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

DATE: MONDAY, August 28, 1995                   TAG: 9508280112
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A PAT ON THE BACK TO:

Age: Age: 18

Age: School: Radford High School graduate, 1995

New River Community College, general studies

What she does: Many times Rozetta has passed the playground where her grandfather played as a child. Now virtually unused except as an occasional hangout for local college students and vandals, Riverside Park is overgrown and in need of renovation.

Rozetta thinks ``it's awful that Radford doesn't have any campsites. I want to put up facilities for kids and a tenting area. I want to have basketball, volleyball and soccer facilities, too.''

The equipment needs to be repaired and the park needs fencing, too. ``Did you know you can canoe from the park to the Dedmon Center [at the university]?''

Rozetta has already created a layout of her vision for the park, which she has presented to local officials. A certain amount of red tape must be unraveled before any real renovation can begin, but through Rozetta's efforts, the grass is being mowed and some of the brush has been cleared.

Radford officials hope the railroad, owner of the park, will transfer the land to the city. Rozetta has met with the city council and the mayor to discuss the project.

``The mayor was really interested and suggested some things I didn't think about. The city council was also willing to help.''

Councilman David Worrell was impressed with the work Rozetta had done on the project. ``Her presentation was very professional and well done. I've known Rozetta for several years, and she is a dedicated, conscientious young lady.

``Aside from the park, she is also extremely involved in church work, more than a lot of young people.''

Margaret McQuain, Rozetta's Girl Scout leader until her graduation this past spring, guided Rozetta in finding the right avenues to pursue her project.

``Rozetta has her priorities straight,'' McQuain said. ``She's concerned that things be right for everybody and that everyone should have the opportunity to do what they are able to do.

``Rozetta feels the youth here need a place to learn camping skills and be outdoors in a camp-like setting. She has run around endlessly to get support. I call it Rozetta's Park.

``Rozetta is very good-hearted and fair-minded. She'll do whatever she can to set things right.''

Rozetta has also done volunteer work at Radford Community Hospital.

School activities: Rozetta plated flute in the marching and symphonic bands, threw the discus and shotput on the track and field team and was in the Future Homemakers of America and Spanish clubs.

Other activities: Rozetta is a director of the mass choir and youth choir director at her church, Zion Hill Baptist. She is secretary of the Baptist Youth Fellowship, president of the Junior Usher Board and secretary of the Sunday School.

What she's learned: ``In order to get the work done, you just can't slack off. You have to keep up with it or it won't be discussed anymore.

``I'm more committed to this [park] than my school work because I enjoy doing this for people and [helping] others out. Once I put my mind to something, I'll go for it.''

Obstacles: Getting the park renovation moving has been a much more complicated process than Rozetta ever dreamed.

``I asked [a community leader] if she would support the project; she was very negative. I said to myself, `If I have enough people who support me, I won't let one person put me down,' and I kept on. Now, when the woman sees me, she asks how the project is going.''

Future plans: ``When I'm not able to work on the park any more, I'm going to give it up to someone else to continue.''

Rozetta plans to transfer to Radford University and major in music education. She hopes to become a music teacher and band director.

Extra Credit nominees must be 12-18 and volunteering of their own choice. If part of a group, the teen must have initiated the activity.

Send in the teen's name, age, phone number, what they're doing, for how long, and how it has helped someone else. Mail nominations to Extra Credit, c/o Features Department, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010

This twice-monthly column spotlights a teen-ager who is using his or her own initiative to make a difference in our neighborhoods, schools and communities. We think they deserve a public thank-you for helping other people. Nominations are sent in by our readers (see guidelines below).