Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 31, 1990 TAG: 9006010567
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH COX SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A few, however, are catching onto the military and opting to serve their country and attend college later at the military's expense.
About 12 percent of Jefferson Forest's graduates will go into the military after graduation. One of the biggest selling points is the educational benefits, which Jefferson Forest's guidance director, Mark Yudowitch, says more than matches what people contribute themselves. In addition, two Jefferson Forest seniors have been given scholarships by the Army.
Yudowitch said about two-thirds - the same proportion as last year - of the nearly 155 graduating seniors will be attending college and more of them are receiving scholarships.
"It appears, despite all competitiveness on scholarships, that overall we received more scholarships than last year. We are more aggressive in terms of sending in applications, and at the same time, the people pushing [the scholarships] are doing a better job of following up."
Yudowitch said it takes aggressiveness and persistence to follow the scholarship track. "It's very time-consuming. You apply to a lot more than you receive."
Although he said that he sees more seniors attending college farther away from home, most are staying in state. "The biggest increase is kids and parents realizing the value of visiting the campus before making a four-year commitment. And we're granting more excused absences during the week so they can see the college in session. That way, they're less likely to flunk or transfer out."
Jefferson Forest's valedictorian, Linda Hughes, plans to attend Virginia Tech. She has received a $1,000 scholarship from Wal-Mart.
The salutatorian, Cheryl Henderson, will be majoring in education at the College of William and Mary. Jason Hackenbracht, who turned down an Air Force ROTC scholarship and elected to attend Mary Washington College with a $3,500 annual scholarship, is No. 3 in the class.
Hackenbracht's long-term goal is to attend the University of Virginia medical school and be an orthopedic surgeon. He'll major in liberal arts at Mary Washington.
"I've heard that an important part of being a doctor is being able to communicate with people," he said.
Yudowitch, as well as counselors at Staunton River and Liberty high schools, said the Bedford Education Center, the vocational school serving all of Bedford County, is one of the best resources their students have.
About 15 percent of the center's students go on to college, and many others take advantage of their two-plus-two college preparatory program, Yudowitch said. The drafting program, for example, prepares students to go on to Central Virginia Community College for an associate degree. In addition, the agricultural program prepares students to take on their family farming business.
"This is still a rural community, with many farming families," said Brenda Peters, Staunton River's director of guidance.
The success of the vocational school may be one of the reasons why some students go directly into the job market after graduation, Peters said.
"Our students are more than adequately prepared to go into the job market. We have an excellent staff who is very familiar with the local economy," she said, adding that about 28 percent of Staunton River graduates plan to enter the job force this summer. Sixty-two percent of the seniors are college-bound, and close to 10 percent will enter military service.
"Many of our graduates are going to be first-generation college students. The expectations of their parents are going up every year, and they support and encourage their children to go on and further their education," Peters said.
April Cheek of Staunton River will be attending Hollins College and majoring in English and creative writing. And if all goes according to her plans, she will also stay there to receive a master's degree in creative writing. She said she has written several plays already. Her play, "The War Within," was produced last year with help from the Little Town Players. She has also found time to write the high school baccalaureate address, in between a busy social calendar which included 1989 Homecoming Queen and 1990 Prom Queen.
Derek Hart, another Staunton River senior, also has some pretty definite ideas about his future. He is following in the footsteps of his brother, father and grandfather by attending Virginia Military Institute. This will be done on a full scholarship.
"That was the only [school] I even bothered applying to."
He will major in electrical engineering - same as his dad and brother - because he said he found his brother's work interesting. His brother designs software for robots.
Staunton River has 204 graduating seniors. Their valedictorian is Erica Thompson, and the salutatorian is Christine Dennis.
Liberty High School, which will hold commencement the same date as the other two Bedford County high schools - June 14 - is expecting 181 seniors to graduate.
Shirley McCave, director of guidance, said about 40 percent of the graduates will attend some form of higher education - either community, two- or four-year colleges.
She said she's found that her students are tending to stay within the confines of the state to go to college, and "this class is staying more in the Bedford area" for jobs.
"I'm really having trouble finding students to apply for jobs. Most are receiving over minimum wage. In Bedford, the job market has been very good."
An exception to this is Liberty's Tonya Zinn, who plans to travel to the West Virginia Institute of Technology and major in engineering.
"I was enrolled in the drafting program at the vocational school. I wanted an academic and vocational diploma, so I took English during the summer."
Zinn left enough time, though, to twirl the baton for Liberty. "I'm the only majorette they have. I love doing that. That's one of my greater moments - twirling the baton."
Liberty's No. 2 two student is Rebecca Pawlas. The valedictorian is David Bobbitt, who is also the county's first Presidential Scholar, a selection based on academics and leadership ability.
by CNB