ADDYSTON — Meredith Hitchens Elementary School in the Three Rivers Local School District is one of 11 statewide winners in the 2002 Hall of Fame Program, which recognizes exemplary performance.

        The Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators (OAESA) announced winning schools Wednesday.

        “A lot of good things happen there,” said Jim Thomas, assistant superintendent at Three Rivers. “It is a validation that what you're doing is appreciated by your peers.”

        The OAESA, which has given the awards since 1984, divides the state into 10 zones and generally names one winner from each zone. Middle schools also compete, which accounts for this year's 11th winner.

        Hitchens won in Zone 2, which includes about 300 schools in Adams, Brown, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties. The last Greater Cincinnati school to win was Kings Mills Elementary in 2000.

        Meredith Hitchens has about 376 students in preschool through grade 1. The 2,200-student Hamilton County district has three elementaries, a middle school and a high school.

        Don Larrick has been principal at Meredith Hitchens for 16 years.

        “With all of the criticism of schools nowadays,” he said, “I think parents want to know their child is going to a good school. People take pride in that.”

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