Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 27, 1993 TAG: 9305270404
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The club will renew the $1,000-per-year scholarship for up to four years for students making satisfactory academic progress as long as club funding remains adequate.
Any high school senior who has played on a club team and will attend an accredited two- or four-year college or university may apply for the award, which the club began in 1990.
Applications, which are mailed to high school principals in March, must be submitted to the RVYSC Scholarship Committee, P.O. Box 21848, Roanoke, Va. 24018, by early April.
The scholarship committee evaluates applicants on academic achievement, citizenship and character, and soccer contribution. Selected applicants are then given a personal interview.
None of the three previous winners is playing soccer on the varsity level, but all are involved in the sport in some way.
The first scholarship recipient, Kip Thompson, graduated as Roanoke Catholic High School's valedictorian in 1990. He is majoring in premed at the University of Virginia. Thompson plays soccer on his fraternity's intramural team, and another team as well.
"The scholarship's been great," Thompson, 21, said. "I was really surprised to get it because I played on the `B' team, and I thought it would go to a player on the `A' team. But I also did some refereeing for younger kids when I was in high school, and that might have helped a little bit."
Zach Brittle, a 1991 graduate of Cave Spring High School, won the second scholarship award. Brittle, 19, an English major, has just completed his sophomore year at the College of William and Mary. Brittle coaches an under-10 team in Williamsburg and will accompany his squad to Philadelphia this weekend while the Crestar tournament is under way.
Last year's scholarship went to Steve Collins, an Eagle Scout and Cave Spring High graduate.
"It was kind of neat the way the scholarship worked out," Collins, 19, said. "I didn't know I'd won it, but my parents did. And on the Sunday night it was to be announced, I wanted to go to Festival in the Park to meet some friends, and my parents insisted I go with them to this function at the bank."
Collins' reluctance did an about-face when his name was announced. He is taking his studies seriously, earning a 3.65 grade-point average last semester at Virginia Tech. He is pursuing a degree in biochemistry.
Collins had hoped to play varsity soccer at Tech this season as a redshirt freshman, but "it turned out there were six or seven of us vying for one position, and I didn't make it," he said.
Collins returned to Roanoke in January to play for Danny Beamer's under-19 indoor team that won the Blum, Newman and Blackstock tournament at North Cross.
The Roanoke Valley Youth Soccer Club scholarship committee is prepared to award up to two scholarships annually. This year's winner or winners will be announced Sunday night after the Crestar tournament.
by CNB