Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 22, 1995 TAG: 9508220056
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Collectively, they already have earned nearly enough college credit for two bachelor's degrees - about 200 semester hours of advanced placement.
The students will receive an average of about 25 credits each - almost one year of study - when they begin college.
One has won a $60,000 scholarship at Roanoke College, and another will be an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia.
All of the students earned diplomas in the International Baccalaureate program, a rigorous curriculum that is designed to produce students who meet world-class academic standards.
Salem had nine candidates for IB diplomas this year. Eight passed intensive written and oral examinations and received their diplomas.
It was the highest pass rate for Salem High since testing for the program began three years ago, said Betsy McClearn, IB coordinator for the school. The pass rate was 40 percent the first year, and 60 percent the second year.
The ninth candidate this year fell one point short on one test, but may still get an IB diploma. Salem High has filed an inquiry to see if there might have been an error in the scoring. If there is no mistake, the student can retake the test and earn a diploma with a higher score.
``This is a program for students who are committed to excellence, and we have eight of them here today,'' McClearn said.
The students, who learned recently that they had passed their examinations, celebrated at a pizza lunch Friday that McClearn arranged.
The IB diplomas are in addition to advanced-studies diplomas or regular diplomas earned by the students.
Salem is one of about 500 high schools in 72 countries that participate in the IB program, which sets an international standard of excellence for college-bound students.
About 200 schools in the United States and Canada have an IB program. Only a handful of schools in Virginia participate. William Fleming High in Roanoke has just started an IB program.
Students take college-level courses in math, science, history, foreign languages and world literature.
They must pass a course called Theory of Knowledge that explores the relationship among different forms of knowledge and teaches critical thinking.
The final examinations, which cover about 25 hours over a two-week period, include written and oral tests. College and university professors give the oral examinations and grade the written tests.
Each student must also write a 4,000-word research essay and perform 200 hours of community service.
Scott Ashcraft, who will attend James Madison University, wrote his essay on the influence of the news media on the O.J. Simpson trial. He is the first football player at Salem High to earn an IB diploma.
``The program was rough in spots, but I made it through,'' said Ashcraft, 18. He is considering studying business in college.
Eric McMillan, 18, will receive 32 hours of credit at the University of Virginia, where he plans a double major in English and foreign affairs. He wrote his essay on the novels of Jack Kerouac, an American writer whose most famous novel, ``On the Road,'' was published in the 1950s.
``The IB program was a lot of work, but it was well worth it,'' McMillan said.
Tim Herby, 17, also will attend UVa, but he hasn't decided on a major. He is interested in music, and wrote his essay on the influence of technology on it.
Jay Kirby, 18, will go to Roanoke College, where he has won a scholarship that will pay his tuition and some other expenses for four years. He plans to study business.
``IB was a lot of hard work, but it paid off in the end. It helped me get the scholarship,'' Kirby said. His essay compared novels of two African-American writers, Ralph Ellison and Toni Morrison.
Robert Seagle, 18, will attend Virginia Tech and plans to become an engineer. He wrote his essay on Americans' attitudes toward the Vietnam War, and how public opinion caused the United States to withdraw from the war.
Eric Phelps, 18, also will attend Virginia Tech, to study computer engineering. His essay focused on the role of the Office of Strategic Services in the European and Pacific theaters in World War II.
Trent Edwards, 18, will be an Echols Scholar at UVa and may major in English. He wrote his essay on Marilou Awiakta, an Appalachian Cherokee poet. He found the IB program to be ``very stressful.''
Asif Khan, 18, also will go to UVa, where he will study finance and pre-law. He wants to become a corporate or contract lawyer.
Khan's essay compared economic development in the Roanoke Valley to that in several other Southeastern cities, including Charlotte, N.C. He found that the lack of a pro-business attitude and an aging labor force have hurt economic development in the Roanoke Valley.
by CNB