An agency and a company in Cincinnati are preparing to defend their national titles as top contributors in Walk As One, whose mission is to fight bias, bigotry and racism while celebrating the city's diversity.

The Greater Cincinnati Region, National Conference for Community and Justice's Walk As One was honored last week as the No. 1 Walk As One in the nation. General Electric was honored as the top corporate team nationally that participated in the event.

Stephanie Broaders and Marc Chini, co-chairs of the General Electric Walk As One team last year, pose with Nick Clooney. GE was honored for its corporate participation in the national event, which is held to celebrate diversity. Photo provided

This is the fifth consecutive year GE has been honored as the top national corporate fund-raiser for Walk As One, which is held each October.

The local GE office had 1,100 walkers who raised $117,500 last year. The GE team also achieved top results in the nation among 1,200 teams that participated in the Walk As One in 30 cities with the greatest number of walkers and the most dollars raised.

"This was a great honor," said Marc Chini, a vice president at GE and co-chair of the GE Walk As One this year along with Stephanie Broaders.

Also honored: Mercy Health Partners, the second-highest fund-raising team in the nation, and Fidelity Investments and Cinergy, recognized for being among the top corporate fund-raising teams across the country, raising more than $20,000 each.

Students get taste of college

African-American high school students will have a chance to experience college life this month at Project SCOPE (Summer Collegiate Orientation Program and Enrichment) at the College of Mount St. Joseph.

The program started Sunday with 26 sophomores arriving at the Mount's residence hall.

Today through Friday, students will take college-level classes in science and computer literacy.

They also will learn about preparing for college entrance exams, study skills and participating in extracurricular activities and events.

An added activity will include a community-service project, assembling "shaken baby kits."

Forty-one juniors and seniors will arrive on campus this Sunday for two weeks.

They will attend introduction to psychology and spoken-word classes on campus, along with sessions on financial aid and scholarships.

In addition, students will participate in a career panel, team-building activities and community service.

Project SCOPE was developed by the Mount to help local African-American high school students prepare for college.

Trip to Costa Rica

Twelve Spanish students from Mount Notre Dame High School are touring Costa Rica through June 15.

Their adventures will include visiting an active volcano on horseback, swimming in a natural hot spring, hiking to a waterfall and swinging through a canopy of the rain forest in a harness.

New Eagle Scout

Brandon Gilbert, a member of Troop 6 sponsored by Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church, has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. For his community service project, he and his crew built a foot bridge in Ault Park.

The son of Margaret and Jeff Gilbert of Pleasant Ridge is an Archbishop Moeller High School graduate attending Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

Scholarships won

Two recent graduates of Fairfield High School have received annual Fairfield Optimist Scholarships:

Sarah Smith was awarded the $4,000 Memorial Scholarship, given to a high school senior in the Fairfield City School District. She plans to attend the Art Academy of Cincinnati and major in fine arts next fall.

Darci Thompson received the $1,000 Family Member Scholarship, awarded to an Optimist member's child or grandchild. She will major in medical imaging technology at the University of Cincinnati.

Leadership forum

Jonathan Dattilo was selected to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Boston in July. He will join other students who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership potential and an interest in a career in medicine to study concepts in public health, medical ethics, research and general practice.

The St. Xavier High School sophomore is son of Debra and Thomas Dattilo of Anderson Township.

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