Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 1, 1994 TAG: 9404010182
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Gov. George Allen apparently will decide whether 50 high school students will get $3,000 state scholarships for the next year.
Just when it appeared there would be no new scholarships, a movement has begun to restore the money.
Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, has asked Allen to intervene to provide for new entries in the Virginia Scholars program.
In a letter to Allen, Woodrum asked him to use his amendment powers to include $150,000 in the state budget to continue the program.
"I assure you of my support and I am certain that such an amendment would pass both houses overwhelmingly," Woodrum wrote.
Allen will consider the request when he receives the budget from the General Assembly, but he is not in a position to comment on Woodrum's request until then, a spokeswoman said Thursday.
Woodrum said he has talked with several legislators, and he believes the General Assembly would approve the money next month at its veto session.
Virginia Scholars is a merit-based, tax-supported program designed to help keep Virginia's brightest high school students at colleges and universities in the state.
The winning students receive four-year, $12,000 scholarships that are awarded solely on merit and not financial need.
The state budget includes funds to continue the scholarships for the winners from previous years. The students must attend a Virginia public college and maintain a B average or better to keep their scholarships.
More than two dozen students in the Roanoke Valley applied for the scholarships, only to be told recently that there is no money. Statewide, 925 students applied.
Funds for new scholarships were not included in either former Gov. Douglas Wilder's budget or Allen's amendments. The General Assembly provided more money for higher education, but not for the Virginia Scholars program.
Students and guidance counselors said they were disappointed that no money was available after the students had completed the entire application process.
by CNB