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Children have a unique ability to dream big. On the next edition of Teen Connection, a collection of young people who are working hard to pursue their dreams and goals will be featured to discuss their aspirations.

In addition to the featured teens, this Teen Connection will include other panelists that will discuss the benefits of these young achievements, how other kids can set their own goals and how an aggressive pursuit of goals can help teenagers as they prepare for college.

Two of the participants are high school-student Kassia Frantz and college-student Alex Tran. Frantz is a talented violinist from Green Bay with a long, distinguished list of music-related awards and activities on her already-impressive resume. She also successfully manages participation in a number of other school-related, community service and athletic activities. All of this experience, she hopes, will help her achieve her self-set dreams. "My goal is to reach the highest level of violin performance possible and to prepare for a career as a concert violinist," Frantz said.

As a college student, Tran is a novice mountain climber who has already made her way to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Part of her extensive goals includes being the first Asian-American woman and Vietnamese-born person to climb all of the seven summits – a collection of the highest mountains on each of the seven continents. In addition to following her climbing goals, Tran has very well-defined professional goals that include gaining an MBA in finance and international business in the next three years, while also attempting to climb the next three mountains on her list. She hopes to inspire other people along the way. "I hope to work with all young, minority girls," she said. "I'm thinking of putting together a group of professional minority women to serve as positive role models for these young, at-risk minority girls."

High school-student Sarah Backer will also participate in this Teen Connection. Through the WCATY (Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth) Young Scholar Program, Sarah developed a web site called "Trich 101" providing information on Trichotillomania, an obsessive behavior of pulling out your hair. "I hope that this site has what pullers are looking for, regarding support, information, and resources," Backer said.

Teen Connection panelists will include 3 additional WCATY participants:

Lauren Hayes
Project: Creating an Electro-Acoustic Composition for Harp

David Sanchez
Project: Putting a Face on Homelessness: A Photographic Journal

Bryan Dongre
Project: Hybrid vehicles

The Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth

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Internet service is provided by NetNet of Green Bay.

Host Kathryn Bracho appears courtesy of WBAY-TV/Green Bay.

WPT is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV/Madison, WPNE-TV/Green Bay, WHRM-TV/Wausau, WLEF-TV/Park Falls, WHLA-TV/La Crosse and WHWC-TV/Menomonie-Eau Claire.