Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 3, 1993 TAG: 9306030375
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Common characteristics also seem to unite the 39 high school valedictorians this year honored by the Roanoke Lodge No. 197, B.P.O. Elks. The students, from 17 Roanoke Valley schools, each submitted a resume or brief biography as part of their inclusion in the Elks' 15th annual honors ceremony.
Probably the most obvious link is the valedictorians' high grade-point averages - many above 4.0.
Naturally, the high GPAs earned the students numerous honors and awards. More than half the students are members of the National Honor Society, and several also belong to special honors societies, such as the Spanish Honor Society and French Honor Society. At least one-third of the students were National Merit finalists, and roughly the same percentage were included in Who's Who Among American High School Students.
Maintaining an impressive GPA is seldom easy, but it's even more difficult when classes are academically challenging. Yet those are the types of classes that many valedictorians selected.
"I've noticed that many students who go on to become valedictorians take advance placement courses," said Earl Smith, guidance director for grades 8-12 at Craig County High School.
Smith said the rigorous AP classes earn more "quality credits" and thus increase the student's chances of having a higher GPA.
The students' resumes showed a thread of classes - and honors - in math, sciences and foreign languages, notably Spanish, French and Latin. At least two students had participated in Odyssey of the Mind competitions.
Speaking at the Valedictorian Night recently, Elks Exalted Ruler David Whitenack said the resumes reflected the students' multidimensional interests. Many of the valedictorians are accomplished athletes, including several who earned the Presidential Academic Fitness Award, B'nai B'rith nominations and varsity letters.
Many of the students also play musical instruments, sing or take part in school bands. Several are involved in theatrical productions. Roughly one-fourth of the valedictorians write and or edit for their school's newspaper, newsletter, yearbook or literary magazine.
Beyond academics, the students tended to do volunteer work - through their churches, with RAM House or Teenline (a help line for troubled teen-agers), in hospitals, with the elderly or youths.
"All of the students seem to have a passion for something - usually nonacademic. It might be the environment or athletics or music," said Debbie Inman, counselor at the Roanoke Valley Governor's School for Science and Technology, which many of the valedictorians attended part-time.
Inman, a guidance counselor for 14 years, said she often tried to help the students set priorities.
"They tend to be self-starters and internally motivated. They're often leaders and can get others motivated. They also finish what they start. The biggest problem is that they have so many goals and interests. And they want to do everything," Inman said.
A few found time to hold down part-time paying jobs that might give them valuable experience for their future careers because many of them know - and have known for a while - what careers they intend to pursue.
"My experience is that these students know how to budget their time," said Northside High School guidance counselor Becky Houchins.
Houchins, a counselor for more than 20 years, said she's noticed that many students who become valedictorians also have perseverance and the ability to overcome obstacles.
Noting the twins, Jennifer Dawn Stewart and Jonathan Stewart, among Northside's valedictorians this year, Houchins joked that perhaps valedictorians run in families.
Maybe they are. Rosanna Marie Hopper and her brother, Anthony Hopper, both are Roanoke Catholic School valedictorians - she, this year, and he in 1992.
At any rate, the counselors as well as Whitenack agreed that families play major parts in valedictorians' success, as do supportive friends and educators.
Counselor Smith said valedictorians tend to have good study skills, to do their homework and take their schoolwork seriously starting from an early age.
"I've also got to emphasize that these students are highly self-motivated," Houchins said. "Ultimately, it's really their own motivation that helps them succeed."
One area where the valedictorians diverge is in their college choices.
Roanoke College head basketball coach Paige Moir was guest speaker at the Elks' banquet. "I'd like to keep the best and brightest here in the valley," he said. And to some extent, he'll get his wish.
Eight students plan to attend Roanoke College, and five will go to Moir's alma mater, Virginia Tech. One has her sights set on Hollins.
Within the state, seven students plan to attend University of Virginia; three will go to the University of Richmond; and one each will attend James Madison University, Emory & Henry College and the College of William and Mary.
Two valedictorians will head to Duke University in Durham, N.C., and one each will go to Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.; North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.; Princeton (N.J.) University; Stanford (Calif.) University; Milligan College, Johnson City, Tenn.; Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H.; Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tenn.; and the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
One valedictorian remained undecided about his college choice.
by CNB