Newsday salutes Class of 2013 Extraordinary Seniors

The number 13 is often associated with misfortune and dread. Indeed, some of the 13 students in Newsday's 2013 class of Extraordinary Seniors have endured -- and continue to confront -- a measure of both.What makes them a source of inspiration instead of sorrow is their survival instinct, an altruism that transcends geographical borders and a vision of the greater good.

They were selected from dozens of letters submitted by guidance counselors and principals across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The group One Direction sings about "What Makes You Beautiful" in its hit song. What makes Newsday's Extraordinary Seniors exceptional is their ability to be a force of change in lives beyond their own. They've done so by:

Trying to ease the burden of college expenses by creating a pair of scholarships for a classmate and a senior at a neighboring school and organizing fundraisers to raise the money to endow them.

Being mature and brave enough in an image-conscious society to turn bad decisions into a singular good deed that benefits fellow students and the adults who help them.

Undergoing nearly a dozen surgeries related to spina bifida-myelomeningocele and having to give up your passion -- baseball -- but not your right to self-determination, which leads to a new sport and a spot as the only freshman on the varsity golf team.

Collecting books from schools and libraries to send to earthquake survivors in China, then creating a partnership with a shipping company to help defray costs, and forgoing lifeguard pay so needy swimmers could get free lessons.

Studying and teaching dance, working as a camp counselor and holding down a part-time job -- all while living without the benefit of sight.

Newsday congratulates this year's Extraordinary Seniors:

Samantha Ambrico

Megan Demarest

Andrew Fierstein

Nick Franzi

Tiana Hudson-Jerman

Stefanie Kaufman

Travis Leard

Brendan Liu

Christopher McAvoy

Mehul Patel

Doris Quigley

Joseph Skrzypek

McKingsley Ryan Williams

-- TRACY M. BROWN,

LI LIFE EDITOR