In the Spotlight - Spotlight on...

Current spotlight

May, 2008

Stephanie Mockler
Being A Girl Shouldn't Slow You Down

Did you ever want to get involved in a "boy's" sport, but thought you might be intimidated by the boys who played them?  Stephanie's advice is to not let that stop you.  When she was 5 years old, she got in the seat of a race car and has been driving ever since.  In 2004, at age 16, she became the youngest female race car driver to win the U.S. Auto Club race (USAC).  Read her story about how she got started, where she is now, and what her future holds.

Past Spotlights

2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002

March, 2008

Adora Svitak
She's got the "write" stuff!

What can Adora do at age 10 that most of us will never achieve in a lifetime?  Though only in seventh grade, Adora wrote over 330,000 words in the last year alone.  Her stories include historical fiction, poetry, and “tips” books for kids.  She is already a published author.  Though she says she mostly just writes for fun, Adora's belief in herself inspires other girls to set their sights higher. She may still be young, but her accomplishments are making a huge impact on the way girls think about their own potential.

January, 2008

Ana Dodson
A Giving Heart

Ana was adopted when she was a little baby, but she always dreamed of returning to the country she was born in.  When she visited a Peruvian orphanage 4 years ago, she saw how the children were not as fortunate as she was and she decided to make it her mission to help them.  Read about her story, about her trip to Peru, and how she opened her heart to give back to the place she once called home.

November, 2007

Kavya Shivashankar
A Love for Words Spells Success

What was your best subject in school?  For Kavya Shivashankar, it was spelling! Her love of words and the way they sound opened her up to the world of spelling bees. Read about her journey to the National Spelling Bee and how she keeps her head filled with words most of us have never heard of before!

September, 2007

Clare Greenberg
Volunteering Makes a World of Difference

Did you ever think the sport you play in school could bring you half way around the world? Not only did Clare’s love of soccer bring her to Africa, it gave her a chance to teach girls about HIV/AIDS and create friendships that will last a lifetime. Read about her trip to South Africa, her love of horses, and her advice to you about volunteering.

July, 2007

Scarlett Pomers
A story of struggle and survival

At just 18 years old, Scarlett Pomers has already done some amazing things! As an accomplished actress, you may have seen her on Star Trek: Voyager or playing Reba McEntire's daughter Kyra on the sitcom REBA. Now a budding musician, you can see her band playing in some of Hollywood's hottest spots! What you might not know about her is that she suffered from an eating disorder and now works to raise money for others in the same situation. Listen as she shares her story of struggle and survival and how she gives hope to others who live with eating disorders still.

May, 2007

Julia McDaniel
Taking a Stand

When was the last time you did something to change something you didn't like? Julia McDaniel heard about wild horses being treated poorly and decided to take a stand. She put posters up at her school, started a petition, and collected letters from students and community members to send to Congress. In the end, she gathered hundreds of signatures and over 250 letters that she sent to her state representatives and senators. Was she able to help save the wild horses? Read her interview to find out.

March, 2007

Lindsey Williams
A Passion for Gardening Leads to Desire to End Hunger

Have you ever dreamed of helping people in need, making the world a better place, or inventing something that could make a difference in the world? Lindsey Williams did and she's well on her way to making these dreams a reality! Read her interview and think about ways to make your dreams of helping others come true!

January, 2007

Jenessa Largent
Do You Have A Patriotic Spirit?

When Jenessa’s uncle went to Iraq, she wanted to do something to honor him. She decided making bracelets would be a great way to show her support. They really caught on; 200,000 bracelets later, she’s still giving them away for free! She’s met some interesting people and has done some fun things along the way. Read about her mission to bring all the troops home and how she’s an inspiration to others!

November, 2006

Britni Lonesome
Teen Researcher Seeks Better Way to Treat Tuberculosis

When you were younger, did you want to grow up to find the cure for a disease or help millions of people find comfort? At 18 years of age, Britni Lonesome of Baltimore, MD did just that. She worked on a way to help tuberculosis patients take less medicine. She helped find a way for them to take one kind of medication over three months instead of the four pills they now swallow every day for up to nine months! Read more about what she does every day to make the world (and herself) a healthier place!

September, 2006

Juliana Ho
Motivated Intern Takes Washington, D.C. by Storm

If you ever thought you had a lot packed in one day, you'll love to read about how Juliana Ho spent the first few months of 2006 as a Congressional page in Washington, D.C. Up before dawn, to school at 6:15 a.m., and then sometimes working until 11:00 p.m. — Juliana got a taste of what working on the Hill is like! Read her Spotlight On interview and her suggestions about what it takes to get a great internship.

July, 2006

Stephanie "Kira" Dye
Lifting spirits and raising money with music

Do you play a musical instrument? Have you ever thought to use your talent to raise money for a charity or two? Stephanie “Kira” Dye has been playing the cello since she was 5-years-old. For the past few years, she has raised thousands of dollars for charities in her home town of St. Louis, MO! Read her interview and find out what else this future soloist does for fun.

April, 2006

Leah Larson
Creating a voice for girls in America and around the world

Starting your own business can be a lot of work. Try doing it when you’re only 15! Leah Larson did just that when she created a magazine called "Yaldah" for Jewish girls (find out what Yaldah means in the interview). Doing everything from writing, to advertising, to public relations, to editing, Leah still manages to get her school work done, manage a Web site for her synagogue, work out at her gym, and spend time taking pictures—one of her favorite hobbies. If you’ve ever thought about being a writer, editor, or going into advertising, read all about Leah Larson, our Spotlight celebrity!

February, 2006

Anna Neustaedter
Raising money and raising awareness

Getting through a tough situation usually requires the help of a few good friends. That is what happened to Anna, a girl who battled an eating disorder but turned to her friends, family, doctors, and even traveled to recover. She started her own charity to help raise awareness about eating disorders by selling sweets to kids and people around town. Read her inspiring story to learn more about her ongoing recovery and how she's an inspiration to everyone around her.

November, 2005

Rachel Reizner
Breast cancer awareness advocate, harp player, and athlete

Would you ever think about cutting off all of your hair and donating it to a good cause?! That’s what our Spotlight, Rachel, did after her cousin died of cancer. Rachel volunteers a lot of her time helping educate people about cancer. Read more about all the other things this busy 11-year-old does in her spare time and learn how you can make a difference in other people’s lives by volunteering too!

September, 2005

Austin-Nicole Zachrich
Lights, Camera, Action!

This girl knows what it's really like to be "In the Spotlight." She hosts her own TV show, performs on stage, and has been recognized in magazines for her outstanding community service. In pursuing her dream to become an actress, she makes it a point to be active in her community and get a positive message to teens. Read all about Austin-Nichole Zachrich in her interview with girlshealth.gov.

July, 2005

Margaret Whitney
Working with the disabled

What do you want to do when you graduate high school? Do you want to travel, go to college, get a job, or join the military? Well, this Spotlight seems to know exactly what she wants to do and she’s working hard to get there. Margaret Whitney dreams of going to medical school, working with the disabled, and using her love of horses to reach out to others. Read about how this young woman is doing what it takes to succeed as a college student!

May, 2005

Katie Sullivan
Small girl with a big spirit

Each one of us has limitations to what we can do. What makes us unique is how we overcome those limitations and make our other talents shine through even the most difficult situations. Katie Sullivan is a girl that doesn’t let anything stand in her way—especially not Downs Syndrome. She’s super-involved and has enough energy for all her extra-curricular activities and then some!

March, 2005

Lacey Erickson
Miss Teen Minnesota International 2005

Have you ever wondered what it takes to be in a beauty pageant? Miss Teen Minnesota International, Lacey Erickson will tell you that there’s more to it than interviews, ball gowns, and being on stage. Part of the job is creating a platform ( an issue she feels strongly about and will promote throughout the year) and thinking up ways to spread the word to others. Find out the inside scoop about pageants, nutrition, and being healthy from Lacey Erickson herself!

August, 2004

Courtney Kupets
Professional gymnast

Did you think it was possible to juggle school, friends, and everyday pressures, all while trying out and making the Olympic team? How about doing all of this before the age of 18? The girlshealth.gov web site is very excited to spotlight a determined young lady, Courtney Kupets, who is a member of the US Women Gymnastics Team. We believe Courtney is a role model for any young woman determined to achieve even when faced with challenges!

June, 2003

Brandi Chastain
Professional soccer player
(Midfielder/defender for the San Jose CyberRays)

Did you ever want to become a professional female athlete but thought that wasn't possible to do for a living? Wouldn't you like a career that keeps you healthy while doing what you want to do with your best friends? Then read about one woman who has done both!

March, 2003

Roland Warren
President of the National Fatherhood Initiative.

Did you know that Fatherhood has a great impact on the health of adolescent girls? From academic achievements to self-esteem, fathers play an important role in the development of young girls. Read on to find out about one dedicated father... so dedicated that he's the president of a Fatherhood organization!

January, 2003

Cristina Beato
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health,
Office of Public Health and Science

Have you wondered what the federal government does to improve the health of young girls? In the Department of Health and Human Services, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health is very much involved in setting programs and policies dealing with the health of all American girls. Read all about her in this month's "In the Spotlight."

December, 2002

Wanda K. Jones
Office on Women's Health

Have you ever wondered where information about how to stay healthy comes from? Who is in charge of getting health information out there? And how did she get a cool job like that? Well, our first guest for "In the Spotlight" is someone whose job is to spread the word on how girls and women can stay healthy. She has great tips too.

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Last updated May 2008