Daniels of the year

WORLD's second annual "Daniel of the Year" designation goes not to one single person but to a generation of young people the editors have dubbed "Generation WWJD." These are the courageous Christian youths who discovered in tough situations that asking the question, "What Would Jesus Do?" means more than just wearing a faddish bracelet. | Lynn Vincent

Interesting though her talk on drunk driving was, the guest police officer's presentation melted to a background buzz as Josh Weidmann gazed out at the classroom window. It was only April, but as the Arapahoe High School junior drank in the azure sky that arced over a riotous Colorado spring, he was already dreaming of summer. For Josh, an affable, sandy-haired kid with a light-up smile, summer meant more than indolent poolside days; it also meant having more time to concentrate on his student-centered youth ministry, Revival Generation. A montage of ways he might spend 90-something sunny, unfettered days rolled through Josh's mind. But his reverie imploded suddenly when a teacher burst into the classroom.

"Don't freak out," the teacher said, his face a mask of constrained fear, "but there's been a shooting five miles up the road at Columbine High."