Nickname: N/A

Pronunciation: tee-EN

Age: 6

Nationality: Chinese

From: Nanning, China

Favorite Subject: PE

Favorite Hobbies: Playing soccer, meditating

Dream: To win the World Cup

Tien runs everywhere he goes because he’s kicking his soccer ball everywhere he goes. Tien’s the best soccer play at Quantum Elementary and bounces, kicks, dribbles and head-butts his ball all the time—even on Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips. But Tien also has a crush on Mala, so when she’s watching he gets nervous and can’t kick at all. He always wears the white jersey of his favorite team—the Possibility Pirates. When he grows up, he’s going to win the World Cup. Right now he spends a lot of his free time imagining it in his mind. That’s his other hobby—meditating.

His World Abundance Project is to teach everyone in the world they are perfectly fine being the best they can be, and to accept others being their best. By studying world religions, he wants to create world-wide acceptance and encouragement of people’s diversity, yet celebration of their similar goal—to be their best selves.

Tien is an adopted child and lives with his adopted dad near the City of Abundance Sports Arena. His dad is the director of the City’s Spiritual Center, where Tien goes a lot after school to meditate and imagine.

Tien has a lot of self-confidence in both his physical abilities and mental capacity. He’s often one of the first to succeed at new things on Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips, but also always the first to help others succeed. He encourages others to accomplish their goals, and is very sincere in his friendships. Tien believes if we help others achieve our dreams, we will help each other change the world.

Name: Themba

Nickname: N/A

Pronunciation: TEM-bah

Age: 6

Nationality: Zimbabwean

From: Mutare, Zimbabwe

Favorite Subject: Science

Favorite Hobbies: Creating science projects

Dream: To own her own science lab

Themba is a genius at math and science, and pretty much anything else. Whether it’s a class subject or something from one of Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips, she loves to learn. But she especially loves science and math because she likes to build science projects (she has a new one sitting on her desk just about every day). Some of the Quantum Kids say her bedroom looks like the school science lab. Themba is never arrogant about how smart she is and always offers a helping hand (or brain) to those who don’t understand something. When she grows up, she’s going to own her own science lab and work especially on finding cures for diseases.

Her World Abundance Project is to help eliminate all diseases around the world by researching them in her science lab. Then she can travel around the world giving people vaccinations to help them stay healthy. She says a healthy world is a changed world.

Themba is the fourth child between four brothers. Her dad is a geologist and works at the Smoke Stack Volcano. Her mom is a technician at the solar panel fields, where the solar panels convert sunlight into energy for the city.

Themba loves to learn and loves to help others learn. She doesn’t care what she learns, as long as she takes the “journey” of learning. She’s always looking for things that expand her mind, then can’t wait to share it with others. She loves Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips because of all the new things she sees and learns. Themba believes the more we know and use the knowledge we have, the more we will change the world.

Name: Nizhoni

Nickname: Shoni

Pronunciation: SHOW-nee

Age: 7

Nationality: Navajo

From: Chinle, AZ, USA

Favorite Subject: Astronomy

Favorite Hobbies: Star-gazing, studying planets, building model rockets

Dream: To fly in space

Shoni has her head in space—outer space. Almost every day after school she heads up to Lookout Peak, to the City Planetarium, and looks through the giant telescope at the stars and planets. She can point out all the constellations and even has a mobile of the solar system hanging above her desk at Quantum Elementary. When she grows up, she’s going to fly in the space shuttle and walk on the moon. (In fact, rumor has it she’s building a rocket ship in her backyard). Shoni and Mala are best friends, and while Shoni looks at planets, Mala paints pictures of them.

Even though she has her head in space, Shoni is very grounded and believes everyone on this planet should have a place to live. Her World Abundance Project is to help everyone in the world have a place they can call “home” by building houses for people who are without. She believes if everyone has a home, not so many people will feel so lost in this world.

Shoni is the oldest of one sister and two brothers. Her dad is a recycler technician at the City of Abundance Recycle Plant, renewing Abundant Island’s resources. Her mom is an astronomer at the planetarium.

Shoni is the eternal optimist. Her glass is always half full. Her cloud always has a silver lining. Whenever the Quantum Kids get discouraged on one of Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips, she boosts their moral and excites them about what they’re learning. No one is ever down around her. Shoni believes if everyone looks at the positive things in life, we will change the world.

Name: Ogden

Nickname: Oggy

Pronunciation: AWE-ghee

Age: 7

Nationality: Australian

From: Mackay, Australia

Favorite Subject: Oceanography

Favorite Hobbies: Playing with his boomerang, snorkeling, scuba diving, exploring with Boston

Dream: To sail around the world

Most people think Oggy should’ve been born a fish. He’s fascinated by the ocean and everything in it, and spends almost more time in the water than out. He takes care of Mr. Rife’s fishes and has named them all. Almost every day after school (when he’s not exploring with his best friend, Boston), Oggy goes snorkeling or scuba diving in the ocean. If he can’t go to the beach, Oggy loves playing with his boomerang. He likes to learn new things (like how to play football with Boston) and also teach new things—like teaching Cat to throw a boomerang. But he has a crush on Cat, so whenever she’s around he usually gets nervous and can hardly throw at all. When he grows up, Oggy’s going to sail around the world and explore the oceans that cover most of the earth.

His World Abundance Project is to protect the oceans. With so much oil drilling and illegal poaching, he knows we may lose some of the most beautiful things living in the waters. So he’s always working for ways to protect the ocean life from pollutants and illegal hunting.

Oggy lives with his younger brother and mom. She’s a marine biologist at Abundant Island’s underwater aquarium.

Oggy is especially good at making friends and including people in activities. Whether it’s hide ‘n’ seek or Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips, Oggy is always making sure the other Quantum Kids feel included. No one is ever without a friend when Oggy’s around. Oggy believes if we can make one new friend a day, we can change the world.

Name: Nicolas

Nickname: Nico

Pronunciation: NEE-co

Age: 7

Nationality: Mexican

From: Oaxaca, Mexico

Favorite Subject: Computer Tech

Favorite Hobbies: Building computers, building robots and building gadgets

Dream: To build his own fully-functioning humanoid robot

Nico is into computers, technology, robotics and gadgets. But he’s no nerd. He’s more like a genius. Nico can do just about anything when it comes to technology. He’s a wiz on the keyboard, the motherboard, the circuit board and every other kind of board. If the Quantum Kids are on a fieldtrip and get lost or don’t know an answer, Nico has his GPS and held-held computer to help them find their way or find the answer. In fact, Nico likes Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips because whatever he learns, he can Google on his computer to learn more. Nico has built robots at home to help him with his chores, but when he grows up he’s going to build a fully-functioning, humanoid robot that can walk, talk and think just like you and me.

His World Abundance Project is to join the whole world together electronically. He collects thousands of old computers, cleans them, rebuilds them and upgrades them to work again. Then he donates them to schools around the world so the children there have the chance to research and learn at their fingertips.

Nico’s house is pretty much self-sustaining, filled with automated gadgets. He has an older brother and younger sister. His dad is a caretaker at the Animal Preservation Park on Abundant Island. His mom is a river guide on the Sidewinder River.

Nico’s always coming up with ideas—whether for fixing a computer or playing a game at recess. Coming up with ideas makes him excited for each day because he never knows what he’ll think of next. His greatest idea is to help everyone create their own ideas. Nico believes if we can all act on the good ideas we have every day, we can change the world.

Name: Mala

Nickname: N/A

Pronunciation: MA-la

Age: 6

Nationality: Indian

From: Rudarpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Favorite Subject: Art

Favorite Hobbies: Painting, drawing and sculpting

Dream: To be a world-famous artist

Mala never knows when her creative juices will start flowing, so she always carries a paintbrush in one pocket and a clump of clay in the other—ready to create some art. She’s Quantum Elementary’s resident artist. Whether doodling on her math homework or sculpting a statue, everything she does is a masterpiece. When Mala grows up, she’s going to be a world-famous artist. She loves to paint more than anything, and you can tell by all the paint smears on her clothes. She likes Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips because no matter where they go, she sees new things to paint. She’s best friends with Shoni, so Shoni has dozens of paintings of herself. But in most of their class collages, Tien is front and center because Mala has a crush on him (but will deny it if anybody mentions it).

Her World Abundance Project is to preserve the fresh water resources throughout the world. She wants to keep leaks, rivers and streams clean from pollution and contamination, as well as educate people on not wasting water, so everyone in the world will have enough clean water for the rest of their lives.

Mala lives downtown in a converted art studio. She’s the only child in her family.   Her dad is a farmer at the organic farms and orchards that grow all the food for the City of Abundance. Her mom is a guide at the City Cultural Center.

Mala has a knack for seeing the best in people—and she paints them that way. She’s very encouraging and helps others get excited to live up to their potential. She hopes through her art, she can help people see just how unique, special and individual they are. Mala believes if we all treat people as if they were their best selves, we will change the world.

Name: Kaleo

Nickname: N/A

Pronunciation: kah-LAY-oh

Age: 6

Nationality: Samoan

From: Lalomanu, Samoa

Favorite Subject: Photography

Favorite Food:

Favorite Hobbies: Surfing, taking pictures, and surfing

Dream: To surf the biggest wave in the world

Kaleo’s always smiling and laughing at something or with someone—but never at someone. And no matter what time of day it is, he’s usually thinking about going to the beach to surf—and that makes him happy. Kaleo lives on Bountiful Beach and always wears boardshorts and a t-shirt—ready to surf anywhere, anytime. When he’s not surfing, he’s quite the shutterbug. Kaleo takes his camera with him wherever he goes, including Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips. Thanks to him, the Quantum Kids have whole picture albums of their adventures. (Some people think it’s funny that Kaleo likes to spend so much time in the sun and the dark room.) When he grows up, Kaleo’s going to surf the biggest wave in the world.

He needs a lot of energy to surf all the time, so Kaleo’s always eating. But his World Abundance Project is to make sure everyone else in the world has enough to eat, too. We wants to not just give food to those without, but help them build farms and plant orchards so they can provide for themselves and have plenty to eat for the rest of their lives.

Kaleo’s an only child. His dad is a lifeguard at Bountiful Beach. His mom is the swimming instructor at the lake just outside the city.

Whether it’s surfing or shooting pictures, Kaleo strives for excellence. This drive helps him excel at his goals. He also tries to encourage others to succeed as well. He wants to be the best Kaleo he can be and does so by helping others be the best they can be. Kaleo believes if we all try to be better today than we were yesterday, we can change the world.

Nickname: Cat

Pronunciation: KAT

Age: 6

Nationality: Brazilian

From: Manaus, Brazil

Favorite Subject: Reading

Favorite Hobbies: Reading and going to the library to read

Dream: Dreams of reading 1,000,000 books in her lifetime

It’s easy to find Cat—just follow the trail of books. Cat never goes anywhere without her nose in a book (or two or three). She loves books because some take her to faraway places full of excitement, and others teach her about her home and the world around her. (Rumor has it she has more books in her room than the City Library). She loves Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips because whatever she learns about, she can go back home and read about it to learn more. Cat gets shy around Oggy because she has a crush on him. Every time he talks to her, she blushes and buries her nose further into her book. Throughout her life, Cat’s going to read at least 1,000,000 books. She loves her books and wants to share them with others. Her World Abundance Project is to build schools and libraries for the children of the world. She believes reading and education is important for kids and wants them to be able to have a school to go to and enjoy.

Cat is the the youngest in her family and has two older brothers and two older sisters. Her dad is the curator for the City of Abundance Museum. Her mom is a librarian at the City Library.

One reason Cat loves to read is she loves to solve problems. By reading, she learns how to solve almost anything in any given situation. She also learns how to prepare for the future, just in case something happens. She always has an answer. Cat believes if we all learn as much as we can, and act on what we learn, we can change the world.

Name: Darya

Nickname: N/A

Pronunciation: DAR-ya

Age: 7

Nationality: Iranian

From: Tabriz, Iran

Favorite Subject: Botany

Favorite Hobbies: Planting flowers and trees, tending the garden, creating peace

Dream: To create world peace

Darya has a green thumb. Pretty much anything she touches grows. She loves all plants, flowers, trees, fruits and vegetables—anything that grows in the earth—and can name just about every plant on Abundant Island. If it weren’t for Darya, the plants in Mr. Rife’s classroom would be dead. Darya and Adie are best friends. While Adie’s swinging on a vine in the rainforest, Darya’s figuring out what kind of vine it is. She spends most of her free time in the City Greenhouse, tending to the plants there. When Mr. Rife takes the Quantum Kids on a fieldtrip, Darya gets so caught up looking at the foliage that sometimes she gets left behind.

It will come as no surprise that her World Abundance Project is to save the rainforests of the world. And not just the rainforests, but all wooded areas and national parks. She wants to stop deforestation and create parks where people can enjoy the wonders of nature unspoiled by population and pollution.

Darya is the youngest of four girls in her family. Her dad is a botanist at the City Botanical Gardens. Her mom is a purifier technician at the Possibilities H₂O water plant.

If there’s something Darya loves more than plants, it’s peace. She has a knack for settling arguments and is always looking for common ground between two people. This talent spreads through the class, helping other kids to resolve their differences without fighting. Darya believes if we all find something in common with each other, we can create world peace and change the world.

Nickname: N/A

Pronunciation: BAW-stun

Age: 7

Nationality: American

From: Los Angeles, USA

Favorite Subject: Recess

Favorite Hobbies: Playing American football and exploring with Oggy

Dream: To be an American football player

Whether sleeping or eating lunch, Boston doesn’t do anything without his football—that means going to school, too. He always wears the red jersey of his favorite team—the Abundant Alligators—and likes school because he can play football with his friends at recess. He and Oggy are best friends and love to explore Abundant Island. They’re always excited about Mr. Rife’s fieldtrips because they get to learn and try all sorts of new things. (But sometimes they explore a little too much and get lost from the group.)

His World Abundance Project is to unite the countries of the world in a common goal of sharing each other’s resources to improve the lives of everyone on Earth. 

Boston has two younger sisters who he likes to tease but loves very much. His dad is a forest ranger in the Mile High Mountains. His mom teaches health at Possibilities Junior High.

Boston has a vivid imagination and high hopes for the future. His imagination, his hopes and his dreams help him stay enthusiastic for each new day. He knows no matter what gets in his way, he can overcome it and be better for it. Boston believes if we can each imagine ourselves overcoming our obstacles, when the time comes we can overcome them and will start changing the world.