Stand Up & Stand Out: Youth Making a Difference

These young people are making a difference.

Stand Up & Stand Out - BET.com is turning the spotlight on extraordinary young people. Each one featured here – through his or her genius, determination, energy, concern for others, and desire to change the world – is making a difference in their own lives as well as the lives of others.

1 / 11

Stand Up & Stand Out - BET.com is turning the spotlight on extraordinary young people. Each one featured here – through his or her genius, determination, energy, concern for others, and desire to change the world – is making a difference in their own lives as well as the lives of others.

Tony Hansberry - Tony Hansberry II is a 15-year-old high school freshman. At 14, he developed a surgical stitching technique that can ease post-surgery complications and lessen the chance of errors among physicians. Hansberry, who wants to be a doctor says, “I just want to help people and be respected, knowing that I can save lives.” He attends Darnell-Cookman, a special medical magnet school that allows him to take advanced classes in medicine.

2 / 11

Tony Hansberry - Tony Hansberry II is a 15-year-old high school freshman. At 14, he developed a surgical stitching technique that can ease post-surgery complications and lessen the chance of errors among physicians. Hansberry, who wants to be a doctor says, “I just want to help people and be respected, knowing that I can save lives.” He attends Darnell-Cookman, a special medical magnet school that allows him to take advanced classes in medicine.

Gabrielle McBay - Gabrielle McBay, 18, is a high school senior and finalist in the 2010 Black Enterprise Teenpreneur Awards. The DeSoto, Texas resident has her own bakery business called Crumbs. Started in 2006, Crumbs offers cookies and other baked goods. Last year, her business, which she runs from home, netted $5,000 in revenues. That number was double the total from the year before. McBay plans to study business and marketing in college.

3 / 11

Gabrielle McBay - Gabrielle McBay, 18, is a high school senior and finalist in the 2010 Black Enterprise Teenpreneur Awards. The DeSoto, Texas resident has her own bakery business called Crumbs. Started in 2006, Crumbs offers cookies and other baked goods. Last year, her business, which she runs from home, netted $5,000 in revenues. That number was double the total from the year before. McBay plans to study business and marketing in college.

Tevyn Cole - Black Enterprise 2010 Teenpreneur Award finalist Tevyn Cole started his clothing line, School Me Clothing, when he was 10 years old. At 17, the Detroit-area young entrepreneur is already a freshman at Eastern Michigan University where he majors in international business and Japanese. His company’s urban-style t-shirts incorporate Black history facts in their designs. Last year, the student businessman’s company brought in revenues of $1700.

4 / 11

Tevyn Cole - Black Enterprise 2010 Teenpreneur Award finalist Tevyn Cole started his clothing line, School Me Clothing, when he was 10 years old. At 17, the Detroit-area young entrepreneur is already a freshman at Eastern Michigan University where he majors in international business and Japanese. His company’s urban-style t-shirts incorporate Black history facts in their designs. Last year, the student businessman’s company brought in revenues of $1700.

The Elliott Kids - With their mom Danielle, the three kids in the Elliott family have been performing in a string-music ensemble called, you guessed it: The Elliott Family Quartet. Based in Newport News, Va., the family says its goal is to share the gift of music with others with hopes of inspiring and motivating. The Elliott children, who travel around the country performing, are Brendon, 14, Justine, 12, and Sterling, 10. They all started playing instruments as toddlers.

5 / 11

The Elliott Kids - With their mom Danielle, the three kids in the Elliott family have been performing in a string-music ensemble called, you guessed it: The Elliott Family Quartet. Based in Newport News, Va., the family says its goal is to share the gift of music with others with hopes of inspiring and motivating. The Elliott children, who travel around the country performing, are Brendon, 14, Justine, 12, and Sterling, 10. They all started playing instruments as toddlers.

ADVERTISEMENT
Tiara Smith - Last year, Tiara Smith won the Miss Jr. Teen Maryland United States 2009 pageant. The 16-year-old is an honor student, cheerleader, dancer, and she mentors with the Big Brother Big Sister program. In her spare time, Smith volunteers with the National Center for Children and Families, serving homeless families, vulnerable teens and victims of domestic violence. At the start of the school year, she raises money to help needy teens buy back-to-school supplies.

6 / 11

Tiara Smith - Last year, Tiara Smith won the Miss Jr. Teen Maryland United States 2009 pageant. The 16-year-old is an honor student, cheerleader, dancer, and she mentors with the Big Brother Big Sister program. In her spare time, Smith volunteers with the National Center for Children and Families, serving homeless families, vulnerable teens and victims of domestic violence. At the start of the school year, she raises money to help needy teens buy back-to-school supplies.

Kalief Rollins - Last year, Kalief Rollins (left), a 17-year-old from the L.A suburb Carson, Calif., won a $10,000 grand prize from the National Youth Entrepreneurship Competition for his t-shirt business. Called Phree Kountry, the clothing company he runs out of his family’s garage makes custom t-shirts with inspirational designs, leadership themes and positive messages.

7 / 11

Kalief Rollins - Last year, Kalief Rollins (left), a 17-year-old from the L.A suburb Carson, Calif., won a $10,000 grand prize from the National Youth Entrepreneurship Competition for his t-shirt business. Called Phree Kountry, the clothing company he runs out of his family’s garage makes custom t-shirts with inspirational designs, leadership themes and positive messages.

Rachel Dupard - At three years old, Rachel Dupard was still not talking due to an inner-ear infection. Today, at 15, she has a rich voice and is a remarkable singer with a few Broadway productions on her resume. Dupard started singing at age six at a local church. Since then, she has performed as a young Billie Holiday in “Rhapsody in Rhythm” and sang “Home” in “The Wiz.” She was also the guest vocalist at the 2009 ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans, where she sang the National Anthem.

8 / 11

Rachel Dupard - At three years old, Rachel Dupard was still not talking due to an inner-ear infection. Today, at 15, she has a rich voice and is a remarkable singer with a few Broadway productions on her resume. Dupard started singing at age six at a local church. Since then, she has performed as a young Billie Holiday in “Rhapsody in Rhythm” and sang “Home” in “The Wiz.” She was also the guest vocalist at the 2009 ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans, where she sang the National Anthem.

Damon Williams - At 15, Damon Williams has a remarkable investment portfolio worth $50,000. He purchased his first share in Nike stock at five and he has been investing since. The Chicago teen plans to pay his own way through college, and he’s already on the lecture circuit. He talks to other teens about the dos and don’ts of investing and how to get started.

9 / 11

Damon Williams - At 15, Damon Williams has a remarkable investment portfolio worth $50,000. He purchased his first share in Nike stock at five and he has been investing since. The Chicago teen plans to pay his own way through college, and he’s already on the lecture circuit. He talks to other teens about the dos and don’ts of investing and how to get started.

Maria Dwyer - Maria Dwyer is a junior at Bob Jones High School in Madison, Alabama. Half-Black and half-Hispanic, Dwyer was adopted from her native Paraguay at 18 months. This year, she won a National Achievement Scholarship, sharing $2 million in college scholarships with the other winners. Dwyer stands out because she uses her own money to sponsor a child from the Dominican Republic, and donates to the March of Dimes and the Humane Society. She plans to spend time in Jamaica working at an orphanage.

10 / 11

Maria Dwyer - Maria Dwyer is a junior at Bob Jones High School in Madison, Alabama. Half-Black and half-Hispanic, Dwyer was adopted from her native Paraguay at 18 months. This year, she won a National Achievement Scholarship, sharing $2 million in college scholarships with the other winners. Dwyer stands out because she uses her own money to sponsor a child from the Dominican Republic, and donates to the March of Dimes and the Humane Society. She plans to spend time in Jamaica working at an orphanage.

Ty Hobson-Powell - Ty Hobson-Powell (pictured in the rear) is the youngest student in Howard University’s history. At 14, the D.C. teen already has enough college courses under his belt to qualify as a sophomore. The son of a pediatric medicine professor at Howard, Ty says he wants to explore a career after grad school that encompasses law and medicine. For now, he’s a political science major and a big fan of President Obama.

11 / 11

Ty Hobson-Powell - Ty Hobson-Powell (pictured in the rear) is the youngest student in Howard University’s history. At 14, the D.C. teen already has enough college courses under his belt to qualify as a sophomore. The son of a pediatric medicine professor at Howard, Ty says he wants to explore a career after grad school that encompasses law and medicine. For now, he’s a political science major and a big fan of President Obama.