Christina Cheadle, 2012 Seymour Award Finalist

In her personal statement, Christina says of service, "It does not always take the guts and the glory; sometimes it just takes a bit of sweat and a very loud alarm clock." Recognizing the importance of serving even just a mile from one's house, Christina and a friend founded a new service club at their school called Service Projects and Community Enrichment (SPACE), which is intertwined with the school's CSF chapter.

Susan Tuttle, CSF adviser for chapter 396 at Escondido High School, writes, “Christina's positive energy, and zest for encouraging others to reach out and do their personal best has been noticed." As a CSF officer for the past two years, Ms. Tuttle has seen their chapter benefit from Christina's leadership skills, responsibility, and commitment to "little acts of kindness." She says, "Christina is committed to making this world a better place through her kindness, her caring spirit, and perseverance."

Marie Stephens, Recreation Specialist of the City of Escondido, met Christina through the Miss Teen Escondido organization. Ms. Stephens witnessed Christina work tirelessly in her community alongside such organizations as the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and Humane Society of Escondido. Writes Ms. Stephens, "She is a standout young lady who is viewed as a role model for young women. She is a rare gem amongst her peers..."

Headed to the East Coast for college, Christina is still deciding among such colleges as Davidson, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and Fuhrman, and plans to study anthropology, with the ultimate goal of entering medical school to pursue her dream of becoming a Medical Examiner.