Stephanie Robertson of Blue Ash, a senior at Wake Forest University, will spend part of her winter recess along unpaved roads, living in houses with no plumbing and no electricity in the Agalta Valley in Honduras.

She is among 10 students at the school who will participate in the Honduras Outreach Project and Exchange (HOPE)..

The students will leave for Honduras Jan. 2 and return Jan. 12, during the school's winter break. They will be back in time for the spring semester.

They will assist on construction projects

The Agalta Valley is an extremely poor, undeveloped region with the highest mortality rate in Honduras. The average annual family income is $400.

Stephanie Robertson

In preparing for the trip, the group met in weekly sessions during the fall semester. They learned aspects of Honduran life and culture, including conversational Spanish and other relevant topics.

"I am excited about the project because it gives me a chance to see what the other side of the world looks like," Ms Robertson said. "We can see pictures and newsreels of those countries, but they don't tell the real story. It is not like being there and working with the people."

She said some of the students can speak fluent Spanish. She said they will be living on a ranch, operated by HOPE.

"The ranch is set up with basic dormitory facilities, for boys and girls. The people who live on the ranch raise and prepare their own food," she said.

She said students selected for the HOPE project conducted fund-raisers to help supplement expenses for the trip. Ms Robertson said they also gave a benefit on the campus.

"I sent letters to friends, family and my church," she said.

She is a member of Church of the Savior in Montgomery.

Ms. Robertson, 21, is majoring in Health and Exercise Science. She said she plans to take a year off after she graduates and work with the Peace Corps before going to medical school.

The Sycamore High School graduate is the daughter of Stephen and Barbara Robertson.

The HOPE Scholars Program at Wake Forest was founded in 1997 with the help of Honduras Outreach Inc., a private organization based in Decatur, Ga.

Christa Colyer, assistant professor of chemistry at Wake Forest, is the faculty adviser and Warren Thomas of Emerald Isle, N.C., is student trip leader.

Other Wake Forest groups will visit India, Mexico and Vietnam during the holiday season. The service trips began in 1994 with a trip to Calcutta, India. They are sponsored by the Wake Forest Pro Humanitate Fund for Service-Learning in Action.

The grant for the HOPE program provides full coverage for one student and faculty leader on each trip. It also helps to subsidize some of the cost for participating students.

As Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer led Santa's sleigh, people who show shining leadership qualify for an award named in honor of the famous reindeer.

Stephanie Gentile, who helped to create leadership programs for youth at North Avondale Montessori School, has received the 2002 Rudy Award.

The award was created by Safeco in 1994 to recognize the extraordinary persons who are beacons of light in their communities.

Allen Howard's "Some Good News" column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.