Jerome Allen

Jerome Allen graduated from South Central High School in Winterville, North Carolina. Allen’s achievements include the planning of a benefit concert series that organized young Greenville artists and performers to raise more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, which offers out-of-town cancer patients and their caregivers a free, temporary place to stay while undergoing treatment. The concert series also benefited Greenville Community Shelters, Inc., which provides shelter and support services for Pitt County’s homeless. Allen was also selected as the Greenville representative of American Legion Tar Heels Boys State, a summertime program that trains young people in the ideals and objectives of American government. He also participated in Theater Arts and was the treasurer of his school’s National Honor Society. Allen plans to double major in Dramatic Arts and Political Science, and will be working with Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate.

Cameron Bynum

Cameron Bynum graduated from Rutherfordton-Spindale Central High School in Rutherfordton, North Carolina where he was the founder and president of the Diversity Club. Bynum was accepted to study Social Science at the Governor’s School of North Carolina in Winston-Salem, where he founded a Spanish club and was a Final Convocation Speaker. He was the captain of the Academic Team, which competed in local and state quiz bowl-type exhibitions. Bynum plans to major in Political Science at Carolina. He will be working with the Street Scene Teen Center this year, which is co-sponsored by Chapel Hill Parks & Recreation and provides a place for teens ages 12-18 to spend their afternoon hours, and provides counselors for guidance and support.

Mia Carrington

Mia Carrington graduated from Tallwood High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In spring 2012, Carrington honored her late aunt, a victim of sickle cell anemia, by dedicating her senior project to raising awareness about the disease. Her supporting website and Facebook page, “Educate to Eliminate- Sickle Cell Anemia” details Carrington’s efforts – her research paper on potential methods to prolong the life of a red blood cell, her organization of a blood drive that drew 170 donors, and her creation of a children’s book (titled Nina’s Story) to explain the basic symptoms and effects of the disease to elementary school students. Carrington was the captain of her track & field and cross country teams, played violin in the school orchestra, tutored students in Japanese as Vice President of the Japanese Honor Society and was a member of the National Honor Society. She plans to double major in Global Studies and Computer Science, with a minor in Business.  Carrington will be working with the Student Coalition for Action in Literary Education (SCALE).

Cameron Coughlin

Cameron Coughlin graduated from South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she was president of the service club “Sabres Stand Against Indifference” (SSAI). As president, Coughlin organized two events – “Dancing for a Difference” and “Walking for Rwanda” in combination with an awareness week to focus attention on the impact of AIDS in Africa. The events raised $5,000 for Seeds of Hope and the funds ultimately benefited the Institute of Women’s Excellence in Rwanda. Coughlin volunteered at the Urban Ministry Center, organizing a Thanksgiving Dinner with homeless women and men in the community. As Student Body Vice President, Coughlin organized an Anti-Bullying Awareness Week. During her junior year, Coughlin raised more than $7,000 for the Community Health Access International (CHAI) clinic in Camp Louise, Haiti. Coughlin served on the board of CHAI and eventually became head of fundraising for the organization. She was also president of the National Honor Society, and served as captain of the Women’s Varsity Basketball team. She is currently studying Biochemistry and will volunteer at TABLE.

Amy Dingler

Amy Dingler graduated from Whitewater High School in Fayetteville, Georgia, where she was president of the French Honor Society and a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. Dingler founded the International Friends Foundation, an organization that provides scholarships to students who want to experience other cultures but do not have the resources to do so. In fall 2012, Dingler returned from spending a year abroad as part of the Campus Y’s Global Gap Year Fellowship, which provides financial support for an international service-based gap year that combines work, travel and volunteer service for a minimum of six months. The fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis to first-year students who are admitted to UNC, but defer enrollment for a gap year experience. Dingler’s travels took her to India to work with Missionaries of Charity and Dadawas Initiative; Italy to work with Caritas Menthas; Hungary to work with Foundation for Democratic Youth; and Madagascar to work with Reef Doctor. Amy is undecided about her major, and will be working with SCALE (Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education).

Lynn-Indora Edmond

Lynn-Indora Edmond graduated from Commack High School in Commack, New York. Her achievements include representing the Executive Board of the Student-Faculty Advisory Committee, volunteering at Huntington Hospital, and serving as a lector at Christ the King Church. Edmond was named a Distinguished Finalist in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for exemplary acts of volunteerism, for founding “Supporting Children Around the World”; an organization that provides basic necessities to impoverished children in Haiti. Edmond, whose parents are Haitian immigrants, travels frequently to Haiti where she teaches English, job skills and environmental awareness. She also received a $1,000 scholarship from Bristal Assisted Living Community for her record of community service. Edmond plans on double majoring in Public Health and Psychology, and will be working with EmPOWERment, Inc.

Freddy Ferguson

Freddy Ferguson graduated from The Early College Program at Guilford in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he was recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction. Ferguson was a member of the National Honor Society and attended North Carolina Governors School in Winston-Salem. Ferguson was one of the first recipients of a Service Learning Diploma from the Early College at Guilford; awarded to students who earned at least 175 service hours. During his four terms as secretary of the Early College Student Council, Ferguson created Service Week – a school-wide service project. Ferguson spent two years as president of the Greensboro Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., an organization that provides social, cultural, and educational opportunities for minority children. He was an active member of the soccer team and an Eagle Scout. Freddy plans to major in Chemistry, and will be working with the Hargraves Community Center in Chapel Hill this year.

Catherine Jackson-Jordan

Catherine Jackson-Jordan graduated from Hopewell High School in Huntersville, North Carolina. Jackson-Jordan was president of Hopewell High School’s chapter of Invisible Children, an organization devoted to stopping violence and supporting war-affected communities in East and Central Africa. She was also the band president and an ESL tutor. Jackson-Jordan also volunteered at CaliCos Haven, Inc., a nonprofit corporation providing individualized, group and family equine-assisted activities. Catherine has not declared a major. She will be working with Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate, a comprehensive support program for students in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools providing mentoring, tutoring, advocacy, enrichment, leadership training, and scholarship support services.

Helen Kyriakoudes

Helen Kyriakoudes graduated from the Our Lady Academy in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Kyriakoudes was co-captain of the swim team, and a member of the yearbook staff. From October 2011-July 2012 she participated in a gap year service program through AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), working on projects at the Boys and Girls Club of Brazoria County, Texas; Veterans’ Green Jobs in Denver, Colorado; Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity in Oklahoma City; and Rebuild Joplin in Missouri.  In 2011, Kyriakoudes participated in the second Southern Mississippi Journalism High School Journalism Workshop, hosted by USM School of Mass Communication and Journalism. She was one of 17 high school students selected to spend a week working with professional journalists, USM journalism faculty and USM journalism students to produce television and radio newscasts, a newspaper and website. Kyriakoudes plans to major in History, and will work with SCALE, Student Coalition for Action in Literacy Education.

Amber Pritchard

Amber Pritchard graduated from South Point High School in Belmont, North Carolina, where she created the school’s first Gay/Straight Alliance. In 2012 Pritchard and her teammate Darrell Black won the North Carolina State Moot Court Championship, which was conducted before a panel of N.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals justices and judges and held in the North Carolina Supreme Court Chambers in Raleigh. She was also selected to participate in North Carolina Governor’s School Program. Pritchard plans to double major in Political Science and English, and will be working with theSacrificial Poets through the Street Scene Teen Center.

Destiny Rogers

Destiny Rogers graduated from the Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology in Charlotte, North Carolina. Rogers volunteered atCarolinas Medical Center and was an intern at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte. Rogers also was an Honors HEROES Student, providing more than 60 hours of community service related to health care through the Charlotte Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Charlotte AHEC develops initiatives to educate all pre-college youth, with an emphasis on underrepresented minorities, and economically or educationally disadvantaged populations about health careers. Rogers organized several grants and funds for SAT and AP peer tutoring programs at her school. Rogers is planning on a Pre-Med track at Carolina with a double major in Psychology and Biology, and she’ll be working with EmPOWERment, Inc. this year.

James Smith

James Smith graduated from Carrboro High School in Carrboro, North Carolina. Smith was the president of the National Honor Society, and through that organization created an annual scholarship for students with financial need, tutored peers and raised funds for local charities. At Carrboro High School, Smith founded and led a program for tutoring Chapel Hill/Carrboro elementary school students. He was also the Co-Leader of two service trips to Kiria, Kenya during the summers prior to his junior and senior years; Smith and other volunteers upgraded the infrastructure of a local schoolhouse, and repaired local roads. Smith plans to major in Global Studies with minors in Spanish and Business. Smith will be working with the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Human Rights Center.

Rachel Woolridge

Rachel Woolridge graduated from Lexington Senior High School in Lexington, North Carolina. Woolridge was a 2012 Project Potential graduate; Project Potential awards a scholarship to eighth-grade students in Davidson County who are nominated by their teachers and guidance counselors. To receive the scholarship, class of 2012 seniors adhere to the program’s criteria through all four years of high school. Woolridge was also elected Senior Class President and participated in the National Honor Society, Human Rights Campaign, Environmental Club, and her school’s Choral Ensemble. In the summer before her senior year, Woolridge learned more about environmental issues and leadership skills while attending the “Redesigning Our Future” National Environmental Summit at Catawba College. She also volunteered at a local hospital, putting in more than 150 hours of service working in the outpatient waiting room, administration, information desk, pharmacy, rehabilitation services and the emergency room. Woolridge is undecided about her major, and will be working with the Orange County Family Resource Center.