Amy Cunha

Turlock High School Junior

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Amy sets specific goals and goes after them.

At age 16, she is the president of the AVID club, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. AVID is a four-year program that is used to help students meet the University of California entrance requirements.

She is also the secretary for her school's Anime Club, a member of the golf team, a member of the Asian Culture Club, and an advocate for the Arthritis Foundation.

After being diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at age 5, she made it her goal to inform others and to raise money for other kids to attend camps for children who have arthritis.

She has traveled twice to Washington to speak with California senators and Congressmen to help pass the Arthritis Prevention and Cure Act.

Not easily able to play most sports, Amy took up cheerleading at the age of 10. In eighth grade, she decided that she wanted to learn how to play golf. She made the Turlock girls golf team during her freshman year. She has been a member of the five-time champion team for two years.

She plays golf three times a week during the off-season, and she partakes in match play at River Oaks Golf Course on the weekends. This year, she won first place at the City of Turlock fourth annual Junior Golf Classic.

Amy holds a 4.0 grade-point average. She is waiting to be accepted to participate in the Modesto Sister Cities foreign exchange program and she hopes to visit Japan this summer. She wants to learn to speak Japanese.

Her aspiration is to attend California State University, Monterey Bay, and major in International Languages. After college, she wants to move to Japan and teach English.

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FAMILY: Mother, Nancy, and stepfather, Jerry; sisters, Jeanie and Melissa.

HOBBIES: Golf, reading manga.

BIGGEST INFLUENCE: I would have to say my mom. When I was 5 years old, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. My mom was always there giving me medicine, supporting me, and helping me when I was in a lot of pain. She was always there.

LAST BOOK I READ FOR PLEASURE: The first book in the series called "Howl's Moving Castle."

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Believe it or not, I really like superheroes! So I'd have to say my favorite show is "X-Men: Revolution" on Disney XD.

FAVORITE MUSIC: I don't really have a favorite type. But my mom always burns mix CDs with music from the '80s and '90s, so I listen to those a lot.

BIGGEST FEAR: I fear being alone.

WHAT I'D TELL THE PRESIDENT: "Oh my gosh! I'm meeting the president!"

ADVICE FOR KIDS: Don't judge a book by its cover.

ADVICE FOR ADULTS: Treat your kids like you'd want to be treated. Just because they are smaller doesn't make them inferior.

WHERE I'LL BE IN 10 YEARS: In Japan, living there and teaching English.

— BREIANA THEODORE / TEENS IN THE NEWSROOM

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The Teen Hall of Fame honoree receives a $100 check from E.&J. Gallo Winery, movie tickets from Dr. Randy Winter with the Modesto Arts Medical Group, a gift card from Yogurt Mill and bowling passes from Yosemite Lanes.