ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 13, 1996 TAG: 9606130028
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING STAFF WRITER
THE ROBERTSON SCHOLARSHIP will help Thomas Salter earn a degree from Cornell, where he will major in computer engineering.
Thomas Salter of William Fleming High School is the recipient of the 1996 Scott Robertson Memorial golf scholarship award.
Salter was selected from a field of 12 applicants for the $8,000 award, which is named in honor of Scott Robertson, a young Roanoke golfer who died in 1982 from infectious mononucleosis.
Salter, whose 4.3 grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) made him valedictorian of his senior class at Fleming, will attend Cornell University thin the is fall. He plans to major in computer engineering at the prestigious Ivy League school.
Salter's resume displayed diversity. He was captain of the Colonels' team and was involved in numerous school activities, such as the National Honor Society.
``My first reaction was one of surprise,'' Salter said after Wednesday's announcement of the award at Roanoke Country Club. ``You apply for all of these things, but that doesn't mean you expect to win one.
``I'm so honored to win this award. I think it says a lot for golf and the kind of people and ideals that surround the game. The game and the people around it do a lot of tremendous things that help young people like me pursue a higher education and become a better person.''
Andrew Green, a senior at Lord Botetourt, was selected as the winner of the second E.A. Hawthorne scholarship, established in honor of the longtime Robertson tournament supporter who died last year.
Green will use the $2,000 scholarship for his education at Virginia Tech, where he plans to major in turf management. Green, who hopes to become a golf-course architect, graduated seventh in his class, with a 3.96 GPA.
``This caps an incredible run for me,'' said Green, who won the $10,000 Don Holliday Scholarship and a $4,000 award from the Virginia State Golf Association.
``I still can't believe all this has happened to me. All I can say is that I've really been blessed.''
The awards were based on academic achievement, citizenship, character and activity associated with golf. The scholarships are available to any high school senior in the Roanoke Valley who has been associated with golf.
The scholarships are given in conjunction with the annual Scott Robertson Memorial junior golf tournament. The 13th Robertson will be held Aug.13-15 at Roanoke Country Club.
The event has progressed into one of the nation's top junior tournaments. Tournament officials already have received more than 400 applications from some 30 states and three foreign countries.
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