Distinguished Finalist

Amy Chyao, 17, of Richardson, Texas, a senior at Plano East Senior High School, created "Spell Success," a nonprofit organization that provides spelling instruction through monthly spelling sessions, summer camps, spelling bees and an educational website. Amy, once a national spelling bee contender, spent hundreds of hours developing the curriculum, raised more than $2,000 to support the program, recruited volunteers and reached more than 200 students with her project.