29. Keenan Holmes, 27
Developing "Rising Stars"

Keenan Holmes is an attorney with Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, a job he has earned after years of hard work and academic achievement beginning in high school. As a teen, his performance on the basketball court opened doors and garnered praise, but being smart and doing well in school did not. "What I would like to do is make it cool to do well [in school]," Holmes says. To help kids in public high schools, he is creating the "Rising Stars" program, which will connect 150 to 200 city kids with mentors and will recognize the top 25 for outstanding, well-rounded achievement. Eventually, he'd like to help students get internships with local companies to form relationships that will keep talented young adults in the region. "I'm very, very passionate about it because I understand that I wouldn't be where I am without the people who mentored me."

30. Kate Sullivan Richardson, 30
Promoting healthier life styles

Tall and athletic, Kate Sullivan Richardson works for wellness as the associate executive director of the Downtown YMCA, as project manager for the Y's Activate Pittsburgh program, and as a founding member of the Pittsburgh Passion women's football team.

Her work at the YMCA and Activate Pittsburgh promotes healthy lifestyles and behaviors. "My position allows me to work toward ensuring that all who come through the YMCA doors have access to the best social, health and wellness services," she says, detailing a number of efforts that take wellness education into local communities. "I am privileged to be a part of a better wellness forecast for Pittsburgh."

It's work she continues as a member of Pittsburgh's other top football team. "I believe strongly in the work the Passion has done to provide the Pittsburgh region with positive female role models, teach life lessons through sport and bring home another championship victory," she says.

31. Derrick R. Hardy, 32
Public-school assistant principal

Second in command at Pittsburgh Vann Pre-K-8 school in the Hill District, Derrick J. Hardy takes school management very seriously. "The teacher is a classroom manager. But the principal is the school manager, not only providing opportunities for teachers to succeed, but opportunities across the system for all students to succeed," he says. Hardy held similar roles at Westinghouse and Brashear high schools. He also spent a year at Pittsburgh McNaugher, a special-education facility that offers emotional support and behavioral management for high-schoolers. "My firm hand with discipline and student management was beneficial, and it's still in place," says Hardy.

After the dismissal bell rings, Hardy devotes time to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, whose primary goal for members is service. He's involved as an alumni leader on both the local and national level, serving on education committees and furthering the mission to fight urban crime and poverty, to support education and to raise awareness politically.

32. Michael Jennings, 26
Mentoring champion

Michael Jennings is a financial business analyst at American Eagle Outfitters and graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh, but he always makes time for his Little Brother. "When I spend time with Branden, I forget everything else, so I can concentrate on making sure he's having a good time and he's learning. It's a stress-reliever for me from everything else I do during a normal day," says Jennings. He's been a Big Brother for four years. He's also an event chair and board member for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and he's created a networking group, Corridor 65, which helps retain mentors who live near Route 65.

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