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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dan Connors
Catholic Digest
Phone: 860.437.3012 ext. 121
E-mail: dconnors@catholicdigest.com
www.catholicdigest.com
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America's top young leaders of 2009
Presented by Catholic Digest and QSP, a Time Inc. company
August 19, 2009 -- QSP (the educational fundraising arm of Time, Inc) and
Catholic Digest have selected seven students as the winners of their annual "Young Leaders of Tomorrow" contest. The winners are featured in the Catholic Digest September 2009 article "America's Top Young Leaders of 2009."
Students
were nominated by their schools or dioceses. The seven winners were selected from a pool of over 100 candidates. Each winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship to be put toward
his or her Catholic high school tuition. All of the scholarship winners
display the ability to inspire those around them through their
character, determination, and dedication to their schools and
communities. Many overcame personal
hardships en route to reaching their goals..
QSP has helped schools and youth groups raise money by
selling magazines, candy, and gift items for more than 40 years.Catholic Digest is a continuing partner in the Young
Leaders of Tomorrow program, supporting the efforts of Catholic
teachers and schools academically and with extracurricular activities.
Meet the scholarship winners (the winner's photo appears to the right of the text):
 Tatiana Amundson Tacoma, Washington
Tatiana,
14, uses her positive attitude to encourage and motivate the people
around her. An active leader, she has served on the St. Charles
Borromeo School's Relay for Life team, organized a student team to
raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and tutored
younger students. Outside of school, Tatiana has organized a blanket
project for nursing homes, baked cookies in a hospitality kitchen, and
participated in Girl Scouts. "Tatiana is a terrific young
lady," wrote Patrick Feist, Tatiana's school principal. "She is an
excellent role model for her classmates and younger students. She is
the type of person any parent would be very proud of."
 Keith Kuharevicz Muskegon, Michigan
"Having
known this young man for several years, I can honestly say I have never
seen a negative attitude from Keith," writes Pat O'Neill, principal of
Muskegon Catholic Central Middle School. Keith's naturally cheery
disposition serves him well both in the classroom (where he maintains a
4.0 GPA) and on the soccer field (where he plays and coaches younger
players). Keith enjoys challenging himself academically - he chose to
take a high-school-level geometry course rather than a standard
eighth-grade course - and can often be found with his books during
lunchtime, working on class assignments. He attends St. Frances de
Sales Church.
 Marissa Budke Beloit, Kansas
Marissa
does not like to miss school - even after her family's home was
destroyed by a tornado, Marissa was in class every day. Instead of
dwelling on her own loss, she jumped in to help her neighbors. Marissa
brings a similar dedication to everything she does. She participates in
Mass regularly as a choir leader, lector, and Mass server. One of her
favorite volunteer activities is Social Justice Day, when students go
into the community and help people with odd jobs they can't complete on
their own. When she's not volunteering her time or pursuing her
schoolwork, Marissa enjoys playing sports, writing stories, learning
science, and working outside with farm animals.
 Natalia Gonzalez Dallas, Texas
Natalia
is known as a "go-to" girl at her school. Her willingness to take on
class and service projects, accomplish her own assignments, and
encourage other students to complete their tasks - all with a
contagious enthusiasm - have earned the respect of her peers and
faculty. Natalia donates a great deal of her time to her parish's
Vacation Bible School program and is also an altar server at school and
church. Natalia also participates in monthly community service
projects, speaks both English and Spanish, and enjoys singing at Mass
and in school productions. She's a member of the drill team and
participates in speech competitions, in which she has won several
awards.
 Andrew Alonso Murrieta, California
St.
Hyacinth Academy eighth graders are required to complete 30 hours of
community service prior to graduation. Andrew had completed his 30
hours by October. However, he didn't stop there - he continued to
volunteer for fundraisers and events to fight homelessness and poverty
in his community. Andrew actively participates in classroom discussions
and played the role of Jesus in the eighth grade Passion Play. Andrew's
goal after high school is to attend the University of Southern
California. "I have always tried to make sure that I achieve my full
potential and create new goals for myself," writes Andrew. "I plan on
doing the same in high school."
 Denise Umanzor San Francisco, California
"When
I think of Denise, I think of hard-working," writes Principal Tom
Dooher. Hard work and an appreciation for education are values that
Denise most likely picked up from her parents, who are enthusiastic
supporters of Denise's school, St. Finn Barr, and attend every school
function. Denise is active both in school and in her San Francisco
community, organizing this year's school fundraiser and volunteering to
serve lunch to the homeless at a local church. Formerly shy, Denise is
now an active participant in classroom discussions and considered an
asset to any group. When not busy with her schoolwork and volunteer
activities, Denise enjoys playing sports, music, and traveling.
 Genevieve Peterson Seattle, Washington
Despite
being busy with sports (softball, soccer, and basketball) and competing
as a prize-winning Irish dancer, "Genna" makes participating in
fundraisers and service projects a priority. Genna has lent her
assistance to a myriad of causes, including Hurricane Katrina relief,
Free the Children, and Heifer International. Genna is also a member of
her school's math and science clubs, is on the speech team, and
participates in math and science camps during the summer break. Genna
is known for having exceptional enthusiasm, and for her genuine
sincerity, which make her a welcome addition to any classroom, student
group, team, or community.
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Catholic
Digest is America's most popular Catholic magazine. Since 1936,
Catholic Digest has used the stories of real people to demonstrate that
a life guided by faith can be exciting, challenging, enlivening, and
joyous. Catholic Digest is owned by Bayard, an international publisher
with more than 100 periodicals in Europe, Africa, Asia, and America.
Note: Excerpts and quotations permitted. Credit Catholic Digest and original source if applicable.
For more information, contact Dan Connors at 800-321-0411 ext. 121 or via email at dconnors@catholicdigest.com
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