Clover Park High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) cadet Natasha Davis had no problem choosing a topic for her Power House junior project.

It was something that was very close to her heart.

After learning how to swim at the Morgan Family YMCA in Tacoma, Natasha decided to make it the subject of her project.

"They taught me how to swim, so I thought I would give back," said Natasha, who joined the JROTC unit in February.

For the project, students in the Power House program - which is dedicated to the personalized development of all students in order for them to become competent, self-disciplined, creative and responsible global citizens - identify a problem in the local community, interview a supervisor and donate their own time to make it better, said Julie Boyd, a school advisor with the program.

"They've been working on it since February, and they have to donate 20 hours of their own time," Boyd said.

Power House students put their projects on display May 4 inside the school's commons area. Volunteer judges walked the rows, reading each student's display board and quizzing them on their project. The Air Force JROTC unarmed drill team also put on a demonstration for visitors in the adjacent gymnasium as part of the educational fair.

Natasha's subject dealt with helping provide low or no income families with recreational opportunities. She volunteered her time teaching swim lessons to children.

"It was fun," the junior said. "That was the easy part (of the project)."

Natasha joined JROTC because she liked the discipline piece to serving in the unit.

"It also helps build character," she said. "I do think about joining the military one day. Ultimately, my goal is to get to college."

Fellow cadet Jacob James also had his project on display. James volunteered at the Steilacoom Food Pantry stocking shelves and helping elderly customers take bags of food to their cars.

"It was fun," said Jacob, who has volunteered at the pantry with his grandmother since he was 11. "Everybody there I work with I know. It's a friendly environment."

Throughout the course of doing research for his project, Jacob discovered how many young people nowadays are getting food from food pantries.

"It's kind of concerning," he said.

Jacob joined the unit his freshman year and started performing as part of the armed drill team this year.

"I do it for the scholarship opportunities," he said. "It takes a lot of dedication, and I've learned a lot."

Cadet Ashley Dozier, an Air Force brat, also had her project on display.

"Coupons 4 Freedom" detailed her effort to collect coupons to send to military families stationed at bases overseas.