Distinguished Finalist

Matthew Williams, 15, of Vienna, Ill., a sophomore at Vienna High School, raised nearly $1,300 for the St. Louis Children's Hospital and provided hats to children undergoing chemotherapy through his project, "Matt's Hats." Matthew, who was only nine years old when he underwent surgery and radiation to remove a brain tumor, began a hat collection to cover his own head and wanted to provide hats to other young patients as a small comfort.