DATE: Thursday, April 17, 1997              TAG: 9704160137

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 07   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  147 lines

NATO FORUM, POSTER CONTEST AMONG ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS

City middle school and high school students will have an active role in the 44th International Azalea Festival, which runs April 21-27.

Students from the five high schools will participate in the Ninth Annual Student Forum on NATO, which will be held at Nauticus at 10 a.m. Monday.

Each high school team has worked with a staff member from the Supreme Allied Command Atlantic (SACLANT) to research and work on a NATO project to present during the forum.

Students have been working on their projects for three months and Gloria Hagans, education chair for the Azalea Festival committee, says to expect creativity.

``Each school has a different topic, and they can present them in any manner the students choose,'' said Hagans, who is the senior coordinator for academic affairs and accountability for the district.

``Last year there were some rather creative ways to present what could have been a mundane or not-so-exciting topic.''

Students will also be competing in a high school essay and middle school art poster contest. Winners will receive awards during the forum. Students' posters will be on display at Waterside during the festival.

On Friday, April 25, Azalea Queen Jennie Eisenhower will visit Ruffner Middle School, and students from Granby Elementary and Blair Middle schools will perform during the coronation ceremony on Saturday, April 26 at the Norfolk Botanical Garden.

For more information about educational activities, call Gloria Hagans at 441-2700. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

Art poster competition, Waterside. Selected pieces will be

displayed throughout the week. Entries were submitted by Norfolk

students in grades six through eight. The theme of the artwork is

``The United States and NATO Connection.'' Monday, April 21

NATO/Festival Student Forum, Nauticus, 10 a.m., Participants from

area high schools will meet to discuss current issues related to

NATO. During the event, finalists of the NATO essay contest, their

teachers and parents also will be recognized and the winner will be

announced.

Wednesday, April 23-

Sunday, April 27

Frigate Elrod, docked for public viewing, Nauticus. The Elrod is

a 4,100-ton, 453-foot-long, Oliver Hazard Perry class, guided

missile frigate. The ship is named for Maj. Henry T. ``Hammerin'

Hank'' Elrod, USMC, who gave his life defending Wake Island during

World War II. The Elrod welcomes viewers aboard during these times:

Wednesday, April 23, 1-4 p.m.

Thursday, April 24, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 27, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 24

Welcoming ceremony, for Queen Azalea XLIV and flag-raising

ceremony, SACLANT headquarters flag plaza, Blandy Road off Terminal

Boulevard, 10 a.m. The Azalea Queen is welcomed by the city of

Norfolk and SACLANT officials, followed by a formal military

presentation of the flags of each of the 16 NATO countries.

Opening-night celebration, Nauticus, 6 p.m. Presented in

conjunction with the opening ceremonies of the Virginia Waterfront

International Arts Festival. Celebratory music performed by guest

artists from the International Military Tattoo, the Bay Area Youth

Orchestra and the Virginia Wind Symphony. Opening ceremonies are

free and open to the public.

Friday, April 25

Festival luncheon and fashion show, Omni Waterside Hotel, 11:30

a.m. This year's fashion show is a celebration of American designers

presented by local boutiques. The Azalea Queen, princesses and

attendants will be introduced during the show. Contact the Hampton

Roads Chamber of Commerce-Norfolk Division at (757) 664-2525 for

tickets and more information.

19th Annual Azalea Festival 8K Run, Norfolk Botanical Garden,

5:45 p.m. Optimist Club of Norfolk sponsors the race, ``A Tidewater

Striders Event,'' which is open to the public. The course is on

flat, paved roads through the Garden. The race is open to all age

groups, and prizes will be awarded to the top three runners in each

age group. Cost for entry is $12 in advance and $15 day of race.

Registration begins at 4 p.m. For race information, call (757)

627-RACE.

International Military Tattoo, Scope arena, 8 p.m. Presented in

conjunction with the Virginia Waterfront International Arts

Festival, the Tattoo will feature regimental bands, precision drill

displays, flag-wavers, native uniforms, massed pipes and

drum-and-bugle ensembles. For more details, contact the Virginia

Waterfront International Arts Festival Box Office at (757) 664-6492.

Saturday, April 26

44th Annual Air Show, Naval Air Station, Norfolk; gates open at 9

a.m. Frank Kingston, nationally renowned air-show announcer, will

narrate this year's performances, including Manfred Radius Sailplane

demonstration and John Mohr, Bobby Younkin and Les Shockley's Super

Shockwave. Free concerts begin at 4 p.m. featuring Brady Seals,

former lead singer of Little Texas, and Jon Secada. Concerts are

followed by a night air show starting at 7 and featuring a

pyrotechnics display as well as military and civilian performances.

Admission and parking are free. For more information: (757)

445-6647; or on the Internet at http://www.pinn.net/airshow.

Festival Grand Parade, downtown Norfolk, 10 a.m. The parade

features more than 70 entries; 16 floats, one representing each NATO

country, will carry the Azalea Queen, Jennie Elizabeth Eisenhower,

and her court. The ODU Lady Monarchs basketball team and coach Wendy

Larry are the grand marshals. Musical groups include military and

school marching bands, including the U.S. Continental Army Band and

the U.S. Navy Atlantic Fleet Band.

NATOfest, Town Point Park, next to Waterside, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

This event celebrates the traditions of this year's most-honored

nation, the United States, as well as the other 15 NATO nations.

Performances are to include the Academy of Classical and

Contemporary Dance; Janeeda and the Near East Dancers, Turkish

bellydancers; the Annunciation Dancers, a teen group from the Greek

Orthodox Church; Touch of Nostalgia Italian Band; Los Andalusas, an

adult Spanish Flamenco dance group; the Flatland Cloggers; and many

other musical and dance groups.

Coronation of Queen Azalea XLIV, Norfolk Botanical Garden, 2:30

p.m. Jennie Elizabeth Eisenhower will be crowned the 44th Azalea

Queen in an event that features musical performances and a keynote

address by the NATO ambassador from Belgium, Dr. Robert Hunter. $3

admission to the Gardens.

Queen Azalea Dinner and Ball, Omni Waterside Hotel, 7:30 p.m.

``Colonial Garden'' theme. Musical entertainment by local band North

Tower. Tickets are $180 per couple. For ticket information, contact

the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce-Norfolk Division at (757)

664-2525.

Sunday, April 27

44th Annual Air Show, Naval Air Station, Norfolk; gates open at 9

a.m. Day Two of this event provides more performances from military

and civilian groups, including Les Shockley's Super Shockwave and a

truck, powered by two jet engines, that travels at more than 300

mph. Admission and parking are free. For more information: (757)

445-6647; or on the Internet at http://www.pinn.net/airshow.

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