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Michelle Cox, a former Thaxton Elementary School student and a rising seventh-grader, cares.

She cares so much, she was named first the store-level, then the regional winner for the National Kohl's Kids Who Care Scholarship Program -- one of only four students in Virginia to win this award.

For her volunteer work, Michelle received a $50 Kohl's gift card, will have her picture on a poster at the Lynchburg Kohl's and will receive a $1,000 scholarship to the college of her choice.

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Martina Hairston, a rising senior at Patrick Henry High School, was chosen by her peers as the graduation speaker at the Sorensen Institute on July 26 in the dome room at the University of Virginia Rotunda.

Hairston, Sonora Braun and Ben Ries were the first students from Roanoke City Public Schools to attend the institute since its 2003 inception and were three of only 32 Virginia students to live and study at the University of Virginia from July 12 to 26. Braun and Ries are also rising seniors at Patrick Henry.

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The Virginia Department of Education's third annual Parent Involvement Survey will be arriving in mailboxes within the coming weeks. All parents and guardians of school-age children who benefit from special education services in Virginia's schools should respond.

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The Center for Cultural Interchange, headquartered in Chicago, is looking for families to host foreign exchange students for the 2008-09 school year. Students will come from 65 countries, and the deadline to place them is Aug. 29.

For more information, call (800) 634-4771.

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The first VOYCE Youth Conference has been scheduled for Aug. 14 to 16 at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center.

The statewide youth conference is being presented by the City of Roanoke Youth Commission, the Youth Services Citizen Board and the Youth Services Division and is designed to provide an opportunity to improve active listening skills.

Attendees ages 13 to 18, adults and teachers will participate in workshops with topics focusing on leadership development, cultural competency and diversity, spoken word and the arts, and more.

For more information, call Bill West at 853-5360. Registration fees are $25 for Thursday evening, $25 for all day Friday or $75 to participate in all three sessions.