Chao Mu-he, a 96-year-old Taiwanese man, received his masters degree in philosophy from Nanhua University in June 2009. After being told he was too old to continue volunteering at a local hospital, Mu-he was bored. He said the hardest part of his studies was coping with a poor memory. To compensate he got up at midnight before a test and studied all night to keep the information fresh in his mind. He specialized in the works of Chuangtze, a 4th century B.C. Taoist master, known for being at ease and fighting no one – words Mu-he continues to live by.

Eric Sheptock, 40, is a homeless advocate for the homeless. He gets his message out via a Facebook page; a Twitter account; and using public libraries for e-mail and writing his blog, “On the Clock with Eric Sheptock”. He also has a cell phone for networking, paid for by being a part-time janitor. A full-time job wouldn’t give Sheptock time to also write for “Street Sense”, a D.C. paper for the homeless or work with the production group “Streats TV”, which advocates for the homeless. During these hard economic times, Sheptock’s work with the homeless is much closer to home.

Lidia Schaefer, a Washington, D.C. manicurist, returned to her Ethiopian village in the 90’s and saw children walking 3 hours both ways to classes under a tree. In 1998 when a girl walking home was killed by a hyena, Schaefer started saving one-third of her salary and all her tips to build a school. The mother of two, who worked 6 days a week, lobbied the Ethiopian government to donate land. When Schaefer needed more money, she sold her house and car. In 2006 the $250,000 she raised not only built a school – an 8-building campus for 1,500 students – it built a dream.

Major Nicole Malachowski was the first woman to fly in the ultra-elite Thunderbirds. WASP – Women Air Force Service Pilots – are Malachowski’s personal heroes. Because of her efforts, they’ve finally been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Wasp were the first women to fly military aircraft. During WWII they volunteered for non-combat duty as test pilots and trainers to free their male counterparts to fight in Europe. Because their contribution to the war was controversial, they were never considered part of the military. Their records were sealed and deemed classified in 1944. In 2009 Wasp are getting a heroes welcome.