THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 10, 1995 TAG: 9512100044
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PHILIP WALZER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Old Dominion University senior Samantha Salvia on Saturday was named one of the nation's 32 recipients of the Rhodes Scholarship.
She is the first student in ODU's history to win the Rhodes, the most prestigious and sought-after award for graduate study.
``I think it's certainly one of those milestones in our progress,'' said Dana D. Burnett, vice president for student services. ``This is our 34th year of operation, and to have a Rhodes scholar is an indication of the maturing process for Old Dominion University - that we're able to attract students of her caliber. I'm sure she won't be the last.''
Louis H. Henry, director of ODU's academic honors program, said Salvia called him at 6:30 Saturday evening with the news. She was in New York, where the finalists were interviewed during the day.
``I'm thrilled; I'm just running around the house,'' Henry said.``It's a real feather in a lot of caps, especially Sam's.''
Senior Amy Morrissey, a friend and former roommate of Salvia's, also was elated.
``That's incredible,'' she said Saturday night. ``She is one of the most dedicated, driven people I know. It couldn't happen to a greater girl.''
Salvia couldn't be reached for comment.
Henry said she was having dinner out in New York - and unwinding.
``She was so wiped out,'' Henry said. ``She thought it was a really tough interview today. She said, `I'm not ready for any more talking until tomorrow.' ''
Salvia, who is from Norristown, Pa., has reached the top of the charts in both academics and athletics at ODU.
She is captain of the field hockey team and a member of the honors program, with a 4.0 average in civil and environmental engineering.
``She's just tremendously bright and capable,'' said William A. Drewry, chairman of the civil engineering department. ``She does all of those things that we try to convince all of the students to do - to set their sights on what they want, as high as they want to go, simply manage their time, go for it and they can get it.''
Morrissey, who herself juggles the honors program with being captain of the women's tennis team, said: ``She has her priorities right in order. She takes them one step at a time.
``She sacrifices her social life to get her academics and field hockey done, in that order. Many times she stays home Friday and Saturday nights studying because she has a lot of work to do.''
Henry said Salvia even passed up a chance to try out for the Olympic team last year because she didn't want to leave school.
Friends and professors say Salvia's talents have not gone to her head.
``A lot of people think that somebody who is extremely intelligent has to be strange or not friendly or doesn't interact with people in a normal way,'' Drewry said. ``But in so many ways, she's just an absolutely normal person.''
Morrissey said: ``Sam's very down-to-earth. When she's your friend, she's your friend. She'll do anything for you.''
Morrissey found that out, once again, late Thursday night.
She was upset about something and called Salvia at 2 a.m.
Salvia had been asleep and was going to fly to New York the next day.
``But she told me to come over,'' Morrissey said, ``and she stayed up with me till 3:30 and took my mind off everything that bothered me.''
Her decency probably paid off in New York, too, Henry said.
``She said some people started to posture at the reception'' Friday night, he said. ``But Sam was very nice and demure - a normal kid.''
Recipients of the Rhodes Scholarship get two years of study - with free tuition and room and board - at England's Oxford University.
Salvia plans to mix courses in philosophy, politics and economics to study the ``ethical, political and economic considerations'' in environmental engineering. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
A field hockey captain with a 4.0 in civil and environmental
engineering, Samantha Salvia is ODU's first Rhodes Scholar.
by CNB