Distinguished Finalist

Baylee Mee, 13, of Reno, Nev., an eighth-grader at Edward L. Pine Middle School, worked with a friend and fellow Girl Scout to create "The Buddy Bench," installing a special bench at her school where a child goes if he or she is feeling left out or bullied, after which fellow students offer assistance. Baylee worked with her friend and the school principal to choose a location for the bench, spent 54 hours on design and installation, and gave a presentation to the students on how to use the bench to help curb bullying.