Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505190109
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Had they, much common ground would have been discovered.
First of all, both play tennis, Johnson as a member of the William Fleming varsity team; Varney for Glenvar.
Both have a scientific bent. Johnson intends to major in biology when she attends Virginia Tech next fall and ultimately aspires to the profession of physical therapy. Varney intends to major in biology at North Carolina-Greensboro and plans a career in medicine.
Each enjoys a lofty class ranking: Johnson is sixth among 289 and Varney fourth among 97.
Each pursues activities and community service far beyond the bounds of the classroom and athletic arena.
And each seemed genuinely surprised when it was announced at an honorary feast Thursday night that they were the 1995 winners of the B'nai B'rith Athletic and Achievement Awards.
Johnson and Varney were selected from among a group of 30 seniors, 15 boys and 15 girls, from public and private high schools in the Roanoke Valley and beyond.
``This has to be at the top of the honors I have received because it pulls all that I do together,'' Varney said.
In his case, that is plenty, including golf (the sport he'll play in college), tennis, and basketball and a range of endeavors that include everything from playing piano for retirement community gatherings to presiding over meetings of the Math Club.
Johnson maintains a full schedule as well, following her musical abilities by playing the French horn in the high school band and for the Roanoke Youth Symphony, volunteering to clean athletic fields and work youth tennis camps, and entering science fairs.
And she does a lot record-keeping.
``I keep score for everything,'' she said. ``Boys' basketball, baseball, indoor track, wrestling.''
Johnson took up her pen because she loves sports and many of her friends are Fleming athletes. Maybe just as important, it was a family tradition.
``My older brother Matt kept score for Fleming,'' she said. ``I don't know who they're going to get now.''
Each of the 15 schools offered a male and female nominee. A committee chose the winners according to a formula that was based 50 percent on athletics, 25 percent on scholarship and 25 percent on the quality of personal life.
Winners are awarded cash scholarships paid to the college they will attend.
by CNB