This Thursday, in conjunction with Save Our Children Day, a local group will honor the memory of the victims from the shootings last Tuesday at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., by distributing green ribbons.

During one of Creating Opportunities and Responsibilities Through Positive Service for Youth's board meetings, a woman spoke up and said she had a cousin that went to Columbine High School. From that announcement, the idea emerged for a day to remember those victims, said Julie Rose, CORPS for Youth president.

Members discussed ideas such as possibly sending a monetary gift, but taking local action seemed the most appropriate. Since then, CORPS for Youth has sent Columbine High School a letter explaining what the group plans to do Thursday.

"The losses are irreplaceable," said treasurer Evan Dawson. "We thought we should do something to prevent this from happening again, something to celebrate children."

Celebrating children's accomplishments and giving them positive outlets and opportunities is part of what CORPS for Youth is all about. The organization strives to create these positive outlets through tutoring, after school programs such as dances and facilitating projects at Hope Drive Apartments, an Athens low-income housing project.

So, in keeping with their goals, CORPS for Youth members have made the ribbons available for students to show their support.

While this might be just one day, the group hopes to send a message that it is important to look at children positively. By addressing all their needs, children can then reach their full potential.

And by looking at them positively, one can hope this tragedy cannot and will not happen again, Dawson said.

These thoughts on how to prevent another such tragedy have also been on the minds of future teachers.

"We can work on kids to get their feelings more out in the open, and let them know that violence isn't the answer," said education major Katie Forsthoefel.

She suggested having more parent-teacher conferences because students don't always come to the teacher with concerns.

This would allow the teacher to find out what is going on with the students' families.

Another message the organization hopes this day will send is for educators and parents to realize it can happen anywhere.

"No school is immune to violence," Rose said.