On the Cover: SkillsUSA Champion Carrie Stamps of Franklin, Tenn. Photo by Lloyd Wolf.

By Tom Kercheval
When the guys in her machining class told Virginia Mata she'd never make it, she left them in the dust — and left high school with credits toward an advanced degree. Now this future manufacturing engineer shares the secrets of her "super" success. [Read]

By Ann P. Schreiber
Profits and environmental protection are often portrayed as polar opposites. But Kevin DiMartino's job blends the best of both worlds and even benefits nonprofit organizations in the process. [Read]

By Tom Kercheval
"It's one thing for parents to tell you to go to your room and study, but it's another thing to see them working hard providing for their family and then giving up their free time to study, too," says Carolyn Kimbrel, whose father has career goals similar to hers. [Read]