
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 12, 1994                   TAG: 9405120192
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

50 VA. SCHOLARS NAMED

Two Western Virginia high school seniors have won $3,000 scholarships in Virginia Scholars, a program for which funds were not included in the original state budget approved by the General Assembly.

The winners were Erica Campbell, a student at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, and Christopher Tyson, who attends Blacksburg High School.

They were included among 45 high school seniors and five community college students who won scholarships.

If the winners remain in good standing in college and keep their grades up, they will receive $3,000 each year for four years. They must have a B average or better to keep the scholarships.

More than two dozen high school students in Western Virginia applied for the scholarships.

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.

Both Campbell and Tyson plan to attend the University of Virginia.

The original state budget included funds to continue the scholarships that had been awarded in prior years, but there was no money for new scholarships this year.

No money was included for 50 new scholarships this year in either former Gov.Douglas Wilder's budget or the initial amendments by Gov.George Allen.

After publicity about the lack of new money for the program, Del. Clifton "Chip" Woodrum, D-Roanoke, wrote Allen to restore the money.

Allen included the funds in the budget amendments approved by the General Assembly at its veto session last month.

Statewide, 925 students applied for the scholarships.

by CNB