School life may seem to encompass most of a student's free time, but some Uni students still find time to do the things they love. Subfreshman Jacob Rajlich is a "railfan", someone who watches and studies trains.

Freshman Darrian Boyd has been singing since the age of three. She sings and has been singing for the Central Illinois Children's Chorus ever since she can remember. Boyd has not been in any competitions yet, but she will be singing at the yalent show organized by the Uni Habitat for Humanity club.

Last year, Lisa Boyce broke one record after another as she swam for the Uni Killer Whales. Although she isn't swimming for Uni anymore, she's still in the pool racing at the national level. As her senior year unfolds, she's taking on the challenges of heavy practices, competitive meets, and college recruiting.

Our generation isn't known for its activism. Some people assume that we all sit around and listen to our iPods, play on our Wiis, and watch trashy reality TV shows on our 300-inch HDTV screens as the world becomes an oven, innocent people continue to die and suffer because of neo-imperialism, and disease becomes more rampant and stronger. They assume that our generation is sitting and watching the world fall apart and we have nothing to say or do about it. Well, they haven't met Shara Esbenshade.

"I would not say that cycling is my passion," says competitive cyclist Ethan Stone. "Cycling isn’t a sport, a passion, a hobby; it's a lifestyle. The 'first rule of cycling' is to never stand when you can sit, and never sit when you can lie down. Energy conservation is everything, and I expend as little as energy as possible. It's all about saving everything for the bike." Learn more about Stone's commitment to biking in Rachel Skoza's profile of the senior standout.

“Whether we know it or not, our lives are governed by art,” says Anna Cangellaris. “To me art is the most emotional level of expression I can achieve. It's my creative outlet in which I interpret things I hear, see, and think, into lines, shapes, and colors that ultimately describe myself.” Learn more about what this soon-to-be art student has in mind as she looks ahead to a possible career in advertising.

No mention of the talented Class of 2008 is complete without Alex Zhai, gold medalist at the 2007 International Math Olympiad and current member of the U.S. Physics Team. But for all of the publicity he's received, how much do we really know about this modest, soft-spoken prodigy? Erika Belmont profiles this refreshingly laid-back genius.

As the first trumpet of Uni’s jazz band and orchestra, an all-state musician, an all-state actor, a member of the state-winning Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering Academic Challenge team, and the winner of multiple first-place awards at the 2008 Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics state contest, Ethan Berl does it all. Learn the secrets of his success and more as Elaine Gu profiles this Princeton-bound 16-year-old wunderkind.

For almost two years, Erin Hayes has been a peer educator in Planned Parenthood's Teen Awareness Group. Whether she's giving presentations to youth groups about sexual health, organizing benefit concerts, campaigning for comprehensive sex ed, or working with other teens one on one, Hayes has put in long hours giving young people the information they need to make decisions about their own sexual behavior.

When the Class of 2008 lines up for commencement on Saturday, you'll see plenty of talented students who will go on to make an impact well beyond Uni High. One of those students is Kumars Salehi, who is ready to translate his passion for film into a career.

You don't have to be a billionaire businessman to make a difference in the world. That's Eunice How's philosophy. Read on to find out more about what motivates this member of the Class of 2008, who has already made an impact here at Uni with groups ranging from Students for a Better World to United for Uganda.

Though selective mutism is an uncommon and complex disorder, and most of us do not have it, we can still relate to it in many ways. For those of us who don't have it, having selective mutism feels like every conversation is full of the same anxiety as giving a speech unprepared to a large audience. Imagine if you had butterflies in your stomach every time you tried to talk to someone. Check inside for an in-depth look at selective mutism and how it has affected one of our seniors.

When Sierra Marcum saw an ad in The News-Gazette for its Readers Writing Contest, she chose to submit a story about her experiences in Limerick, Ireland, in a tiny parking garage in a gigantic van. Little did she think that such a frustrating experience would get her story published and win her a $150 gift certificate. For a closer look at one of Uni's most talented writers, read on.

Aaron Kelter, president of Manga Club, is best known for his enormous collection of Japanese comics. But that's just the latest addition to his list of interests. On top of manga, he enjoys video games, football, and working in the Uni High library. Get to know Aaron Kelter: gamer, football fan, and self-declared Manga Lord.

Senior Anna Cangellaris and sophomore Sindha Agha wanted to figure out who the new, mysterious, and very Gallic face at Uni was, so they took junior Clement Dossin, a transfer from Tournefeuille, France, out for a night around Champaign-Urbana to put together a complete picture of this new international transfer.