The seniors are Michelle Pleiman, Cecilia and Martha Pratt, and Jennifer Williams, all 17.

The program is designed to educate Ohio's young women in the duties, privileges, rights and responsibilities of good citizenship.

"It is real impressive to see how much they learn about government in a week's time," said Carl Pratt, father of Cecilia and Martha.

Martha Pratt, Michelle Pleiman, Jennifer Williams and Cecilia Pratt. (Photo provided)

The girls are called delegates and are assigned to one of two political parties: Federalist or Nationalist. They are taught political structure. They experience the mechanics of local and state government and have an opportunity to learn citizenship and patriotism.

"We learned a lot about the government and how it really works," Cecilia said. "This was a lot different from reading a book about how government works."

Martha was equally impressed with the hands-on opportunity to participate in the government process.

"We saw a firsthand view of how elected officials are responsible to the public," Martha said.

"It was a real chance to actually work in the process," said Michelle.

The Anderson girls were sponsored by the Anderson American Legion Post 318. More than 900 young women were chosen to represent their part of the state.

Hard work rewarded

Cory H. Zint can tell you that hard works pays off.

Cory has been rated the top male student at Lawrenceburg High School and received the Wabash College President's Scholarship. He will attend the college this fall and study prelaw.

"I played baseball and football, but I pretty much kept my nose in the books," said Cory, 19.

He has visited the school in Crawfordsville, Ind., and is impressed with it. Wabash is one of four all-male schools left in the country. It was named a top tier national liberal arts college by U.S. News & World Report for 2002-03.

Cory graduated with honors from his high school, receiving numerous awards and scholarships.

Cory's family will host an open house at the Lawrenceburg American Legion Post on July 24 to honor his academic accomplishments.

Cory is the son of Thomas "Nick" and Tina Zint of Lawrenceburg.

GIVING BACK: Hunger agency reaches 30th

The agency that raises the voice for hungry people across the country will celebrate its 30th anniversary Wednesday.

The local chapter of Bread for the World, a national Christian anti-hunger movement, will have a potluck picnic on the grounds of the Otterbein-Lebanon Community, 585 N. Ohio 741.

The picnic is free.

"Southwest Ohio is one of the places where our advocacy is strongest," said regional organizer Larry Hollar.

The Greater Cincinnati Chapter has 400 members in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ohio Congressional Districts and in Kentucky and Indiana.

Bread for the World addresses such issues as agricultural and trade policies, nutrition programs and foreign aid.

"Our area's members of Congress listen and respect Bread's consistent voice of concern for people who are hungry," Hollar said.

Arthur Simon, a Lutheran pastor, founded Bread for the World in 1974 in Manhattan, where his congregation faced hunger.

He said he recognized the links between their situation and that of people in famine-stricken Third World countries.

For more information, call 821-3044