Dear Editor:

Diverse Power sends two students a year on a Washington Youth Tour with Georgia EMC. Two years ago I was asked to help judge the candidates and I have helped judge last year and this year and I am always impressed with the students that apply. Most of the time the students that take guns to school or attack people get the most time in the news and I am glad that these activities are reported because we all need to know what is going on in our schools.

I just want to bring some attention to the students on the other end. The students that we have been interviewing the past three years (and longer but I was not involved ) are amazing teens. They have grade-point averages between 3.5 and 4.0 with most leaning towards the 4.0. They maintain these grades while being active in school clubs, part-time jobs and volunteering.

I had the privilege to chaperone the trip last year and I was very impressed with the way the students care for each other, they care for people they meet and a group of them came across a lost little boy and they helped him find his mother. These students knew when to have fun and when to pay attention.

The decision on who to send is a tough one each year because we have so many qualified individuals. I just want to give credit to these teenagers that are working hard and are planning for their future.

Joey McCartney

Mountville-Hogansville Road, Hogansville