.
| Alycia has been named to the Principal's Honor Roll, was awarded the Faculty Award at her school for peer counseling, won second place in the Broward Literary Fair for an informal essay and received her school's Choir Award. |
JULIE RIEZENMAN
Piper
After spending the past six summers volunteering at a preschool, Julie used her expertise to organize the graduation for her school's Early Childhood Education program last year.
''Resourceful and very creative, Julie is able to plan and carry out organized age-appropriate activities that promote the well-being of young children,'' her teacher wrote.
| Julie also spent summers volunteering at a preschool and was invited to join the National Honor Society. |
