European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 15, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 14 the stars and stripes education wednesday june 15,1994d-Day slide show opens some Eye Chicksands offers British students history lesson by Nancy l. Torner . Bureau Sandy England a a slide show on world War ii that began As a project for a Day commemorations at Raf Chicksands has turned into a valuable teaching tool for British schools. The original intent was to show the 30-minute slide presentation with scripted narration during Public a Day commemorations at the base said it. Col. Randall Canning vice commander who worked on the project and helps present the program. However it became Clear that its value was More Long lasting. Requests for private showings began to Greer pour in from local British schools veterans and civic groups said master sgt. Gene Billingsley with the military personnel flight who also worked on the project and helps present the program. A it the program went like wildfire a Lanning said. A a it a almost too wonderful. We be gotten More response than  the Volunteer created presentation covers information about the buildup to a Day the Normandy invasion and the part played in the War by Bedfordshire the county in which Chicksands is located tuesdays showing at a school in Sandy about 10 Miles North of Chicksands was the 20th for the program which debuted in late May. For Many of the 270 Sandy upper school students who attended tuesdays showing it was their first exposure to information about world War ii outside their regular history classes said Ros Watts the schools head of history. Youngsters in the ninth Grade Ages 13 and 14, were selected to attend because world War ii studies Are part of their curriculum she said. A it Broadens their perspectives a Watts said. A a they be never had anything like this before for  Bob Humphrey head of the schools ninth Grade said it was a valuable lesson a. A. A a. Is amps Dave Aldio master sgt Gene Billingsley of Raf Chicksands England presents the slide show to students at Sandy upper school on tuesday. For students to obtain information about the War from a non British perspective. A the presentation was sound he said. About 80 slides gathered from a variety of sources make up the presentation which is accompanied by a scripted narrative. Completing the project took More than three months Lanning said. A we wanted to make the presentations sophisticated enough for adult audiences yet Basic enough Tor schoolchildren a Lanning Saidl a it was a lot of work and at times a lot of frustration. But it was personally rewarding a. Following each presentation the audience is encouraged to ask questions and to share their thoughts on the War. Steven Roddy 14, a student at Sandy upper school said a i did no to know it was that hard for them to do it capture the Normandy beaches. I did no to know about All the obstacles they had to get  students Liz or Muscher 13, and Kate Greer 14, said the program helped them understand the magnitude of the War. They noted that they were surprised to learn the extent to which Bedfordshire participated in the War. Student Scott Eaton 13, said he was interested in world War ii before he saw the program because Quot my Grandfather told me How he took part in the  however he said he had not known How dangerous the Normandy beaches were. Its typical for people who see the program to be surprised at the scope of the War said master sgt Neil Brown with the military personnel flight who also helped put the project together and helps present it. It he said that the program brings the War to life and that most spectators come away from it with a better appreciation for the individual sacrifices made in the name of Freedom. A you lose a lot of history if you just print facts and statistics on a Page a Brown said. A a it a just dry Boring  the slide show has been seen by More than 1,000 people Billingsley said and additional showings Are scheduled through october for various schools and organizations. A really the idea is to bring people together to give them a sense of history a Billingsley said. The program will continue to be presented As Long As there is a demand Billingsley said. Unfortunately he said a the farther we get from a Day the interest is going to Start  2dodds named presidential scholars a by Jimi Jones education writer two High school graduates from military overseas schools in Germany will get a Chance to Hobnob with president Clinton and other High ranking . Officials this month in Washington when they Are honoured As presidential scholars Megan r. Flanagan who graduated from Heidelberg High school and Krishna c. Gidwani who graduates from Wurzburg High school today Are two of 141 Young americans designated As 1994 presidential scholars a the highest Federal Honor bestowed upon graduating High school seniors. Both Flanagan and Gidwani will participate in a variety of special events and performances during the presidential scholars National recognition week in Washington d.c., from june 28 to july 3. They will receive the presidential scholars medallion at a White House ceremony where Clinton will he the Host. Flanagan who will head to Florida on june 22 with her family said she was overjoyed at being selected from among 500 finalists throughout the department of defense dependents schools and across the United states. �?o1 Tore open the letter a said Flanagan who will attend Florida Southern College in Lakeland this fall to study theater and English. A they Send it Between two pieces of cardboard so it Flanagan Gidwani would t get messed up but by the time i was finished it was Raesser  High school seniors Are selected As presidential scholars based on excellence in academics leadership achievement in the arts sciences or other Fields of interest and Community involvement. Scholars Are selected from a Pool of 2.5 million students. As a scholar candidate Flanagan had to write several essays including an account of a fictional meeting with Jane Addams a noted social activist who helped found a social welfare Center called the Hull House in the Chicago slums in iss9. For Gidwani the trip to Washington will be his second Opportunity to meet the president. In february he attended the . Senate youth program. Gidwani also considers being a presidential scholar the a icing on the cake with his other awards and achievements. A this Means that All my hard work and dedication Over the past 12 years has paid off. A culmination of my educational achievement a Gidwani said. A i was pleasantly surprised but i had a feeling All along that i would get selected. I just did no to want to get too excited until i had the letter in my  the fall Gidwani will study physics at the California Institute of technology in Pasadena. At the scholar ceremonies Gidwani expects to meet Clinton who was the subject of his essay. A the first time i was there in Washington it was right after his state of the Union address and he had laryngitis a Gidwani Siad. A but i said then that i would have another Opportunity to see  Gidwani valedictorian of his class has also won More than 10 scholarships this year Worth about $14,000, including a $4,000 coca cola scholar award a $2,000 Grant from the William Randolph Hearst foundation and a local $1,500 Parent teacher and student association scholarship. He also was offered four year army Navy and air Force Reserve officers training corps scholarships