2 area students headed to Washington.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Jim Gangi

For many students, high school is a time of accomplishments. Some will win the science fair; some will be crowned homecoming king or queen - and a very few will get to meet the president of the United States.

This year, two high school students from Central Massachusetts will travel to Washington, D.C., as part of the annual U.S. Senate Youth Program. After a competitive selection process, Elise M. LeCrone, 17, of Hopkinton and Robert A. Locke III, 17, of Worcester were chosen to represent the state.

Each state sends two student delegates to participate in Washington Week March 5-12. While there, students will have the opportunity to meet with President Obama, senators, congressional staff, a justice of the Supreme Court, and other important public figures.

Mr. Locke, a senior at Worcester Academy, is involved in the State Student Advisory Council, Model U.N., varsity tennis and cross-country.

"For me, personally, this opportunity means more than the ability to say I met the president," Mr. Locke said, "but rather an opportunity to cherish the hard work that has brought me to this point and learn something new about what it means to be a public servant." After graduating from high school, Mr. Locke plans to study political science.

Miss LeCrone, a senior at Hopkinton High School, is involved in the Regional Student Advisory Council, Model U.N. and Students Taking on Poverty.

"The thing that draws me to government and public service is my...