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Age Category: 5-9 years old

Manuel P., 8, from Elizabeth, CO, likes to draw funny cards and comics. He sent in a cartoon of a talking acorn who is badly hurt after being gobbled by a turkey. Manuel plans to become a “good artist” and game designer. Meanwhile, he looks forward to buying a computer so he can make “nice cards” and, at last, use the Anime Studio 7™ he got for his birthday.

Age Category: 10-13 years old

Kira W., 12, from Manassas Park, VA, relies on a computer to help her prepare for college and a singing career. She sent in a video of herself playing the guitar and singing a very polished version of the Taylor Swift song, “Love Story.” Backed by the singing of her brother, Ryan, she ended her video with an adaption of the tune, “You are my Sunshine,” with the words, “Alliant Credit Union. You are so awesome. We hope you choose us to win your contest. We’ll be ever so grateful to you.”

Age Category: 14-17 years old

Korena N., 14, from San Mateo, CA, says she wakes up “every single morning at 6am and starts off the day by spending an hour drawing cartoon characters and animals.” Then, to wind down after school and homework, she relaxes by drawing some more. She wants to use a computer to research animal personalities and animate her characters so they can “laugh, tell jokes, sing and dance.”

Age Category: 5-9 years old

Brayden W., 6, from Manassas Park, VA, is determined to become a brain surgeon. And he’s already had some practice doing this – he sent in a video that shows him suited up as a doctor and performing a mock brain surgery on another kid.

Age Category: 10-13 years old

Ethan D., 11, from Jamestown, IN, is a stargazer who owns a telescope, but hopes to one day use the space-orbiting Hubble Telescope for his own research. Ethan made a highly-detailed model of the Hubble out of paper and cardboard by following directions from its website. He used over 200 pieces in his model, which took him two weeks to complete.

Age Category: 14-17 years old

Remington L., 14, of Syosset, NY, loves apps on smartphones and plans to become the founder and CEO of an application development business to help people build apps “in just a snap” for finance, news, music, games – and you name it. Currently, Remington says he has an “old, slow computer to handle arduous processes.” He’s eager to get a new computer so he can better "be part of the wave of change.”

Age Category: 5-9 years old

Maia M., 9, from Carlsbad, CA, says “I like science. It’s my thing.” She plans to become a vet because “Science + love of animals = veterinarian.” She plans to use her computer to look up words such as “onomatopoeia,” play games designed to boost math skills and learn how to diagnose sick animals.

Age Category: 10-13 years old

Courtney L., 13, of Libertyville, IL, wants to become an architect and design “single family homes in unique locations.” She sent in a drawing and blueprint of a “summer cabin perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean,” which would enable the residents “to see the stars and enjoy beauty and tranquility.” Instead of hand-drawing her designs, a computer would make her work faster, neater and more detailed, she says.

Age Category: 14-17 years old

James C., 14, of North Hills, CA, was always fascinated in how an airplane that’s so heavy can take off and fly. As a kid, his flight attendant mother took him into a plane cockpit. After “seeing buttons everywhere with no idea what they do,” and sitting in the captain’s seat, James decided he wanted to be a pilot. He sent a DVD demonstrating how a computer will help him learn the language and geography of countries he hopes to fly to one day.