Distinguished Finalist

Michael Bryant Powell, 18, of Belleville, Ill., a senior at Belleville West High School, embarked on an Eagle Scout project to raise more than $2,300 to provide 150 copies of the book "Maybe Days" to school libraries and faculty to help them help foster children succeed in school. Michael, who was adopted by his last foster parents when he was ten years old, remembered how the book helped him cope and wanted to do something to help other foster children find happiness and success.