Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 3, 1993 TAG: 9305270560
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Bonds then will point to Laurey and do the same.
Kidding each other comes easily to the Patrick Henry High School seniors, and it ought to. They have been in classes together since the fourth grade.
Bonds, 17, lives in North Roanoke County, and Laurey, 18, lives in South Roanoke. They met eight years ago when they were enrolled in the PLATO program for gifted students. They went on to James Madison Middle School together, and then entered the Roanoke Valley Governor's School for Science and Technology, which is housed on the Patrick Henry campus, in the ninth grade. Both attend CITY School.
They and several other members of the class - a group of about eight girls who also have been with them since PLATO - will be the first graduates to have spent all four years at the Governor's School.
By coincidence, both students' fathers, Frank Bonds Jr. and George Laurey, work for Appalachian Power Co. Both of their mothers, Ethel Bonds and Rosemary Laurey, are teachers.
"My dad's the never-ending coach," Laurey laughed. "He was a big help with applications and resumes."
"Mom and Dad are always there if I need help," Bonds said, but they don't need to urge him to do well.
"I do that myself," he said. "I feel bad when I don't study. I don't like to see myself doing less than I can."
This spring, Bonds and Laurey both won $6,000 scholarships from American Electric Power, the parent company of their fathers' employer.
More than 300 children of AEP system employees applied for 34 scholarships, three of which were won by students in Virginia. The awards were based on SAT scores, recommendations, an autobiographical presentation, leadership abilities, extracurricular activities and citizenship.
The two say they have never had to worry much about being put down by other students who think making good grades isn't cool. Because they have been in special classes all along, they have been relatively isolated from the rest of the student body, they said, and have made friends within their own group.
Despite the hard work the two say it took to earn their grade-point averages - Laurey's is 3.8 and Bonds' is 4.4 - neither student limits his activities to academics. Laurey has varsity athletic letters in track, lacrosse, swimming and tennis. He a member of the Beta Club, the French National Honor Society and American Mensa, Ltd.
He also is a Life Boy Scout and enjoys camping and hiking and the outdoors. He has worked as a volunteer for the American Red Cross, the Bradley Free Clinic and the Civil Air Patrol. Bonds also is a member of the Beta Club and the varsity tennis team. In fact, he and Laurey sometimes get together after school to hit a few balls. Although Laurey doesn't play much any more, it's a serious hobby for Bonds, who will continue to play for fun in college.
Bonds has earned awards in Latin, history and world geography, and is a National Achievement Commended Student, part of a scholarship program for minority students. Last year, he attended the summer Governor's School for Science and Technology at the College of William and Mary.
Bonds was accepted at Georgetown University, the College of William and Mary, the University of Richmond, Duke University, Wake Forest and the University of Virginia. After visiting Duke, he decided to enroll there and major in business. He hopes to follow in his father's footsteps.
Laurey decided to follow his two older brothers to UVa, where he will be an Echols Scholar, a program that gives him priority in signing up for classes, as well as other perks. Laurey isn't sure what he wants to major in, he said, but he's interested in natural science and ecology.
Laurey said he would like to see other cities after graduation, and perhaps settle in Roanoke eventually. Bonds, however, thinks he wants to stay in Virginia or North Carolina.
"It all depends on what jobs we have," Laurey said. Both students are looking forward to going off to college.
"It's time for a change," Bonds said.
by CNB