Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 20, 1992 TAG: 9203200278
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
They told her that they were visiting Virginia Tech from Hampton because they had to see about her brother.
The real reason they were on Tech's campus was because their daughter had been awarded the Truman Scholarship in the amount of $30,000.
Tech professors had sworn them to secrecy.
"Oh, my gosh, there's Mommy and Daddy," Newsome said as she spotted Cynthia and Glenn Horton sitting in the President's Board Room on Thursday.
She had been told other students would be there, too, for some honor or another. Instead, there were only professors, smiling as she walked into the room.
"I was tricked," she said. "That's OK, though."
"We just want you to know how proud we are," Tech President James McComas said as he shook her hand. "You are Tech's first Truman scholar."
Newsome, a 21-year-old junior in political science, just grinned and mouthed "thanks" to those looking on.
The scholarship, created by Congress to honor former President Harry S. Truman, is awarded to students planning a career in government or public service.
Newsome came to Tech in the fall of 1989. She is an active member of the Young Democrats and the Voices of Expression Gospel Choir.
She also is a member of On TAP, an alcohol peer-counseling group, and a peer group leader in the Tech Transition Program. She has a 3.5 grade-point average and belongs to the Golden Key National Honor Society.
Last year, Larkin Dudley, an assistant professor in political science, urged Newsome to go to the honors office to find out more about the scholarship.
She began a long process of interviewing. To prepare, she set up mock interviews with her professors. She wrote an essay on proposed changes in the welfare system and interviewed people around the county for that.
Newsome plans on using the scholarship money to work on a master's degree in public administration. She wants to become a city manager. "I'd like to thank my mom and dad who put up with me and stood by me," she said. "And I'd like to thank the university community for taking good care of me.
"This hasn't been easy. But it's been worth it."
by CNB