Nearly 1,000 students participated in the 2009 Sun Youth Forum. Below are the biographies of some of those students who took part.
- Erin McMaha
- High School: College of Southern Nevada - South
- Clubs/Activities: Student Council, National Honor Society
- Favorite Book: "Loves Music, Loves to Dance"
- Future Plans: Special Education - Autism
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 2 years
- Where You Plan on Going to College: UNLV
- Kaylan Poindexter
- High School: College of Southern Nevada - South
- Class: 2011
- Clubs/Activities: Cheerleading, Dance, Reading
- Future Plans: Graduating college.
- Michael Aber
- High School: Legacy
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: National Honor Society, Key Club, AP Club
- Favorite Book: "It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini
- Favorite Movie: "Donnie Darko"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: NOFX, Dead Kennedys, Blink 182
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Oil industry
- Future Plans: Journalist and magazine editor.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: The crazy one who was super involved.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 10 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: Buffets
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Pollution
- Where You Plan on Going to College: UNR
- Alexsis Neuman
- High School: Eldorado
- Class: 2010
- Favorite Book: "Where the Wild Things Are"
- Favorite Movie: "Child's Play"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Michael Jackson
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Teen pregnancy
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Economy
- Future Plans: College, acting, maybe directing.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: Being the funniest and most charismatic.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: My whole life.
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The people.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Strip clubs
- Where You Plan on Going to College: CSN or UNLV
- Tell Us About Yourself in 100 Words or Less: I love Las Vegas. Maybe someday I'll move to California to be an actress or writer. I love to tease my hair and I love my family.
- Lauren Balba
- High School: Sierra Vista
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: DECA, College Club, Student Government, Key Club, Yearbook Staff
- Favorite Book: "Twilight" saga series
- Favorite Movie: "New Moon"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Taylor Swift, Beyonce
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Family values and sex education lacking.
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Our troops still in Iraq.
- Future Plans: To major in architectural design.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the girl who was really involved with school.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 10 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: Interactions and attractions.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: People you meet who are materialistic.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: UNR
- Seth Mallernee
- High School: Southeast Career Technical Academy
- Class: 2010
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Anything
- Future Plans: College for 3-D animation.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 3 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: It's very diverse.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: No rain.
- Erik Jimenez
- High School: Palo Verde
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Internship with Sen. John Ensign.
- Favorite Book: "Brave New World"
- Favorite Movie: "The Godfather"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Jazz - John Coltrane, Miles Davis
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Economy
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Conflicts in the Middle East.
- Future Plans: College, law school, career in politics.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As a person who always had the drive for success.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: All my life (17 years).
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: Everything is always open.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Traffic
- Where You Plan on Going to College: UNR or UNLV.
- Tell Us About Yourself in 100 Words or Less: I hope to finish college and enter a career in politics.
- Evelynn M. Chavez
- High School: Valley
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Art Club
- Favorite Book: "The Promise"
- Favorite Movie: "The Notebook"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Rock, Sublime
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Crime
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Money
- Future Plans: College or hair styling.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the funny short girl with red hair.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 8 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: I can stay out late.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Not being able to gamble.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Not sure
- William Pregman
- High School: Coronado
- Class: 2011
- Clubs/Activities: Forensics
- Favorite Book: "Misery" by Stephen King
- Favorite Movie: "Pulp Fiction"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Mostly rock, punk and metal.
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: The local economy.
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Nuclear proliferation.
- Future Plans: I want to obtain a degree in communication studies and become a college debate coach.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: I want to be remembered as a helpful mentor and friend.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 15 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The variety of entertainment.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: The weather.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: UNLV
- Amanda Guffey
- High School: Arbor View
- Class: 2011
- Clubs/Activities: Choir, Drama, Musical Theater
- Favorite Book: "The Great Gatsby"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Show tunes
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Economy
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Nuclear warfare
- Future Plans: Teaching or Broadway.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the bubbly short girl who could sing.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 16 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: Milder climate.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Not much youth activities.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Roosevelt Conservatory
- Tell Us About Yourself in 100 Words or Less: I am a happy girl that wants to make the most out of life. I sing, dance and act and want to pursue all those in the future. Though I do not know how my future will be, the excitement is figuring it out on the way.
- Bailey Mintz
- High School: Spring Valley
- Class: 2011
- Clubs/Activities: Speech and Debate Team
- Favorite Book: "To Kill a Mockingbird"
- Favorite Movie: "Funny Girl"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Show tunes
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education cuts
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Declining global economy
- Future Plans: College, Master's degree, career.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As a social butterfly with high academic merit.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 15.5 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The weather.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: The over-21 community.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Undecided, East Coast
- Tell Us About Yourself in 100 Words or Less: I am a junior in high school. I take multiple advanced placement classes and am involved in the academic community. I am the vice president of the speech and debate team and love to participate in public events!
- Colin Breslin
- High School: Shadow Ridge
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: DECA, JROTC, Varsity Quiz/li>
- Favorite Book: "Salem's Lot" by Stephen King
- Favorite Movie: "The Shawshank Redemption"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: "Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps" by David Bowie
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Iran nuclear situation
- Future Plans: Study political science, become president.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: The funny one.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 9 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: Weather
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Too crowded
- Damond Kelly Jr.
- High School: Canyon Springs
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Key Club, Debate, Varsity Quiz, Football
- Favorite Book: "Brave New World"
- Favorite Movie: "The Notebook"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: "Soundtrack 2 My Life" by Kid Cudi
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: War
- Future Plans: Fiction novel writer
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the most intellectual.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 15 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The people.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: The weather.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Emerson College
- Kristin Racel
- High School: Shadow Ridge
- Class: 2011
- Clubs/Activities: STUCO, National Honor Society, Mustang Maniacs
- Favorite Book: "Twilight"
- Favorite Movie: "A Walk to Remember"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Taylor Swift
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Future Plans: College
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: For being well-known, active in my school and making it a better place.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 16 years (My whole life)
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: The connotation that people have of what Vegas is.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: UNR
- Jennifer Russell
- High School: Rancho
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Thespian Troupe 2145
- Favorite Movie: "Pride and Prejudice"
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Universal health care
- Future Plans: To major in communications.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the girl that always helped others.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 15 years
- Where You Plan on Going to College: UNLV
- Ian Cattanach
- High School: Shadow Ridge
- Class: 2011
- Clubs/Activities: Cross Country, Track
- Favorite Book: "Slaughterhouse-Five"
- Favorite Movie: "Pulp Fiction"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Dead Kennedys
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Middle East
- Future Plans: College, FBI
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As a smart, kind person who made people's high school career better.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 16 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The beauty of the desert.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Heat
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Utah State
- Courtney Davis
- High School: Palo Verde
- Class: 2011
- Clubs/Activities: Interact, Forensics, FBLA, History Club, Archery
- Favorite Book: "Harry Potter," "Looking for Alaska"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Brandi Carlile, British indie rock
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Poverty
- Future Plans: I plan to go to college.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: My entire life.
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: Everything stays open late.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: The heat.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: University of Washington
- Beverly Wong
- High School: Spring Valley
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: National Honor Society, Student Council, Senior Class Committee, French Club
- Favorite Book: "Twilight" series
- Favorite Movie: "Bride Wars"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Taylor Swift
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: The economy.
- Future Plans: Pediatrics nursing
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the sweet girl everyone knew and loved.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 9 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The life outside the gambling scene.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Being depicted as coming from "Sin City."
- Where You Plan on Going to College: University of Arizona, Sacramento State or UNLV
- Tell Us About Yourself in 100 Words or Less: Hi, I'm Beverly Wong. I'm a hardworking person. I teach at a tutoring center and I want to become a nurse after college.
- Estello Raganit
- High School: Sierra Vista
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Key Club President, National Honor Society, Editor-in-Chief of Newspaper, College Club, Cultural Society, Mu Alpha Theta
- Favorite Book: "All But My Life" by Gerda Weissmann Klein
- Favorite Movie: "Dead Poets Society"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Anything from rock to R&B to gangster rap.
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Future Plans: Become a dentist -- I love teeth.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the guy who worked really hard and as everyone's friend. Can't go wrong with nice and smart.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 7 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: My friends
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Access and exposure to alcohol, drugs, sex.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Stanford or Vassar
- Tell Us About Yourself in 100 Words or Less: My name is Estello and I'd like ot believe I'm outgoing. I'm that random mixture of the class clown that can recite the elements. I'm unique and random.
- Kasey Gardner
- High School: Las Vegas Academy
- Clubs/Activities: Paws for Change, Accolades school newspaper
- Favorite Book: Too many
- Favorite Movie: Too many
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Animal Collective, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: The treatment of women in many African and Asian countries.
- Future Plans: College to study anthropology.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: My strong involvement on campus, starting animal rights club, for being well-informed and opinionated.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 2 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The unique variety of people.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Not very kid friendly.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Colorado College
- Marissa Skinner
- High School: Eldorado
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Yearbook, Student Council, Photo Club
- Favorite Book: "The Great Gatsby"
- Favorite Movie: "Zoolander"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Anything and everything
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: The education system
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Poverty
- Future Plans: Marry someone who can provide for me very well.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the one who did everything.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: Since forever
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The sin
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: The heat
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Southern Utah University
- Tell Us About Yourself in 100 Words or Less: I love life. I do what I can to make it fun and I'm very happy all the time.
- Michaela Thomas
- High School: Basic
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Basketball, Track and Field
- Favorite Book: "Of Mice and Men"
- Favorite Movie: "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: "Drop It Low Girl"
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: The fee for drivers test.
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Genocide in Darfur
- Future Plans: Going to college and becoming successful.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: The girl that threw 45 feet in the shot put.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 16 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The Strip
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Curfew laws
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Northern Arizona University
- Edward Dale Villaros
- High School: Basic
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Football, Key Club, FBLA, Basketball, Track
- Favorite Book: "Roots" by Alex Haley
- Favorite Movie: "The Lion King"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: "King Leon" by Drake
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: School system
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Job opportunities
- Future Plans: Getting my degree in engineering.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the hardworking football player.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: All my life.
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The activities
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: The gambling
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Howard University or Hampton University
- Tell Us About Yourself in 100 Words or Less: I am an outgoing, fun, focused student who will make a difference in my community.
- Robert Roeder
- High School: Ed W. Clark
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Student Council, Theater, Mu Alpha Theta
- Favorite Book: "The Kite Runner"
- Favorite Movie: "Fight Club"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Anberlin
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Property/Homes
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Iraq/Afghanistan
- Future Plans: Engineering
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: As the kid who was friendly to everybody.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: My whole life
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: Lots to do
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Too corrupt
- Where You Plan on Going to College: University of Southern California
- Lauren Hewitt
- High School: Coronado
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Forensics, Band, National Charity League
- Favorite Book: "We the Living" by Ayn Rand
- Favorite Movie: "Beauty and the Beast"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Saosin
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education funding
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Booming industries of China and Japan
- Future Plans: Medical school
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: The most opinionated.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 17 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: Being exposed to many diverse things.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Environment for young children.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: University of Washington
- Jade Vakilzadeh
- High School: Coronado
- Class: 2010
- Clubs/Activities: Editor-in-Chief of Newspaper, Community Service, Internship for Las Vegas Review-Journal
- Favorite Book: "Crime and Punishment," "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close"
- Favorite Movie: "The Prestige," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: The Silver Seas, Adele, Kanye West
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: War
- Future Plans: Go to school for journalism and learn about publishing.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: Queen of the underdogs.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 13 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The diversity.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Lack of knowledge. People hate education.
- Katie Koplow
- High School: Centennial
- Class: 2011
- Clubs/Activities: Yearbook, Cross Country, National Honor Society, Track
- Favorite Book: "Someone Like You"
- Favorite Movie: "Pay It Forward," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
- What's Are You Listening to on Your iPod: Rascal Flatts
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: School system
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: International relations
- Future Plans: Environmental studies
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: A very outgoing and caring person.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 5 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: Year-round outdoor activities.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: No snow for skiing.
- Angelo Trevino
- High School: Eldorado
- Class: 2010
- Favorite Movie: Horror
- Current Nevada Issue That Most Concerns You: Education
- Current World Issue That Most Concerns You: Health care
- Future Plans: Involved in criminal justice.
- How do You Want to be Remembered at Your High School Reunion: To be a relief and fun.
- How Long Have you Been in Las Vegas: 6 years
- Best Part About Living in Las Vegas: The different people.
- Worst Part About Living in Las Vegas: Too many people.
- Where You Plan on Going to College: Washington University
- Tell Us About Yourself in 100 Words or Less: My name is Angelo. I was born in Portland, Ore. and lived in the countryside for many years. I love criminal justice and was a former bike rider. I traveled to Cuba for a few months and it was exciting. I enjoy having involvement in our community. I'm kind of outspoken and enjoy discussion.
