They came in second last year to Orange High School in California. Princeton students collected $31,962.80, but they were topped by Orange students who amassed $32,119.08.

This year, Princeton students have set their goal at $35,000.

The fifth annual Pasta for Pennies campaign was kicked off at the school Jan 27 and will run to Feb. 18.

"They are pretty excited about the drive,'' said Chris Gramke, director of communication.

Princeton High students Whitney Weddington , Brandi Gilliam, Brittney White, Sonya White, and Tyrell Worrell count pennies for the Pasta for Pennies campaign. (Photo provided)

Students collect change and compete with other classrooms, Gramke said. The top fund-raising classroom at each school receives a free luncheon from Olive Garden.

"This is something that the entire Princeton community can participate in and be proud of,'' said Amy Oohs-Hardman, coordinator of the program at the high school.

The nationwide campaign, which started Jan. 5, raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. More than 89,000 students from 22 counties in Southern Ohio will participate in the campaign.

Each school is teamed with an ambassador or a young person in remission or currently receiving treatment for a blood-related cancer.

Scout bound for jamboree

She may be too young for Survivor, but April Isch knows enough about the outdoors and camping that she could probably hold her own on the popular TV reality show.

April is one of 24 girls from the United States selected to journey to Finland with the Girl Scouts. April will participate in the fifth annual International Jamboree with 1,000 students from around the world. The jamboree focuses on outdoor and camping skills.

To be selected, April, a sophomore at Mariemont High School, had to submit an essay about her outdoor skills. She wrote about why she would not be afraid to live outdoors, what experiences she has that prepared her for camping, what she would bring to the event and what she expected to gain from it.

The jamboree is held in Tarus, Finland, for two weeks this summer.

"I think I can learn a lot and offer a lot to the jamboree,'' April said. "I have been in foreign countries before, and I like meeting other children, especially from foreign countries. I go camping every year and things like insects don't upset me.''

Aside from scouting, April is on the school swim team. She plays bagpipes in the band and works at Raptor Inc., New Burlington, helping to rehabilitate owls and hawks.

Giving back: Book returns

Libraries have always been a part of Eileen Schweizer's life. Her first job out of high school in 1939 was as a clerk at the main library, downtown.

"I worked there for five years until I got married, and quit to raise my four boys,'' she said.

At 83 and retired, where do you think you can find Schweizer most of the time? At the library.

She spends two hours a day, twice a week at the Mount Washington library branch, stamping date-due cards and labeling reading shelves.

When Schweizer moved down the street from the library, she noticed a flyer asking for volunteers.

"It's a perfect match,'' Schweizer said. "I have been working here since July.''

She worked as a part-time library assistant in the 1970s at the Oakley branch before working full-time at the Mariemont branch as an assistant. She remained there until she retired in 1981.

But that didn't stop her. She worked at Xavier University's library for eight years.

"When my kids were in school, I used to work in the school library. I have also been a volunteer for the Cincinnati Nature Center Library, the Deupree House and the Magi in Mount Washington,'' she said.