When 380 students started playing cellos and violins at Oak Hills High School, kicking off the annual string concert, Roberta Schlachter and Lois Staubitz realized the fruits of their struggles 30 years ago.

The two women, members of the Westwood Women's Club, started a drive to get string music included at schools in the Oak Hills District.

"It took a bit of persuasion, but we felt string music should be a part of the music program instead of just marching bands," Schlachter said. "We just didn't think a marching band offered enough."

Schlachter said she was not able to attend the 30th annual string concert performance on May 6, but the fact that they succeeded was comfort to her.

Oak Hills School District teachers Susan Krug (from left) and Marie Schaffer with Lois Staubitz, who helped start the district's string music program 30 years ago. The Cincinnati Enquirer/TONY JONES

"The performance brought tears to my eyes," said Staubitz. "I think our big break came when a teacher at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music convinced the superintendent that string music was needed. We were able to start a pilot program with a CCM teacher helping us."

Now string music has spread across the district in Oak Hills High School; Delhi, Bridgetown and Rapid Run middle schools; and J.F. Dulles, Springmyer, Oakdale, Delshire and C.O. Harrison elementary schools.

"The concert was wonderful," said Marie Schaffer, a string music teacher at Oak Hills who directed one of the orchestras. "All of the orchestras joined together to play the theme from Canon by Johann Pachelbel."

Counselor bikes against HIV

As a counselor, William O'Connell, an assistant professor at Xavier University, has seen many people with AIDS/HIV.

"I believe AIDS/HIV charities across the globe are grossly underfunded to meet the needs of the population for medicine and treatment," O'Connell said.

He is cycling 400 miles from July 17-23 in the Paradise Ride 2004 to raise $2,500 for AIDS/HIV research.

He also turns 40 in July.

To sponsor O'Connell, go online to www.paradiseridehawaii.org. Click the Sponsor a Rider link and there will be blanks to enter William O'Connell's first and last name. To date, O'Connell has $1,760 in pledges.

Last check from Kindervelt

A five-year commitment between Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's largest auxiliary, Kindervelt, ends tonight when the group presents its last check to the medical center.

Kindervelt's annual dinner will be at 7 p.m. today in the Fifth Third Auditorium of the Albert B. Sabin Education Center at Children's.

"This is our final year of our financial commitment to the division of adolescent medicine," said Jill Yates, publicity chair for Kindervelt. "Our final check will bring our total donation to this area to well over $2 million."

Last year, Kindervelt presented the center with a $525,000 check.

Kindervelt is a volunteer organization composed of neighborhood and other common-interest groups. The agency has 1,200 members who sponsor fund-raising events throughout the year.

Math, science scholars

About 200 students will be recognized for their science and mathematics achievements at Xavier University's Cintas Center from 3-5 p.m. today.

The event is the 15th Annual Student Recognition Program for the John Lucky Scholar Award.

The students also will receive a special treat when Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tony Stewart offers advice on how to "Stick With It.''

The students are enrolled in the Minorities in Mathematics, Science & Engineering program, a local nonprofit educational initiative started in 1989.

The schools that will be represented at today's recognition ceremony are Aiken University High School, Hays School, Hughes Center, Pleasant Hill, Schwab, South Avondale, Western Hills Design Technology High School and Taft Elementary. Fairview, Kilgour and Shroder also participate in the math, science and engineering program.

Students who achieve an A or B average in a science or math class for at least two quarters are eligible for the John Lucky Scholar Award.

Lucky was founder of the Minorities in Mathematics, Science & Engineering, a pre-college program that is a partnership of schools, industries, higher education and community organizations. The purpose of the program is to encourage African-American students to enter mathematics, science, engineering and technology fields.