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By: LEWIS W. DIUGUID 
Date: 12/15/98 

Natalie Washington took me into a back room, where we joined two of her classmates from Washington High School. 
I met Natalie, Corey Brinton and Courtney G. Bettis on Friday at the Wyandotte County Historical Society and Museum. That is where the seniors in Dennis Lawrence's English class are doing some unprecedented work and earning school credit through the Kansas City, Kan., Executive Internship Program. 
It's also where Courtney, Natalie and Corey have created the museum's first multicultural displays for the holiday season. The exhibits are at the Bonner Springs facility for people to enjoy. Soon the students will put it all on the Internet. 
The volunteer, hands-on work has pushed the students closer to the history of their community. It also has gotten them and the adults to interact, learn and care more about each other. 
The bridge that education creates is something new I encountered in my journey with the Class of 1999 at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kan. I've studied with the students since they were freshmen to learn what it's like to be a teen and a teacher today. 
Natalie said that since September she, Corey and Courtney had spent a lot of time documenting and logging artifacts. 
``I learned a lot of stuff about how the museum works,'' Corey said. ``I learned what lies behind it and all the work that goes into it. '' 
Courtney added: ``They do a lot more than you think. '' 
The students gave me a tour of the museum. They showed me archaeological exhibits of fossil remains, bones of giant mammals and shells dating back 350 million years. 
There were American Indian exhibits of the Kanza, Shawnee, Delaware and Wyandot tribes. The students showed me a canoe, a rifle, furs, moccasins, beads, pictures and other early American artifacts. 

When they weren't giving me the inside scoop on the displays, the students hummed songs to themselves. That's usually a sign of people who enjoy their work. 
Then they showed me the three large display cases they had created using donated items, information in books and data from the Internet. 
``I'm impressed with what they've done,'' said Mike Webb, the school district internship coordinator. ``They took the time to make their work colorful and informative. '' 
One case contained items and information on the traditional Victorian Christmas. Many people will celebrate it next week. 
The second was a display for Hanukkah complete with menorahs. Area families began celebrating the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights on Sunday. 
A Kwanzaa exhibit was in the third case. It included the seven-candle kinara; symbolic black, red and green colors; food; and 
history of the African-American celebration that starts Dec. 26. 
The students said they wanted to show the similarities and differences of each holiday observance. Each involves gifts and food. ``They all come together around family and community,'' Courtney said. 
``I think they've done a great job,'' said John Nichols, interim museum director. 
Corey said the work with artifacts also exposed her to high-tech digital cameras, downloading photos to a laptop, and Web page construction. She said it would look good on college transcripts. 
Natalie and Courtney added that the work had forever enhanced their research skills. 
They're all tied closer together and to the community because of Washington High School.