Soumya "Ammu" Irivinti, 16

Accomplishments: It started at age 8 when she fell off the monkey bars at recess and cut herself. An older student told her she had AIDS simply because she was bleeding.

She didn't. She put together a website, www.AIDS-Awareness.org, to inform people about AIDS.

Last November, Irivinti went to Tunisia where her website work was recognized at the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society. Over the last six years, the Derry resident has raised more than $99,500 to support initiatives that promote education, tolerance, and human rights.

Destination: Johns Hopkins University, biomedical engineering

In her words: ``I don't really have any set expectations or goals. If I go into re search for an AIDS vaccine, I'm not necessarily looking to find a cure for AIDS, but it would be nice. Hopefully whatever I do would be a foundation for somebody else.

``Living here we are so fortunate compared to people in other countries or in different areas of the US. Since we have the resources and the know-how to make changes, we should be trying to do that. I want to make a difference not necessarily for a lot of people but at least for somebody, which is why, regardless of whether I become a doctor or an HIV researcher, I want to be involved in community service. I would like to keep helping people and as long as I can do that for a couple of people, that would be fulfilling."

In the words of her math teacher, Jim Poirier: ``She has a wonderful meld of intellect, drive, and caring wrapped into one package."