BETHEL – Six eighth-graders at Telstar Middle School who’ve been nominated to attend a world leadership forum at the Capitol won’t get help from selectmen.

At Monday night’s selectmen meeting, officials asked Town Manager Scott Cole to write a letter to the youths’ social studies teacher, Donna Rowe, telling her the town couldn’t help cover traveling expenses.

“Regretfully, this request must be declined,” Cole wrote. “The approved Bethel municipal budget makes no provision for this kind of donation.”

“On behalf of town officials, please let these students know that their initiative is admired, and that we wish them the best in their quest to attend the People-to-People World Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C.,” Cole added.

The students – Bailey Davis, Sarah Field, Jessie Yasko, Patrick Milligan, Jonathon Parsons and Esther Pew – asked selectmen if they had access to any scholarship funds that would cover such an event.

The youths must raise $2,000 each to attend the March 2004 forum for eighth-graders.

“We believe that this will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” they wrote in their Nov. 24 request to the board.

They expressed a desire to learn more about the history of the United States and “the way our government works.”

They have just finished studying about the Constitution and its amendments and will be learning about the Civil War next.

“We would love the chance to get to see these sights, and watch the Congress. We feel honored to have been nominated for such an experience,” they stated.

For more information or to help the youths attain their goal, contact Rowe at 824-2136 ext. 109 or write her at Telstar Middle School, 284 Walkers Mills Road, Bethel, ME 04217.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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