The event will raise money for breast cancer awareness and support women dealing with breast cancer.

Peppering is a volleyball term describing the alternation of passing, setting and spiking between two players. The players, ranging from seventh-graders to seniors, will collect pledges based on their continuously peppering for a set time period.

Proceeds will go to the Pink Ribbon Girls and St. Luke Hospital's Center for Breast Health.

Tropical fund-raiser

Tropical dress attire is optional at "Sunset On South Beach," a fund-raiser being held by "The Yearlings" from 7-11 p.m. Oct. 8 at Coconut Grove on Newport's Fourth Street.

The gala will feature a showcase of area restaurants, dancing to live music by Salsa Caliente, a silent auction and sweepstakes giveaway, and cash bar.

The cost is $50 per person ($45 is tax deductible). For tickets, call (859) 341-1271 or (859) 331-0140.

The Yearlings is a volunteer organization of 50 women. The group has an annual scholarship fund for non-traditional students at Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More College.

Medical center recognized

St. Elizabeth Medical Center South in Edgewood has received a "Successful Practice Award" from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield for launching a clinical messaging system.

Clinical messaging transforms hospital-physician communications from paper to electronic formats. It allows physicians to receive lab, radiology and transcribed reports via computer.

"The implementation of this clinical messaging project has directly benefited patient care by streamlining the process of getting reports to physicians, reducing the turnaround time in delivering access to results from 10 to 24 hours down to a couple of minutes,'' said Tony Farley, St. Elizabeth's director of information systems.

St. Elizabeth was one of eight hospitals in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky that were recognized.

Olympic diver visits students

Fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students with Olympic aspirations at Villa Madonna Academy in Villa Hills had their spirits brightened earlier this month.

They received a visit from 1995 Villa Madonna graduate Becky Ruehl, who was an Olympic diver in the 1996 Atlanta games. Ruehl toured the academy, speaking to several classes and giving advice to students.

Students Natalie Spicker, Clay Jackson and Katie Averdick also had fun trying on some of Ruehl's 1996 Olympic apparel.

Health-career showcase

More than 650 area high school students will have a chance to explore health careers during the North Central Area Health Education Center's Health Careers Showcase. The event is 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 30 at Thomas More College's Connor Convocation Center, Crestview Hills,

Nineteen high schools in Boone, Campbell,Carroll, Grant, Kenton and Pendleton counties will take students, who can learn about 20 different health programs ranging from medical school to massage therapy.

The showcase will have representatives from Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, Eastern Kentucky University, Northern Kentucky University, Cincinnati State, Lexington Community College and Gateway Community and Technical College.

For more information, call (859) 824-0080.