Biographies

Ambar Espinoza

Full Name: Ambar Liliana Martinez Espinoza
Preferred Name: Ambar L. Espinoza
Birth date: 03/27/1983 Age: 17
Birth place: San Salvador, El Salvador
Residence: Los Angeles, California

My mother and I moved from El Salvador to the United States when I was two years old for a better life and education. My grandmother, my aunts and uncles had already been settled in California when my mother and I moved here.

As a single parent, my mother works very hard to provide my little sister and me the best that she can possibly provide. Since I was a little girl, she has always placed me in private schools. Unfortunately, I couldn't continue a private school education because private schools are very expensive. I currently attend University High School in West Los Angeles as a senior.

As an adult, I wish to pursue a career in journalism. I've been an active writer for my school newspaper since I was in ninth grade--I am the current editor-in-chief of my school paper--and for LA Youth, the newspaper by and about Los Angeles teens since summer of 1998. I currently have a contract with Teen People Magazine as a member of its News Team. So far, articles that I have worked on : 1) Political town halls in Los Angeles (Dec/Jan issue); I didn't have a by-line, but I received credit additional reporting, 2) 20 Teens who will change the world--Kristen Watson (March issue). In addition to these articles, I pitch story ideas.

Even though I have a strong background in print journalism, I have an interest in pursuing broadcast journalism.

I plan to continue my education by attending a four-year university. I applied to 4 universities for the academic school year 2001-2002, but so far, I have not heard from any.

Ambar Espinoza plans to major in journalism at the University of California - Santa Barbara.


Clayton Kennedy


Warrensburg High, Warrensburg, Missouri

COLLEGES BEING CONSIDERED: Bard College, Hampshire College, Lewis & Clark College, Pitzer College, Colorado College, New College of the University of South Florida, Goucher College, University of Puget Sound, Truman State University

INTENDING TO STUDY: Life, with a focus in Fine Arts (Theatre), Humanities, and Intercultural Studies.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS: Played lead in two all-school plays (The Uninvited and Fiddler on the Roof) and supporting role in third; placed in state top-five three times in theatrical forensics (fifth in Duet Acting, third in Readers Theatre and second in Poetry) and made it to state four other times, including twice for the tourney this April; am ranked first in class of 250; compete on school soccer and cross country teams; three-year member of band and marching band programs; worked tirelessly for and achieved a better Sex-Ed program for local high-school; selected for the Missouri Scholars Academy and recently for the Missouri Scholars 100; spent four weeks as exchange student in Oaxaca, Mexico.

SERVICE: Big Brother in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program; weekly volunteer at Shelter Abuse House; help organize or run many other projects or programs for local children (Christmas parties for foster children, Children’s Literature Festivals, etc.); testified before the Missouri House of Representatives committee for the Equal Rights Amendment; spent three months in rural, central Mexico as English teacher; intend to spend 2001 summer as Easter-Seals counselor for disadvantaged children.

Clayton Kennedy will attend Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.


Leah Knobler

My name is Leah Knobler. I’m seventeen years old and a senior at Sycamore High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. I’m thrilled to have been accepted early decision at Tufts University, so I’ve been enjoying my senior year without too much stress. I love hanging out with my friends, music, and playing lacrosse. I’m captain of my high school’s varsity team and we’ve just begun our season which will continue over the next two months. We have a good chance at the state championship even though we’re a very new team and must travel hours from home to find other teams to play. I hope to play lacrosse in college.

I’ve been in Student Council throughout high school as an elected representative. It’s given me the opportunity to work with people and give something back to my class. I’m a real “people person” and will probably major in government, psychology or communications.

Who knows, reading my college essay on NPR may lead to a career in radio.

Leah Knobler will attend Tufts University in Boston.


Leo Stoscheck

Leo is 18 years old and a senior at the Alternative Community School in Ithaca New York. Ithaca is home to Ithaca College and Cornell University, and is surrounded by many beautiful gorges and waterfalls. Leo has been very happy with his years at ACS, which prides itself on using a system called Graduation By Exhibition or GBE. GBE requires that students demonstrate their understanding through the completion of a portfolio. GBE requirements equal or surpass their New York State Regents equivalent. One of the GBE requirements for seniors is the completion of a senior project. Leo is currently in the process of constructing a wooden sea kayak which he will paddle from the Saint Lawrence Seaway to the Atlantic Ocean this coming spring. In addition to classes at ACS, Leo has also taken some great classes at Cornell University. Leo has applied to three colleges. He has been accepted at SUNY Purchase and Goucher college, and is waiting for reply from Cornell University. In the future, Leo hopes to pursue Ecology and Environmental sciences as well as social sciences such as sociology in college. However, Leo will be spending the coming year as a Rotary exchange student in Venezuela.

Leo Stoscheck will spend next year in Venezuela. He plans to study natural resources at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.


Richard Van Ornum

Age 17 (born April 22, 1983)

Senior at: The Seven Hills School 5400 Red Bank Road Cincinnati, OH 45227

The son of Chuck VanOrnum & Swann Fredrickson of Anderson Township in Cincinnati, Ohio, Richard has attended the Seven Hills School for 13 years, since kindergarten.

Richard, a senior at the Seven Hills Upper School in Cincinnati, maintains Honor Roll standing while balancing challenging coursework with his extracurricular interests. When not studying, he participates on the swim team, is a member of theater and vocal productions, tutors elementary students, and writes independently. He especially enjoys travel and foreign culture, music, and skiing.

Given his many interests, Richard looks forward to pursuing a liberal arts education, and is anxiously waiting to hear from Yale, Colgate, Amherst, Princeton, and Tufts.

Richard Van Ornum will study liberal arts at Tufts University in Boston.