Nina has been an ACS volunteer since she was an eager 5-year-old selling daffodils for a spring fundraiser. She says, "Last year, I realized that teenagers like myself could make a big difference in the fight against cancer. I knew that the best way to help would be to start a teen organization." She started a teen board in her county and, after seeing how successful it was, investigated whether anything similar existed on the national level. Finding nothing, she contacted ACS officials and worked with them to create ACS Teens. Nina launched a nationwide letter-writing campaign to attract volunteers, set up a Web site, and an e-mail network, started a newsletter, and began arranging monthly conference calls to share ideas and plan joint projects.

Nina also founded an organization that designs and presents youth-to-youth health education programs, focusing on physical, mental and spiritual health issues.

As a senior at Parkersburg High School, Nina was honored by Prudential as one of America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers of 2002.

After learning about the Children's Nutrition Network, an aid program that provides meals and tutoring to underprivileged inner-city youth, Christopher researched the organization and then wrote and presented a proposal to Regis University that resulted in a $3,700 grant. In addition, Christopher mobilized other young people from his school, church and neighborhood to volunteer their weekends, summer vacations, and holidays to work at the Food Bank of the Rockies.

Christopher also developed two programs to benefit migrant workers in southern California and low-income Hispanic fathers transitioning from welfare to the workforce. He collected nearly $21,000 worth of food and clothing, and worked with a trucking company to donate truck space and labor to ship the items to those in need.

As a senior at D'Evelyn Junior/Senior High School, Christopher was honored by Prudential as one of America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers of 2002.

After speaking with her school principal, Lauren organized "The Bookworm Project," asking every student at her school to donate new and gently used children's books. More than 2,280 books were collected, sorted, boxed and delivered.

Next, Lauren sought permission from the publishers to record dozens of books on tape for students with no one to read to them at home. She solicited grants and donations of tape recorders, tapes, batteries, and other supplies to make the recordings. Then she recruited community leaders and celebrities, including Florida First Lady Columba Bush and former Attorney General Janet Reno, to read the books out loud. "I believe that books are children's magic carpets," Lauren explains.

As a senior at Pine View School, Lauren was honored by Prudential as one of America's Top 10 Youth Volunteers of 2002.

An avid stamp collector, he began by launching an effort to persuade the U.S. Postal Service to issue a stamp highlighting Crohn's disease. He built a website to promote the idea, collected 5,000 signatures on a petition, and helped draft a Congressional resolution urging approval of the new stamp. Gideon also has delivered motivational lectures at schools and student conferences, and recently formed a foundation that is seeking pharmaceutical research grants to study the disease. "With Crohn's or any adversity, you can live a life of sorrow feeling helpless," he explains, "or you can choose to turn it into an opportunity and realize you have the power to create change."

As a senior at Highland Park High School, Gideon was honored at one of the National Top Ten Volunteers of 2003.