"We hope to bring awareness to our peers about the real danger of HIV infection which leads to AIDS deaths,'' said Mains, who is a senior. "A

Members of Simon-Kenton High School's AIDS Awareness group are, from left, seniors Erin Dixon, Dennis Chaney, John Mains, Elizabeth Moore, junior Todd Weesner and seniors Adam Trenkamp and Amanda Peddicord. The AIDS Memorial Quilt is displayed behind the group. (Meggan Booker photo)

lot of youth look at AIDS as an epidemic in Africa or a disease that attacks only gays."

Mains said the quilt will be on display at the Kenton County school from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today through Friday.

There will be an opening ceremony from 7-9 p.m. today to present the quilt and panels about AIDS. It will be on display at a basketball game from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday.

Mains works part time at the Northern Kentucky District Health Department.

He is president of the Kentucky State 4-H Club and captain of the school's academic team and future problem-solving team.

Minorities appointed

Two local people have been elected to offices of the National Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA), a professional organization to help strengthen the expertise of minority members working in information technology. The group is headquartered in Philadelphia.

Wayne Hicks, interim director of the Cincinnati Business Incubator, began his term last week as president of the national group.

Gina Billings, senior service delivery resource coordinator for Hewlett Packard, has been chosen president-elect of the group and will replace Hicks in January 2005.

The local chapter of BDPA also received community service honors. "We have done some pretty good things here, and the national group is recognizing us," Hicks said.

The 260 members of the local chapter are conducting a computer camp for 30 students, ages 8-11, five hours each Saturday at Xavier University.

"We teach them Web page development, programming, computer terminology, team building and presentation skills," Hicks said.

The national organization has more than 49 chapters and 2,000 members across the country.

Agency certifies staffer

Joan Proffitt has received a certified community action professional designation from the Community Action Partnership.

Proffitt is director of finance at the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency.

The certification is for senior-level Community Action Agency staff members who help low-income people change their lives.

Proffitt is a 20-year veteran with CAA.

Giving Back

A new partnership between the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Habitat for Humanity volunteers means that the state agency will be giving back a lot to local communities.

Recently when a home was purchased for the Interstate 270/Ohio161/Sunbury Road construction, ODOT and Habitat for Humanity volunteers salvaged material in the house before it was demolished.

Through the partnership, ODOT and Habitat volunteers will continue this practice to salvage such materials as windows, doors, furnaces, sinks, woodwork and other household items by removing them before demolition.

The items will be resold to the public at the Habitat for Humanity's Build It Again Center Store with the profits going to the organization to build homes.

In this area, stores are in Hamilton, Middletown and Carthage.

"This agreement is a first for ODOT and goes a long way toward ensuring materials that would otherwise wind up in a landfill are put to good use elsewhere,'' said Gordon Proctor, ODOT director. "This partnership will help a multitude of people across Ohio.''

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization that partners with families and the community to build new homes, which are sold at cost with a zero-interest mortgage to low-income families living in substandard housing.