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District 214 students get inside look at Mount Prospect government

Mount Prospect trustees last week heard from three Northwest Suburban High School District 214 students who participated in a program giving them a chance to see the inner workings of village government.

The experience is part of the LEAP (Learning Experience Apprenticeship Pathways) Program, which helps District 214 students gain vital skills and hands-on experience in various industries throughout the community.

Prospect High School student Kripa Khanal and Lester Tai from John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights spent time with the village's Public Works Department's Engineering Division, learning the basics of road maintenance and how officials decide which roads are in need of repair.

Khanal said she learned not only about the work of the division, but the camaraderie as well.

"We saw people cutting cake for someone's wedding that was coming up," she said. "And we also were able to see the hard work that gets put in behind the scenes of keeping our roads intact."

Prospect High School student Julia Wojtowicz did her internship with the Human Services Department. Wojtowicz plans to be a doctor and work with people in lower-income neighborhoods, as well as the organization Doctors Without Borders.

During her internship, she worked with the village nurse on two projects: the "diet project," which involved examining what diets maintain weight and help with chronic health problems, and a project assisting the village's food pantry in compiling a list of items for its clients based on their health needs.

"Our goal was to cater as best we could to the various chronic illnesses that people listed, like obesity, hypertension, high blood pressure and diabetes," she said.

Wojtowicz said she learned about the value of public health and the services the village provides.

"I also learned about just what goes into a human services job and how helpful it actually is to the community," she said.

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