Washington Park School students in Over-the-Rhine got a special treat last October.

        Not only did about 100 student athletes from the University of Cincinnati help them clean their school, the athletes provided some sound advice:

        Stay in school.

Honored for their contributions on Make a Difference Day are: Allison Wendel (front left) and Allison Hopper (front right), Ursuline Academy; and (back, from left) Judy Murray and Sharon Rinner, Guardian Angels parish; Trista Wheatley and Paul Stephens, C-PAWS; Laura Fewell and Becky Osborne, city of Mason; and Amy Burnette and Michelle Jones, Miami University. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        The university students, members of the Committee to Promote Athletic Welfare and Success (C-PAWS), trekked to the school in waves on Oct. 30 to volunteer for the 10th annual Make a Difference Day.They cleaned desks, washed floors and scrubbed windows. Some played sports with the Washington Park students. They also donated clothes to the children. Others read them books or talked to the kids about their futures.

        C-PAWS was one of five local groups that received recognition Friday during an awards reception for their participation in Make a Difference Day.

        Created by USA Weekend magazine, Make A Difference Day is an annual event on the fourth Saturday of October. Millions have participated.

        The 11th Make A Difference Day will be Oct. 27. In 2000, more 2.2 million people volunteered, accomplishing thousands of projects in hundreds of towns and helping an estimated 25 million people.

        Other local honorees:

        • Miami University and Oxford residents. Students, teachers and staff participated in a clothing drive, raised money for charity, collected canned goods and beautified parks. They received $2,000 from the Gannett Foundation for the charities of their choice.

        • The Guardian Angels Church and School in Mount Washington. More than 200 parishioners served meals at shelters, collected goods for the poor, raised money for the Red Cross and made place mats for Meals on Wheels.

        • Ursuline Academy in Blue Ash. More than 180 students, parents and alumnae cleaned, painted and refurbished Windsor Elementary School in Walnut Hills. Ursuline Academy volunteers also tutor regularly on Tuesdays.

        • Mason community organizations. Numerous groups held drives for books, socks, undergarments, baby items and more to benefit a local Head Start program and day care center, a Cincinnati-area school, a shelter for abused and abandoned children, and Toys for Tots in Lebanon.
       

Racial balance of police debated
Shirey closer to losing job
Bush nominates Indian Hill friend
City balks at deal to end profiling suit
Safety is king after proms
Bengals say deal costs $4M
SAMPLES: 'Jackass' stunts
Hospital plans move to I-75
Schools' gain is loss for others
Amended suit cites suicide
Break-in attempt leaves 1 man dead
GOP has no Lucas opponent
Help earns honors
HOWARD: Neighborhoods
Louisville activist says riots rejuvenated his anti-racism fight
Man sought for questions in killing
MCNUTT: Keep it Straight
Mother pleads guilty to teen sex
Nicotine 'cigalettes' aimed at smokers
NKU considers disciplining prof
Patton praises eastern Kentucky
Plea confesses theft in office
Police say man was mailing drugs
Principal acts as schools boss
Republican taking on Rouse
Safety day takes on added urgency
Teens accused of taking police gun
Villa Hills workers settle
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report