Middle-schoolers savor trip to leadership conference in Washington

Washington, D.C., is a long way from home, and 12 is a young age to be traveling without family for a week.

But two young leaders in Rolling Meadows were able to brush aside any homesickness and spent time this summer expanding their skills while getting a firsthand look at history in the nation's capital, and area sites such as Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Matt Targos and Sarah Bohac, both seventh-graders at Carl Sandburg Junior High, attended the Junior National Young Leaders Conference, a program that introduces promising middle-school students to American leadership and history. The students come from all over the county to explore museums and monuments, meet with elected officials and develop leadership skills.

They were two of a handful of students nominated by their teacher at Kimball Hill School during their sixth-grade year.

"I was skeptical about the program at first, but I did my homework," Matt's mom, Mona Targos, said. "I knew there were other kids who had traveled there alone. But he's the type who could do it."

"I was very nervous," Deb Bohac agreed. "Sarah's never been away from home before." But she also was confident Sarah could handle it.

The parents received e-mails and pictures every day on their children's progress and were able to keep in touch by phone. The kids stayed at the University of Maryland with roommates from other states.

Each year the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, which sponsors the program, invites about 250 students to Washington to study the impact of leadership during critical periods of history. They also get first-hand views of life in early America.

"The kids did a lot of hands-on activities, like putting gun powder in a real gun," Mona said.

One of the highlights for Matt was visiting the site where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. Later in the day, the group gathered to talk about what they learned about racial tension.

"One of the girls burst into tears -- it was that deep. She wondered how people could be that mean," Mona said.

For Sarah, some of the best activities were visiting the Maryland Science Center and seeing historic sites around Philadelphia. "It was fun meeting new people who share the same ideas as you," she said.

"Sarah was very excited about it," her mom said. "She was on cloud nine. To be given the nomination itself meant the world to her."

Matt's family is grateful for the support of several area businesses: Ray's Auto, Acorn Oaks, Meadows Funeral Home, Charter One, Jewel, Plaza Lane and Kowloon restaurants, Corrective Chiropractic and Pediatric Dental Associates.

Like Italian food? Then the Boy Scout Troop 96 Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser is where you'll want to be Saturday night. Eat to your heart's content between 5 and 8 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 3201 Meadow Drive, in Rolling Meadows.

Funds raised will help replace worn-out camping equipment.

No reservations are needed. Tickets for adults are $7; for kids under age 12 they're $3. You may even win one of several door prizes donated by local businesses.