This publication contains stories about 10 outstanding Pennsylvania citizens who realize that a high quality education is essential to meeting life's challenges. These stories describe how 10 men and women faced great obstacles and overcame seemingly impossible barriers to become contributing and productive members of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The obstacles or barriers include a hearing disability, drug abuse, dropping out of high school, an abusive childhood, an abusive marriage, alcoholism, running away, a physical disability, and teenage marriage. (YLB)