Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology senior Karen Margaret Sosa is the Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards Washington, D.C. Regional Winner for Academic Excellence, sponsored by JP Morgan Chase and MasterCard International.  The daughter of Mary and Manuel Sosa, Karen?s dream is to graduate from college and make her mother proud.  Her mother has always stressed the importance of being an independent and educated woman. At 15 years of age, Karen had to care for her mother, who battles multiple Sclerosis. Her mother has served as Karen?s inspiration. Her grade point average was 3.82.  She has been awarded the National Hispanic Scholar Award, bronze medal in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Olympiada of Spoken Russian, National Merit Semi-Finalist, Presidential Scholar Nominee, Finalist in NBC-4/Telemundo Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest, was selected for the Congressional Youth Leadership Conference, selected as ?Outstanding American History Student of the Year,? is a three-time First Place Winner for Model United Nations, and has received 10 superior ratings at area piano competitions.  Karen attends Columbia University, NY. She will major in French and Russian. She is on the debate team as well as the undergraduate housing council.