They are Marilyn Evans, who chairs the board of directors of National People's Action's Training and Information Center, and Betty Gazaway, chairwoman of the environment committee of Communities United For Action.

Evans and Gazaway will leave for Washington with a group of about 30 people early Saturday.

National People's Action, headquartered in Chicago, is a coalition of more than 300 grass-roots groups from across the country. Its conference runs Saturday through Monday.

"We have a full agenda," Evans said. "Our theme this year is 'Vote Neighborhoods First.' We are real people with real issues."

She said some of the main topics will include such issues as neighborhood crime.

"We will have discussions on faith neighborhoods because there is a lot of crime in our neighborhoods. We want to mobilize faith-based organizations to help eliminate the crime in our neighborhoods," Evans said.

Environmental concerns also will be among the main topics - an area where Gazaway has shown expertise. She was honored last week by Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken for her work on environmental issues in the Winton Hills area.

"We want Washington to hear our local issues," Gazaway said.

Another topic will involve predatory lending practices, Evans said. Action members have tried to work with lenders to prevent them from foreclosing on homes in cases where families may have unfavorable loan terms.

"We have found weapons of mass destruction in our neighborhoods, and they are predatory lenders who steal homes and saddle families with massive amounts of debt," Evans said.

Preparing for walk

This week will be get-in-shape week for faculty, staff and students at Mount Notre Dame High School in preparation for the annual Step by Step spirit walk.

The walk is set for April 2. It is designed to solicit pledges from supporters for the school's scholarship and financial aid programs.

"Each year, the walk is a big success," said Cheri Cunningham Stacey, director of public relations

The activities include a breakfast of champions, a student auction in the gym and a three-mile walk through the city of Reading.

Outstanding teacher

Because Thomas Newman gave students Gabriel Campbell and Matthew Brookbank a chance to excel in computer technology, they nominated him for the Outstanding High School Teacher award.

Newman is computer system/network technology instructor at the D. Russel Lee Career Technology Center. He received the award from the Miami University's School of Applied Science and Engineering.

"He did more than just keep me interested in computers," said Campbell, a sophomore computer technology major at Miami. "He gave me a chance to run with it.''

Brookbank, also a sophomore, said without Newman's influence he would still be undecided on a future career.

Newman received the award March 3 at the school's academic awards banquet.

Positively Kids: Engineering graduate

Brian Bucholtz has graduated with a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, summa cum laude, from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He earned a 4.0 grade-point average fall semester, ranking him at the top of the 2003 engineering class.

The Colerain High School graduate is the son of Jude and Elliott Bucholtz of Colerain Township. He has accepted a job with the Stover Group, a contractor for the M&M Mars Co. in Chicago.

Six vocal scholars

These students have won vocal scholarships from the Forest-Aires women's chorus:

Brooke Rucidlo and Logan Bradford of Turpin High School, Brittany Wheeler and Megan Aylward of Anderson High School, Andrew Niebuhr of Glen Este High School and Jeanne Reinhold of McNicholas High School.

The winners received private vocal lessons during the school year and will perform solos in the Forest-Aires' "Encore! 2004" show in April.

Theater technician

Angela Westcott, a junior at Mason High School, was selected with other state theater technicians to participate in the All Ohio Production of A Day in Hollywood, A Night in the Ukraine. The technicians are working to construct sets and prepare other areas of the production.

The show will open the Ohio State Thespian Conference April 2 at Mason High School.

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