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Ashley Daniels knows that patience truly is a virtue. Ashley, 17, a senior at North Hagerstown High School, has volunteered at Star Equestrian Center - a facility offering therapeutic horseback riding, for more than nine years. "When I'm working with disabled riders, I have to pay close attention to their needs," she says. "What works for one rider doesn't always work for another; you have to be understanding. It takes a while to build trust with the rider. My time at Star Equestrian has taught me patience.

andrear@herald-mail.com Imagination is the only limitation to the fun you can have while earning the community service hours you need to graduate from high school in Washington County. Like the outdoors? Then consider tackling a service project at one of the area's national parks. Are animals your thing? Call local animal rescue shelters to find out about service-learning opportunities. Like to write? You could help produce newsletters and brochures for area nonprofit agencies.

Ever since it was first proposed, The Herald-Mail has supported the Student Service Learning program that requires high school students to do 75 hours of volunteer service prior to graduation. Previous generations accepted a far greater burden - the military draft - without whining. Furthermore, the educational benefit of seeing the community's needs firsthand outweigh any bogus claims of "involuntary servitude. " Unfortunately, that's not what's being proposed for the program now. With a plan to award hours for many in-school projects, Washington County officials hope to get middle schoolers all their hours before they even reach high school.

By KERRY LYNN FRALEY Staff Writer He hears it over and over again from Washington County high school seniors who, according to his official records, lack the full 75 Student Service Learning hours needed to graduate. "One of the problems we've had is a number of students have claimed to be finished, but they haven't turned them in yet," said Fred Jacobs, who coordinates the school system's Student Service Learning (SSL) program. Until the paperwork is on his desk, it's just talk, Jacobs said.