Author: Anslee Willett

To our readers: This is the last in a series of 20 profiles about area high school seniors honored in The Gazette’s 19th-annual Best and Brightest program. Michael Maloof was 13 years old when he undertook a project that continues to impact his life. As he was looking to take on an Eagle Scout Project,…

To our readers: This is the 17th in a series of profiles about 20 area high school seniors honored in The Gazette’s 19th-annual Best and Brightest program. Julie Micalizzi draws strength from losing her father to a brain tumor when she was 10 years old. “I realized that life is very precious, yet its length…

To our readers: This is the 15th in a series of profiles about 20 area high school seniors honored in The Gazette’s 19th-annual Best and Brightest program. Corey Patz began emerging from his shell after a head injury before his sophomore year. “I used to be a statue, a solitary figure that always stood on…

To our readers: This is the 13th in a series of profiles about 20 area high school seniors honored in the 19th-annual Best and Brightest program. As an Olympic figure skater, Rachael Flatt usually spends four to six hours a day training. But her focus is on more than skating. Her contributions include being an…

To our readers: This is the 11th in a series of profiles about 20 area high school seniors honored in The Gazette’s 19th-annual Best and Brightest program. Eric James’ passion sparked when he sent his first model rocket soaring into the sky. He was about 7 years old. “I was amazed at how something as…

To our readers: This is the eighth in a series of profiles about 20 area high school seniors honored in The Gazette’s 19th-annual Best and Brightest program. When Kevin Nikolaus was chosen halfway through his junior year to be a foreign exchange student in Germany for his senior year, he didn’t speak any German. “I…

To our readers: This is the ninth in a series of profiles about 20 area high school seniors honored in The Gazette’s 19th-annual Best and Brightest program. Harry Gilbert knew it wasn’t enough to read about life in Africa. He had to experience it. “I say this because I feel I have endorsed, to some…

To our readers: This is the sixth in a series of profiles about 20 area high school seniors honored in The Gazette’s 19th annual Best and Brightest program. Jennifer Cooper didn’t want to be just another statistic. When she became pregnant during her sophomore year, she decided to have the baby. She gave birth near…

To our readers:  This is the fourth in a series of profiles about 20 area high school seniors honored in the The Gazette’s 19th annual Best and Brightest program. Amanda Watson and her therapy dog Penny have helped people with Alzheimer’s remember a little about their past. One man kneaded Penny’s ears before saying, “I…

To our readers: This is the first in a series of profiles about 20 area high school seniors honored in The Gazette’s 19th annual Best & Brightest program. Leela Khanna didn’t know a word of English when she began kindergarten. Her parents, who moved from India 20 years ago, taught her Hindi as her first…