Class of 2009: Meet 5 teens who aim to bring leadership, compassion, beauty into the world

What to make of the high-school class of 2009? Born in the last decade of the last century, they have come of age in the new millennium.

They're a little less cynical, a little more engaged, and they seem to have a heightened awareness of the challenges that face the world, say some of the adults who work with them.

In this season of graduations, we bring you stories about five teenagers who not only minded their grades but also contributed leadership, compassion and beauty to the world.

• Andy Boes taught his peers about autism and helped kids with special needs.

• Rachel Bervell started a nonprofit, then collected school supplies to help children in Ghana.

• Kenny Setiao, who briefly dropped out of school, showed his classmates how to make the most of a second chance.

• Jessica Pedraza learned English, then helped fellow Latinos find scholarships and, for some, change their immigration status.

• And Andrew Bartee brought art to people through his performances with the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

"They are much more service-focused than prior generations," said Deborah Wilds, president of the Issaquah-based College Success Foundation, a nonprofit that administers scholarships for large foundations.

Wilds, a baby boomer, says her generation wanted to change the world. This generation, she says, "wants to serve the world."