That observation comes from Molly Woodrow, a teacher at Reading High School, who with her husband, Kent, led a delegation of students on a 21-day trip to France, Italy and Malta in the program this summer.

"I absolutely love to watch the change in my students as they experience visiting other areas of the world,'' she said.

Kent and Molly Woodrow escorted a group of students through France, Italy and Malta over the summer. Photo provided

The Woodrows have been involved in the program for 17 years. This year, they led the students on such adventures as cruising the Seine River in France and climbing Mount Vesuvius in Italy - the volcano that buried Pompeii in A.D. 79.

They stayed with a host family in Malta.

Kent Woodrow recently retired as head of the Department of Social Studies at Princeton High School.

"We will soon begin meetings at Cintas Center at Xavier for next year's trip,'' Kent Woodrow said. "The informational meetings will give students a chance to find out more about the People to People program.''

Next year's trip will take students to Japan.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded People to People in 1956.

Hip Hop art display

African-American youths expressing freedom through poetry and Def Strokes: Hip Hop Art are part of a display at the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati in the Fred Bond Gallery, 1515 Linn St., West End.

The exhibit runs through Jan. 18.

The Consortium's 27th annual Fine Arts Competition reception and awards ceremony will take place 6-8 p.m. today.

"Our theme this year is: Preserving the Vision: Expressions of Freedom,'' said Glenn A. Ray, executive director of the Arts Consortium. "It provides opportunity for artists to use freedom as a point of departure for their creative work.''

Ray said the exhibit is on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Literacy honors

Adult learners, tutors and teachers will be recognized from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday during the 2004 Honoring Heroes Recognition Event of the Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati.

Five learners and their tutors will receive special recognition. They are John Berling and tutor Jim Thomas; Veda Jacobs and tutor Sister Marie Werdmann; Yousif Koko and tutor David Schackmann; Art Massengill and tutor David Kuczaj; and Hortenze Morris and tutors Amy Fouss and Mary Wolf.

The ceremony will be held at the Montgomery Inn Banquet Center. For more information, call Stephanie Graves, (513) 621-7323.

Dean's list perennial

Elise Beckett has been named to the University of Cincinnati dean's list for the sixth consecutive quarter. She is a junior in graphic design in the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.

The Badin High School graduate is the daughter of Pat and Fred Beckett of Hanover Township.

Graduate fellowship

Rachel Hilvert was awarded a graduate school fellowship from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. The fellowship provides full tuition plus a $16,000 stipend. She will pursue a master's degree in architecture.

The Walnut Hills High School graduate earned a bachelor's degree in art history from New York University.

Joins scholar society

Joseph Harrmann, a junior sports-management major at the University of Dayton, has accepted membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. The organization recognizes first- and second-year undergraduates who excel academically.

A dean's list student also inducted into the National Dean's List, Harrmann plays intramural football and basketball and club baseball at UD. He is a McNicholas High School graduate from New Richmond.

Scholarship recipients

These two students have received renewable $1,000 Charter Scholarships to attend the University of Georgia, Athens:

Lauren Dame, a Walnut Hills High School graduate who plans to major in ecology. She is the daughter of Dianne and Thomas Dame of Pleasant Ridge.

Kimberly Thompson, a Sycamore High School graduate who intends to study business/finance. She is the daughter of Gail and Rick Thompson of Remington.

Out of-state students receiving Charter Scholarships are also awarded the Regents Waiver of out-of-state tuition.

To submit an item, please call 755-4165.