Justin Cook | The Roanoke Times

Radford High School juniors Katelynn Cowan (from left), David Redding and D.J. Hendricks move a file cabinet at McHarg Elementary School in Radford.

But first, of course, the 17-year-old had to buy a new cellphone and get a haircut. She's heading into her junior year at Radford High School and has to look good, too.

Cowan and three of her schoolmates spent the summer tidying up the elementary school. They're among the group of about 120 14- to 24-year-olds from across the New River Valley who took summer jobs funded by the Summer Youth Employment Program stimulus package. The students earned $7.25 an hour, tax free, in the hopes that they'll get life experience while spending their money.