ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, July 11, 1996 TAG: 9607110023
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
This has been a good year for college scholarship awards at high schools in the Roanoke Valley. Several of the seven high schools reported that students received scholarships totaling more than $1 million.
At one school - William Byrd in Vinton - seniors captured $1,056,910, surpassing the $1 million mark for the first time.
Almost every school's scholarship totals this year were higher than in 1995 or 1994.
Roanoke's two high schools, William Fleming and Patrick Henry, reported a combined total of $1.7 million, about $500,000 more than in 1995. Fleming's total was a record $1.1 million; PH seniors received $614,000 in scholarships.
In Roanoke County, Cave Spring High had a record $1.7 million, Northside gleaned $857,972 and Glenvar - the smallest high school in the county - reported $81,417.
Salem High reported a record high of about $800,000, compared to $770,000 in 1995.
Guidance counselors attributed the higher totals to several reasons, two of them the availability of more scholarships and increased competition among colleges.
Fran Casey, guidance coordinator at William Byrd, said this year's graduates may have had greater initiative in seeking scholarships.
William Cleveland, guidance coordinator at William Fleming, said many Fleming seniors spent a lot of time hunting for scholarships through various means, including the Internet.
The counselors also said a big element in any year is the effort by guidance counselors to match available scholarships with eligible seniors.
"We work with the students and we know their interests," said Casey of William Byrd. "All of the guidance counselors encourage students to apply for scholarships."
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