Ebony's top black high school seniors

THE Class of 2004 Top Black High School Seniors represent the resolve of many African-American teens to master a high school curriculum and, volunteer within their communities. Despite the turbulent times in which we five, they are keeping their eyes on the prize.

SHERRAE M. HAYES is valedictorian at Glenville High School in Cleveland. She is vice president of the senior class and a member of the National Honor Society. Recognized by Who's Who Among American High School Students, Hayes has earned a full scholarship to Tennessee State University, where she will study speech communication and theater.

MONIQUE VAN DYKE is on the National Honor Roll at the University High School in Newark, N.J., a member of the National Honor Society, plays basketball and tennis, and has been recognized by Who's Who Among American High School Students. Van Dyke will study culinary arts at the University of Connecticut.

DAVID PARKER is valedictorian of Birmingham's West End High School. He plays football, baseball and performs in the school's orchestra. Parker wants to become a high school science teacher, and he plans to attend Dillard University.

RANULFO ALLEN of Philadelphia's Central High School is a National Merit Commended Student, Ventures Scholar and a recipient of the National Achievement scholarship. Allen will attend Princeton University, where he will study chemical engineering.

STESHA ADAI DOKU is the top-ranked student at the Myers Park High School in Charlotte, N.C. Doku is a Coca-Cola Scholar and a national Ventures Scholar. She will attend Yale University, where she plans to study biomedical engineering.

ASHLEY THOMPSON of the Choir Academy of Harlem is a recipient of the United States Achievement Academy Minority Leadership & Math award, and has been recognized by Who's Who Among American High School Students. She plans to study math and physics.

ASHLEY HICKS of Chicago's Whitney M. Young Magnet High School has earned a 4.6 GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Hicks is an Illinois State Scholar and a recipient of the Chicago Urban League Award for Academic Achievement. The varsity cheerleader will attend the University of Southern California, and she plans to become a sports reporter.

YONAS YEMANE of Louisiana's Baton Rouge Magnet High School is an AP Scholar with distinction, and a recipient of the prestigious Bausch & Lomb science award. Yemane is a member of the National Honor Society and president of Mu Alpha Theta. He plans to pursue a career in biochemistry at Stanford.

JOSHUA BROOKS is president of the Student Government Association and captain of the football team at South Atlanta High School. Brooks, a recipient of the President Bill Clinton Award for Excellence, is on the national honor roll, and is recognized by Who's Who Among American High School Students. He will study engineering.

TONYA JONES of the Jesse H. Jones Senior High School in Houston is a member of the National Honor Society and vice president of the speech and debate team. She will study pre-medicine at the University of Texas at Callas.

RAY BIGNALL is student council president at Nashville's Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School. Bignall is a National Merit Scholar, National Ventures Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. He was awarded a full scholarship to Howard University, where he plans to study biology.

KRYSTLE N. BRUNSON with a 4.78 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) is the top-ranked student at the John Marshall High School in Richmond, Va. Brunson is president of the National Honor Society, vice president of the Student Council Association, and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America. Brunson plans to study nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University.

CHAUNCEY WILSON, valedictorian of the Callaway High School in Jackson Miss., has been recognized by Who's Who Among American High School Students. She is class vice president and a member of the National Honor Society. She has received a full scholarship to Jackson State University, where she plans to study marketing.

JANET L. BEYAN is on the principal's honor roll at the King Brew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles. She has received numerous scholarships, including the Ronald McDonald House of Charities award. She will study disease prevention.

KATHERINE SCOTT of D.C.'s Woodrow Wilson High School is a participant in the Washington National Cathedral Scholars Program and a member of the National Honor Society. Scott, who also serves as president of the art club, plans to study fashion design.

ROZELL N.A. HODGES JR. The tennis champion is on the Principal's List at Chicago's Kenwood Academy. Hodges is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and the French Honor Society. A recipient of the $5,000 Centennial scholarship, Hedges will study biochemistry at De Paul University.

NIKISHA GLENN, the top-ranked student of the Alain Leroy Locke High School in Los Angeles, is the recipient of the prestigious Governor's leadership award. Glenn, who has yet to decide her college major, was also awarded the $100,000 Posse Leadership Award. She will attend Grinnell College.