Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Close Up Foundation Forms Alumni

Group

The Close Up Foundation of Washington, D.C., wants to contact Arkansas residents who have participated in its Washington government studies program. Former participants can join a nationwide alumni network to remain involved in Close Up's work educating citizens about the democratic process. "Since 1980, some 4,299 Arkansas residents have traveled to Washington to take part in Close Up," Linda Cottle, the Foundation's manager of alumni relations,said. "In establishing an alumni network, we hope to involve these former participants in making programs available to even more people from Arkansas." The Close Up Foundation is a nonpartisan organization which offers citizenship education programs for middle and high school students across the country. This year, an anticipated 25,000 middle and high school students and teachers will participate in Close Up programs in Washington, D.C., where they will develop a greater understanding of the American system of government and of current issues. Similar programs are available for older Americans. In addition, Close Up publishes a series of text books and supplement materials designed for use in social studies classrooms and produces a series of public service television programs aired most weeks on C-SPAN. Former Close Up students, teachers and staff members are asked to contact Cottle by phone 800-256-7367, extension 695. Gurdon and Arkadelphia High Schools of 1995-96 both participated in the Close Up Program.