Hilary Barr likes to keep it simple – her goal in life is to touch the life of at least one person every day.

“My favorite thing in the world is making a difference to other people,” said Barr, a Coral Springs resident and Silver Knight award winner. “There are so many out there who need help. You just cannot stop yourself from lending a helping hand.”

It was a trip to a nursing home when in middle school that ignited her passion for community service, said Barr, who graduated from North Broward Preparatory High School this year. “It felt so incredibly good to be there. Just being there and seeing the smile on people’s faces made my day. Since then, I always look for a chance to help others. I think it is the easiest thing to do.”

Barr, who is getting ready to join Yale University, wants to become a neurosurgeon surgeon. "I will be majoring in cognitive science. I am already researching which clubs I should be a part of. I know I will be involved with community service all my life.”

See Barr's profile in the Sun-Sentinel database of 2008 valedictorians and salutatorians.

Read the full story in the Aug. 7 issue of the Coral Springs Forum.