DEMOPOLIS &045; Makaila Eicher has been invited to attend the 2007 People to People World Leadership Forum that will be held in Washington, D.C.

The program invites students to its event that maintain a high academic standing and exhibit promising leadership potential. Students must be nominated to the program by their teachers, and applications are then screened through a highly selective process.

The People to People program was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to help foster understanding in the leaders of the younger generation. Eisenhower thought that peace can only be achieved through understanding and that the program would be a way to build a foundation for peace.

According to Hill, out of the students she nominated to the program Eicher was the only one that received an invitation from the group. Hill says that Eicher was an ideal candidate to attend the yearly forum.

Sue Barnes Davis, Makaila’s grandmother, said that her granddaughter has high aspirations, which drives her to perform in school.

Hill said that through this program Makaila would be able to interact with peers of her age that exhibit the same qualities and drive as she does. She say this interaction is what she feels makes the program so special for those that are accepted.

Hill said that the program also exposes the students to environments they otherwise would not experience. She said they get to see the Whitehouse, congress and tour museums in Washington.

Davis said that the cost of the trip to Washington is over $3,000 and that the family is looking for sponsorship to help send Makaila to the forum. She said that any donations to the trip could be taken to Alabama Central Credit Union for collection.