MIDEAST STUDENTS VISIT ARCHER.

Byline: SIMONE SCHRAMM Community columnist

Jenna Berger, 15, of Encino, Cami Crane, 14, of Sherman Oaks and other students from Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles recently learned about the trials of being a teenager in the Middle East.

Oren Karniol-Tamour, a 14-year-old Israeli boy, and Aseel Moussa, a 15-year-old Palestinian girl, visited various Los Angeles communities through Seeds of Peace, an organization that works toward lasting peace in volatile regions of the world. The organization aims to enlighten young people before fear, mistrust and prejudices shape their idea of the ``enemy.''

Berger and Crane were part of the welcome and research committee showing the teens around campus and moderating the assembly that took place Tuesday in the school auditorium.

``It was really interesting because I thought they would be so different, but they turned out to be just like anybody at my school,'' Crane said.

Crane, a standout volleyball and soccer player, and Berger, an aspiring politician, were fascinated by accounts of bombings and the teens' struggle just getting to school each day.

``Watching it (the conflict) on TV was really different from hearing about it from people who were actually there,'' said Crane.

Karniol-Tamour is also active with the Center For Coexistence in Jerusalem and currently attends the American International School in Tel Aviv. Moussa also helps the CFC and plans programs for students at Schmidt High School in Jerusalem.

The California Wildlife Center presented Melody Miller of West Hills with the 2002 Volunteer of the Year award for her commitment to aiding wildlife and dedication to the CWC.

Since 1998, Melody has put precious time into the center. She is currently a shift supervisor performing a wide variety of duties from general animal care to buying food for the wild patients. She also does home care, helps out at special events and has been known to rise to the occasion during emergencies. For three years she took on the not-too-pleasant job of bringing the center's laundry home to wash it when they did not have a washer and dryer.

``It's like doing something that just comes naturally to me,'' said Miller, a resident of West Hills since 1974.

Eduardo Romo, a quality assurance specialist at NAVSEA Port Hueneme, was honored with the 2002 Hispanic Employment Achievement Award by the Department of the Navy.

The award recognizes individuals who make significant contributions in advancement opportunities for Latino civilian employees. Due to Romo's efforts, the percentage of Latinos employed at NAVSEA Port Hueneme has increased from 11 percent to 15 percent within the past four years.

California State University, Northridge's police chief, Anne Glavin, is among only two university police chiefs in California invited to attend a federal training conference on terrorism in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4 and 5.

Weapons of mass destruction and homeland security issues are among the topics to be discussed.

Glavin is the first female public safety director at CSUN and was appointed to the position earlier this year.

Brian Schultz, 16, of Northridge, a member of Boy Scout Troop 223, achieved Eagle Scout status - the highest rank in Boy Scouts - by organizing the restoration of two rooms at Harvest Home, a place for unwed mothers and their babies. Previously, the rooms were unusable and more than 100 hours were devoted to the project.