Here are updates on past Best & Brightest grand-prize winners:
YEAR: 2003
NAME: Violet Pu, Lakeside High School graduate
COLLEGE: Will graduate from Yale University on May 28 with a degree in film studies
CURRENT ACTIVITIES: Finishing undergraduate duties with the Yale Daily News; agent for Senior Class Gift fundraising effort; member of departmental Film Studies Advisory Board; working as Headmaster’s Aide at the dormitory.
FUTURE PLANS: After graduation, I plan to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in television writing or film development. Eventually, I’d like to be a staff writer for a television show, but I’m also drawn to all sorts of disparate fields of the entertainment business.
OF NOTE: I’m excited about finishing college (I probably won’t be going to any graduate school later) and just getting out there and having a go at adulthood. I continue to be grateful to the Best & Brightest program for the early encouragement and recognition, and I wish the best for contestants and winners from this year and previous years.
YEAR: 2004
NAME: Anant Mandawat, Lakeside High School graduate
COLLEGE: Senior at University of Georgia. Expected graduation date: May 2008
MAJOR: Biochemistry and molecular biology ; economics
CURRENT ACTIVITIES: Basic science research on diabetes; public policy research on access to clean water and sanitation; English as a Second Language instructor; Special Olympics volunteer; Arch Society
FUTURE PLANS: I am hoping to attend medical school.
OF NOTE: Last summer, I traveled to India to provide a means for safe water distribution at a rural school. In March, I had the opportunity to study in South Korea, where I lived in monasteries and learned about Zen Buddhism from monks and nuns. I will be traveling to China in May for a study abroad program on China’s political and economic systems. After the program, I am looking forward to an internship in China to help train Chinese government officials on issues like public management, budgeting and policy analysis.
YEAR: 2005
NAME: Sana Hashmi, Lakeside High School graduate
COLLEGE: Junior at University of Georgia
MAJOR: Biology, microbiology and religion with pre-medical intentions
CURRENT ACTIVITIES: Research apprentice, UGA Rotary president; Association of Women in Science president; Palladia Women’s Honors Society; Blue Key Honor Society; Honors Program teaching assistant; ambassador for Honors Program and Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; Muslim Student Associations
FUTURE PLANS: Obtain medical degree and practice plastic and reconstructive surgery, specializing with burn victims
OF NOTE: I was one of three students chosen for a 2007 Midterm Foundation Fellowship, UGA’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship
YEAR: 2006
NAME: TaCara Denise Harris, Glenn Hills High School graduate
COLLEGE: Sophomore at Vanderbilt University
MAJOR: Double Major in political science and sociology with a minor in Spanish
CURRENT ACTIVITIES: Resident adviser; board member for CAR (College As A Reality mentoring program); special events chairwoman of LIFE (Lessons Inspriring Female Empowerment, a mentoring program); Habitat for Humanity volunteer; Vanderbilt Students volunteer for science; member of Voices of Praise – Vanderbilt Gospel Choir; employee at the Pub Restaurant on campus; participant in the Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant; peer tutor; Relay for Life volunteerbr>
FUTURE PLANS: This summer, I will be participating in an internship for the law offices of Alabama A&M University. Next summer, I plan to study abroad in Spain.
OF NOTE: I received a full academic Chancellor’s Scholarship to Vanderbilt University for Outstanding Academic Achievement, Leadership, and Community Service. Since then, I have made the dean’s list both semesters .
