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

DATE: FRIDAY, November 11, 1994                   TAG: 9411170064
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI                                  LENGTH: Medium

STUDENTS HONORED FOR DROPOUT-PREVENTION WORK

The board instituted the occasional award several years ago as a way of recognizing county people in the field of education who have gone far beyond what is expected of them in the course of their work.

Generally, the awards have gone to teachers and staff members. But 30 Pulaski County High School students were honored with the ``Golden Apple'' certificates Wednesday night for their work in dropout prevention.

The students visited every elementary school in the county during National Dropout Prevention Week this fall to talk with pupils and encourage them to stay in school.

It was part of a program supported by a task force on dropout prevention at the high school, and included a musical performance written and choreographed by drama program director Rhonda Welsh. The School Board watched a videotape of part of that performance at one school.

Cindy Watson, a counselor at the high school, said the dropout prevention program will be an ongoing project. Next year, she said, the presentation may be expanded to include the county's middle schools.

Superintendent Bill Asbury had the students introduce themselves to the board.

``I'm not putting them on the spot,'' he said. ``I've watched them perform, and I don't think you could put them on the spot.''

The students getting certificates were Ezra Ford, Glynda McGlothlin, Aisha Todd, Ginger Lane, Josh Raynes, Wren Lanier, Lindsay Hudson, Nathan Morehead, Michael Steffey, Michael Smith, Robert Duncan, Matt Lee, G.W. Leeson, Daronda Combs, Brian McGinnis, J.C. Hamilton, Danny Blevins, Luke Phillips, Jessica Friend, Macy Blankenship, Deanna Williams, H. David Hughes, Tenisha Marchbanks, Scott Phillips, Eric Clymer, Rohan Patel, Amanda Burke, Felicia Taylor, David A. Hughes and Marcus Taylor.

Certificates will also go to staff members involved in the project.

Those are Watson, Welsh, Bonnie Graham, Pat Catron, Gina Miano, Kathy Davis, Annyce Levy, Scott Frye, Mary Britt, Sharon Torabzabeh, George Marunich, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Rhonda Murdock and Tammy Davidson.