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CURT
CARLSON
Curt Carlson is a musician, singer, songwriter,
lyricist, author, computer expert, web designer and manager, a
photographer and an artist.
"I love doing different things," says the
multi-talented 18-year-old who is an honors student at Palmetto Senior
High School and nominee for a prestigious Miami Herald Silver Knight
Awards.
Carlson has played lead guitar and bass in Palmetto's
Jazz Band, which has performed for schools and in competitions
throughout South Florida. He also sings in his own band at local
cafes, coffee shops, parties, and clubs. Not surprisingly, although he
favors rock and jazz, Carlson appreciates and plays all types of
music.
Carlson also enjoys writing, everything from song
lyrics and poetry to editorials. In fact, an opinion letter he wrote
to a national magazine when he was 13 years old commenting on the Bob
Dole campaign, was one of his first published articles.
An avid reader, Carlson taught himself about computers
by hanging out in bookstores and libraries and by getting a lot of
hands-on practice. He's so good, in fact, that he was hired by Fine
Airlines, a local cargo carrier, and now spends his summers
maintaining the company's computers and software.
"That gives me a chance to work on weather tracking computers and
things that I ordinarily wouldn't have access to," he said.
"It's a lot of fun and a great opportunity."
Carlson is also a private computer consultant,
offering one-on-one computer and Internet help to the community, and
he has designed many web sites for friends and family. This experience
brought him to the attention of Hands On Miami, whose directors asked
him to design a website for the organization.
"The website acts as a medium where those in the
community who want to become involved can find out more about how to
do that," Carlson explained.
The website took Carlson about a month to create and
gives background on the organization, a calendar of events and ways to
get involved in the community.
"Soon, I'll be expanding the website, linking it
to a nationwide network of volunteer organizations affiliated with the
'City Cares' program," he said. "Hands On Atlanta has
created a computer network that will make volunteering nation
wide much more accessible. You will be able to volunteer or contribute to
almost any organization in the country.
"We'll also be able to have people sign up online, after an orientation
session," he continued. "We're not able to offer that convenience
yet, but we will soon."
The website Carlson created also has interesting features, such as an
on-line auction to help raise money for Hands On Miami.
"It feels good to be doing something positive in the community,"
he said.
An introspective and thoughtful young man, Carlson may be the 21st century
equivalent of a Renaissance man.
"I want to do everything," Curt says regarding career decisions.
"Maybe open a restaurant, or write for a magazine. I don't want to be
tied down to any one thing. I would really love to play music
professionally, though."
JEFF
KAPLAN
Jeff Kaplan likes cartoons on TV, at the movies or in the
newspaper.
This may sound surprising for an 18-year-old Palmetto Senior High School
honors student and a Miami Herald Silver Knight nominee, but Kaplan dreams
of becoming a professional cartoonist-animator.
"I've been drawing since I was in elementary school," he said.
"Every day, all the time and when one of my art teachers told me that
professional animators get paid to draw pictures all day, that sounded like
the job for me."
Today, Kaplan continues to draw on a daily basis and pens an award-winning
comic strip entitled Oddball that runs in the student newspaper, the
Palmetto Panther.
"It's not a traditional strip with regular characters," Kaplan
explained. "It's mostly editorial commentary on things going on in
school and around the world."
Recent targets of Kaplan's wit range from "senior-itis" to Y2K.
"My teachers tell me they like (the comic strip)," he said,
"and my friends tell me they like it. But, what is most important is
making people laugh."
Kaplan's Oddball has copped numerous major awards, including two Gold
Circles from Columbia Scholastic
Press' national competition for best comic strip and best portfolio, as well
as first-place and second-place awards from the Florida Scholastic Press
Association.
Kaplan says he gets ideas for his strip by reading newspapers, watching
television news programs and by reading other comic strips. His biggest
inspiration, he says, is the late Walt Disney.
"He made a big mark on the world and I consider him the most successful
man in America because of all he did for kids," said Kaplan, who admits
to having been to Disney World more times than he can remember and love for
Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World and the Haunted Mansion.
"Walt Disney started at the bottom and worked his way to the top,"
said Kaplan. "Someday, I'd like to work on animated films for the
Disney organization. What they do is just amazing."
Kaplan already has begun moving toward his career goal by making his own
videos on his home computer. One recent video featured his impressions of a
trip to the concentration camps in Poland, a video that was deemed so good
that it was screened in several Palmetto High School classrooms.
"That's my only serious film so far," Kaplan said. "The
others are all funny, with Jim Henson-styled characters."
Kaplan's enthusiasm and gift for art extend into his community service
activities. He represented Palmetto High at the Coconut Grove Arts Festival,
where he was responsible for recruiting and organizing 50 student
volunteers.
"In addition to staffing the booths," he said, "we had the
opportunity to get up close and personal with the artists, talk to them and
get their advice. That was very inspirational for me."
Kaplan spends much of his spare time at the Alper Jewish Community Center
teaching art and painting to youngsters with special needs.
"I have an autistic cousin and I help my aunt take care of him,"
he said. "So, I thought I'd like to help other kids with special needs.
I help them learn to paint and it is very enjoyable for me. They're very
loving people."
MATT
WILLIAMS
Matt Williams does things "by the numbers."
"I love math and I love numbers," said the
business and accounting prodigy, an honors student at Palmetto Senior
High School and a Miami Herald Silver Knight nominee.
Williams is also a member of Future Business Leaders
of America (FBLA) and a recent winner for his school at a district
accounting competition.
Apparently he knows his way around a bottom line. He
also thinks the Stock Market is "pretty easy to understand."
"I read the newspaper everyday, watch the CNBC
reports, and go online for more information about stocks," he
said. "So far, all the ones I've picked have gone up. I haven't
invested any money yet, but my Dad said that he'd help me get started
investing after I graduate."
But, Williams' biggest investment may be his concern
for others.
"My aspiration has always been to make a
difference in this world by helping others," he explained.
"It would be difficult for me to aspire to anything else since my
role models, my mother and father, were both helpers throughout their
lives. My mother, who immigrated from Jamaica to Canada to Miami has
been a volunteer in various schools for as long as I can remember and
my father is a psychologist who helps others improve their
lives."
As a freshman at Cutler Ridge Christian Academy,
Williams began helping out as a tutor to his fellow classmates. He
later became a volunteer in the doctors' office for infectious disease
treatment at Miami Children's Hospital.
"I help keep track of the paperwork and I help
the patients stay calm and try to make their visit as pleasant as
possible," he said. "Working there has given me a greater
appreciation of how a healing community works and how the business of
this hospital is to heal sick children."
In fact, most of Williams' service activities revolve
around children.
"I love being around kids," he said.
"Maybe because I was an only child."
Over the holidays, Williams and his fellow FBLA club
members helped deliver food and toys to children at the Mailman Center
and the Debbie Institute for youngsters with special needs.
"It was fun bringing Christmas to the kids,"
he said. "We even brought them all McDonald's Happy Meals 90
Happy Meals -- all from the same restaurant. I don't know how they had
enough boxes!"
Williams also participates in activities that help
raise money for disadvantaged families, or fundraisers for research
programs such as the American Heart Association Walk-A-Thon.
"It was three miles, and most of it was uphill
over the bridge from Miami to Key Biscayne," he said. "I ran
the whole way and after it was over my legs hurt. But it was worth
it."
Williams also is a member of many clubs at Palmetto,
including Key Club, National Honor Society, Asian Culture Club, Photo
Club and several academic honor societies.
"I came to Palmetto in the tenth grade," he
said. "That was my first experience in a public school because I
had attended private school my whole life. It was a little
disorienting at first, but I made friends easily because there are
many friendly people here.
MARCO BORGES
"I like the feeling I get when you get someone involved in
fitness," said M Cycle Owner Marco Borges. "I truly enjoy
what I do, I'd do it for free if someone would just pay my
bills."
Borges is well-known for his commitment to innovative
fitness techniques, a tendency well documented in the Miami Herald,
Conde' Nast Traveler, the New York Times, and all the local television
stations.
"I introduced 'spinning' classes to South
Florida," he said, "and I also started the first 'boot camp'
programs down here."
Lexie Potamkin's book What is Spirit? Messages from
the Heart even featured a quote from Borges.
What often gets lost in the shuffle is how freely
Borges, a Pinecrest resident, gives to charitable enterprises here in
the community.
Borges has especially enjoyed his association with the
South Miami Parks and Recreation department. He helps the Village
department raise money to buy toys that go towards helping
underprivileged kids stay away from drugs, instead getting them
involved in sports and recreation.
"There are a lot of programs out there to help
rehabilitate adults but not nearly enough for kids," Borges very
animatedly explained, "programs that can help to shape them. It's
a Band-Aid approach to society's problems--fixing problems instead of
preventing them. "A lot of kids aren't playing sports and they
aren't as goal-oriented as those that do. Sports teach you important
lessons, things like being dedicated to a goal and the rewards of hard
work. Those are things you can apply later in life."
Borges put it in a personal context, saying "Sports kept me away
from drugs, alcohol, and smoking. I was so busy that I stayed away
from those things. I don't want to sound condescending or like I'm any
better than anyone else, but I just didn't have time for any
distractions."
On July 4, Borges will be working with the South Miami
Parks and Recreation Department on a program that will emphasize these
ideas, the Say No to Drugs--Say Yes to Fitness event.
Another cause that Borges was very involved with was
the renovation of the Cardiac Rehabilitation unit at South
Miami/Baptist Hospital. He visited that facility some time back and
remembered how horrible and outdated it had looked. Consequently, as
soon as he was able, he hosted a fundraiser to revamp it.
Borges is also a member of the board of Hugs and
Kisses, a group that raises money to pay unpaid bills at Miami
Children's Hospital, another cause that helps the youth of the
community.
"They (Miami Children's Hospital) just turned 50
and have done so much to help the kids of our community, I'd hate to
see them leave," he said.
And when synagogues and churches come calling, Borges
never hesitates to help, whether it's contributing to silent auctions
or whatever else they need.
"I always try to give a little at a time, I like
to help out however and whenever I can," he explained.
Other organizations that Borges has contributed to
include the Greater Miami Tennis Foundation, the Jackson Memorial
Foundation, the UM Burn Center, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the City of
Hope -- which helps with HIV and cancer related research -- the Kristi
House for abused
children and the Women's Division of the Greater Miami
Jewish Federation.
Borges opened M Cycle Gym at 6114 South Dixie Highway
in South Miami three years ago, after putting together the fitness
program at Fisher Island in the hope of bringing his regimen to a
wider audience. They offer the whole gamut of fitness programs from
yoga to kick boxing to his 'physical challenge' boot camp program.
And people across the United States, Central and South
America and Europe will soon be able to train with Borges in their own
home, as he's made his own fitness video backed by an aggressive
marketing campaign ( www.physicalchallenge.com
).
It's clearly a project Borges cares a great deal
about.
"I wanted to reach out to people, make fitness
personal. This video allows me to do just that," he said
excitedly.
But despite his newfound international reputation,
Borges is happy to have made his home in Pinecrest.
"It's perfect for me--close to work, close to my
friends," Borges said. "I'd been looking there for a long
time. Pinecrest is quiet and clean, not too old and not too
young--it's the perfect place to lead a quiet residential existence
but still close enough to everywhere else if you're looking for
recreational opportunities."
By MacAdam Glinn
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