Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 31, 1992 TAG: 9203310091
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN Notes
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The youth governor, that is.
Habeeb will spend next week in Richmond on the job as governor during the Model General Assembly, sponsored by the Co-ed Hi-Y program.
There will be 800 students in all, some serving as pages or reporters, some as delegates or senators. But there is only one governor, elected among the entire group, and that's Habeeb.
This is his third year as a participant in the Model General Assembly, a program that allows students who are interested in politics to taste a little of the real thing.
"The past two years, I've really been able to see the legislative process in the senate and delegate level," Habeeb said. "Now I'll be able to experience it on the executive level. I'll have to decide if I like bills and work with patrons to decide on them."
As members of the Model General Assembly, students fill the roles of real political figures and follow the legislative process just as if it were real life. The experience teaches students how government operates in Virginia.
"I loved it my sophomore year," Habeeb said. "I talked to the youth governor who was from Radford and he told me what it was like. So, my junior year, I ran at districts and won, then won in the west conference to become governor."
Habeeb said campaigning for governor and delivering speeches to a crowd of 700 youth representatives was "nerve-racking and it made me pretty nervous." But his work paid off because this year he is the head honcho.
"We did all the campaigning and all the speeches in one weekend," Habeeb said. "It was like cramming the whole political process in one three-day period.
The "real" Senate and House of Delegates members won't be there when the model general assembly begins next week. The young politicians will work right in the state buildings and put government into action on their own. Several of the senators and delegates stick around to meet the students and give them a little first-hand advice.
Of all the politicians Habeeb has met, his favorite "by far" is Lt. Gov. Don Beyer.
"He is my favorite person," Habeeb said. "He talked to me a lot and encouraged me to stay interested in government. I was really impressed with him."
Youth governor of Virginia is as high as it gets for Habeeb - at least as far as the Model General Assembly is concerned. As a result of being elected, though, Habeeb has had the opportunity to travel to Washington and Richmond on related matters.
"I've gotten to meet senators from all over, Pentagon spokesmen and visit foreign embassies," Habeeb said. "In February, I met Gov. Wilder. I told him I was going to Wake Forest in the fall and we talked about the Wake Forest-UNC basketball game."
Habeeb thinks his interest in politics has stemmed from growing up in an open family environment.
"I have an open family and we talk a lot about politics and current events and things. And my mother was a history major and history teacher, so she's taken us all over to see things. We just communicate a lot."
Habeeb isn't sure what his major will be when he enters Wake Forest in the fall, but politics and the law are his main interests. He said he has considered the possibility of teaching - on the high school or college level.
Senior Margaret Weston of PULASKI COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL has been selected to participate in the All-Virginia Orchestra on Thursday through Saturday at Chancellor High School in Fredericksburg.
Margaret was chosen from the All-Regional Band in February to audition for the All-Virginia Band. She competed with high schoolers from all over the state at James Madison University. She earned the position of First Chair performing on the bassoon.
Margaret has played the bassoon for five years and also plays the alto, tenor and baritone saxophone and the piano. Her family moved last year from Texas. She plans to major in music and music education in college.
The COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT is sponsoring two plays this month. "Aesop's Fables," by Ed Graczyk and directed by Donna Taylor, will be performed by the fourth Youth Theatre Workshop this weekend. The play turns "Aesop's Fables" into a humorous spoof, with a different version of "Tortoise and the Hare," with "Jack" from his box trying to tell the story without interference from "Wolf."
The play will be performed Friday at 7:30 p.m. at New River Community College, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Radford High School Auditorium and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Blacksburg High School auditorium.
Admission is $2 for students, $3 for adults.
Another play, "Munci Meg," the classic Appalachian folk tale with songs that range from ballads to blues and rock and roll, will be performed at area schools next week.
The performances are private, so you'll have to get your kids to tell you all about it. Lime Kiln Arts of Lexington produced the play. The story is of Munci Meg, who uses only her wits, a pen knife and a gold ring to outwit her two mean sisters; an even meaner witch; a sly fox; and a big, but stupid giant.
The play will be performed at Dalton Intermediate on Monday and Christiansburg Middle and Auburn Middle school on April 7. They are being funded by the Law Firm of Lutins and Shapiro. For more information, call the Council for Community Enrichment at 633-2233.
\ HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES are invited to attend College Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Donaldson Brown Continuing Education Center at Virginia Tech.
Representatives from community colleges, universities and supporting agencies will be on hand to talk with students, parents and any other interested persons.
A few of the colleges expected to participate include New River Community College, Virginia Tech, Ferrum College and the University of Virginia. Financial aid representatives and the Virginia Department for Rehabilitative Services also will be present.
For more information on the event, call 674-3600, ext. 358.
Jonathan Wayne Linkous is BELVIEW ELEMENTARY'S student of the month for February. Jonny is the 5-year-old son of Gary and Becky Linkous. In his kindergarten class, he was named the student who showed the most improvement in listening skills.
At the recent CHRISTIANSBURG HIGH SCHOOL Future Business Leaders of America talent show, Danny Milnes sang his way to first place and Melissa Sumner and Brian Eigel were named Mr. and Miss CHS.
Second place was captured by a six-member band who performed "Only the Good Die Young." The members are Jim Moye, Steve Gregory, Shawn Price, Aaron Reed, Michael Farrow and Matt Lucas.
Mandee Calloway sang "You Give Good Love" and won third place.
As part of the Artist-in-Residency program at MARGARET BEEKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Becky Barlow and Les Dotson will perform Wednesday throughout the day in the school's multipurpose room.
SNOWVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL will have a bake sale and craft show Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be a variety of handmade crafts, food, gospel music and other talent. The money will help pay for the fourth- and fifth-graders' trip to Williamsburg.
The PTA of ELLISTON-LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL is having a pancake supper Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. at the school. Tickets are $2 for adults and $1.50 for children.
A talent show will follow the meal at 7 p.m.
For more information, call 268-5339.
On Friday night at 8, SHAWSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL will hold a Drug-free Party Night. The event is sponsored by students, parents and teachers of the Commonwealth Alliance for Drug Rehabilitation and Education (CADRE) committee.
The party will encourage students to enjoy an evening of fun without drugs or alcohol. Come play games, enter contests and dance, at the same time staying "straight."
For more information, call 268-2262.
The CHRISTIANSBURG HIGH SCHOOL symphonic band has earned a superior rating for the third year in a row at the District VI Band Festival competition.
The symphonic band entered the Grade V level of music, the second-most-difficult category in the contest. The competition was held this year at Magna Vista High School.
In a separate event, Angie Heaster, a junior, ranked highest of students from CHS who auditioned for All-Virginia Band. She finished third in the contra-alto clarinet section.
Josh Wirt, also a junior, placed eighth in the tuba section, making him a second alternate.
The Virginia High School League honors students who excel both in the classroom and athletics. To be chosen, students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, be varsity letter winners in at least one of the VHSL activities programs (debate, drama, forensics, creative writing or publications) and be involved in high school athletics.
There are 17 recipients from SHAWSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL. They are:
\ Cheerleading: Amy King, Dana Conner, Davina Pratt, Carmen Price, Heather Weaver.
\ Volleyball: Kim Wells, Missy Flight, Missy Johnson, Missy Atkins, Beth Norwood, Laura Neily, Robin Burdette.
\ Wrestling: Rob Campbell, Alan Trout, David Downing.
\ Basketball: Jason Spangler, Jeremy Nichols.
Chris Jenkins, a ninth-grader at CHRISTIANSBURG HIGH SCHOOL will learn about space travel when he attends U.S. Space Camp this year as a national prize winner in a Simmons Cable TV and WGN-United Video Inc. contest.
By watching the Chicago-based WGN program, "The Cosmic Challenge: For Kids Sake," Chris was able to answer nine questions asked during the show. He then sent those answers in and his name was one of 100 chosen from thousands of entries with correct answers to the questions.
Chris - and the 99 other winners - will receive an expense-paid trip to the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville Ala., where he will be introduced to space sciences and exploration. He also will be offered an $8,000 college scholarship to Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill. He is the son of Thomas and Marilyn Jenkins of Christiansburg.
by CNB