STEPHANIE BEDOLLA

Personal: Stephanie, 15, is a sophomore at Healdsburg High School. She

lives in Healdsburg with her father, Hector; her mother, Juanita; and

13-year-old sister, Camie, an eighth-grader at St. John's.

Going for it: Stephanie estimates that by the year 2030 she will be

America's surgeon general. A fantasy? Think again.

Only a sophomore, Stephanie has earned plaudits for her extensive community

service, her leadership skills and positive attitude.

''Only in America do we teens have such an open world,'' she said in her

typical upbeat fashion. ''We must aim high. What good are low dreams? And if

we fail, we can try, try again.''

Her work with Key Club International is particularly impressive.

Last year she served as lieutenant governor for Division 32, which

encompasses Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties. But she was the youngest

person in that role in all of California, Nevada and Hawaii.

She developed a conference logo for an October rally, gave speeches to her

peers -- including one to a crowd of 4,000 -- organized a fall rally at Marine

World and installed two new clubs in her division in Lower Lake and Fort

Bragg.

She estimates she volunteered 500 hours, but Key Club officials say it was

way more than that.

''Stephanie is awesome,'' wrote an official in a letter addressed to

Healdsburg Kiwanis members and the high school's principal. ''We cannot give

enough accolades to this young woman.''

Her resume goes beyond Key Club, however.

Stephanie is on the advisory committee for the Youth Volunteer Corps and

lent a hand at this year's National Youth Service Day.

She also volunteered at La Allianza Clinic, where she shadowed a nurse's

aide and translated for doctors and Spanish-speaking patients.

Her dream is to become a pediatrician. Working at the clinic gave her a

glimpse into her future.

''That was an eye-opening experience,'' she said. ''I really wanted to help

people who couldn't afford medical care.''

Giving back: Stephanie's desire to help the less fortunate is born in large

part by the visits she's made to Chamacuaro, the Mexican town where much of

her family still lives.

''I saw a lot of poverty there,'' she said. ''It opened my eyes to how

lucky I am to live here in the United States.''

Stephanie is a second-generation American. Her father, Hector, is vineyard

manager for Kendall-Jackson Winery and president of the Sonoma County

Grapegrowers Association.

Stephanie recalls with fondness the hours she spent with her father in the

fields when the family lived in Alexander Valley. She's even helped him make

wine using their own grapes.

''I have a great family, and my parents support me so much,'' she said. ''I

can't drive yet, but my mom is my chauffeur. She takes me everywhere -- to

service meetings and projects.''

Stephanie's dreams extend beyond her home. She hopes to attend Stanford or

one of the University of California schools before joining the Peace Corps.

''I love to do community service,'' she said. ''First of all, it's a great

way to meet people and it opens up my world. Before I started community

service I was kind of sheltered.''

Back to Healdsburg? When she completes her adventures, Stephanie said, she

will entertain the possibility of going back to Healdsburg and practicing

medicine there.

She loves the little town and escapades around the city's plaza with

friends. She's looking forward to two more years at the high school, too.

Her favorite part of high school? ''The relationships that you can create

with a whole bunch of people,'' she said.

And her least favorite? ''Seeing other people being discriminated against

because of what they look like or if they're not wearing the right clothes. I

don't think it's right. These people are isolated for being themselves.''

Stephanie has no problem being herself. She's so self-confident and happy,

she admits to skipping down the hallways of her school some days.

She'll need all that positive energy as surgeon general.

-- Derek J. Moore