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

DATE: TUESDAY, June 27, 1995                   TAG: 9506270025
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: HALE SHEIKERZ
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PULASKI GRAD BECOMES MASON SCHOLAR

A Pulaski County High School graduate is one of 11 Virginia students to be selected as a Mason Scholar at George Mason University. Daronda Kay Combs of Fairlawn will receive a four-year scholarship that includes tuition, fees, books and housing. Each year, one student from each of Virginia's congressional districts is selected to be Mason Scholar. The scholarship also includes receiving academic support , mentor experiences with faculty and internship opportunities.

Combs, who graduated this month from Pulaski County High School, also attended the Southwest Virginia Governor's School for Science, Mathematics and Technology. She was selected for the scholarship based on academic achievement, civic involvement and leadership. She was an active member of Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Combs also has been involved with area volunteer programs such as Radford Community Hospital's Junior Volunteer Program and Special Olympics. She is the daughter of Roger and Judith Combs.

Cara Talbert, a 1995 graduate of Pulaski High School, received a $500 scholarship from the Virginia Farm Bureau Women's Committee. Talbert will be an agriculture technology student in the associate degree program at Virginia Tech. She plans to study agriculture business.

Isak Robinson-Gilden is recipient of a Merit Scholarship from the University of Texas at Austin. A 1995 graduate of Blacksburg High School, Robinson-Gilden wants to study law. At Blacksburg, he was a member of the social studies team, champion "Klassroom Kwiz" academic team, German club and editor of the newspaper.

Christian Harris recently graduated from Woodberry Forest School, a college-preparatory school near Charlottesville. Harris was a member of the yearbook staff, Woodberry Christian Fellowship, played varsity soccer and ran track. He received a master of sports award for earning three varsity letters during his senior year.

An honor student, Harris will attend Wake Forest University in the fall. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Harris Jr. of Blacksburg.

Lincoln Hopkins, a recent Blacksburg High School graduate, received a $1,000 presidential scholarship to attend Elon College in the fall. The scholarship is based on the student's high school academic record.

Hopkins was a member of the State of the World Club, Monogram Club and the International Thespian Society. He also played varsity football at Blacksburg. He is the son of Dr. and Mrs. W. Watt Hopkins.

For six years, 11-year-old Brennan Stewart attended 1,080 days of school at Shawsville Elementary School without being absent a single day. He was recently recognized at school for his accomplishment.

He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Barry Stewart of Shawsville.

SCHOOLS

Two Montgomery County schools will be connected through an audio-video-data transfer through New Century Communications Network. Christiansburg High School and Shawsville High School have made final decisions on the courses that will be offered between their two interactive classrooms. Following is a schedule of the courses, teacher and school.

FIRST SEMESTER

Advanced Placement History, Craig Hixon at Shawsville.

Advanced Placement Government, Elaine Argabrite at Christiansburg.

Advanced Placement Senior English, Wanda Hawley at Christiansburg.

Algebra I, Tracy Jenkins at Shawsville.

SECOND SEMESTER

Discrete Mathematics II, Dee Davidson at Shawsville.

Geometry, Beth Moody at Christiansburg.

by CNB