ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, September 4, 1996 TAG: 9609040076
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: community sports
DATELINE: FLOYD
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
For the past seven years, the memory of Floyd County High School's J.C. Waters has been kept alive by family and friends through a memorial scholarship fund.
Awarded annually since 1990 to a Floyd County senior, the scholarship is used to offer financial aid to students headed to college. It is named in honor of a former student at the high school who died in 1989 when his car was struck by a drunken driver.
There have been six recipients of the scholarship (1993's winner later forfeited eligibility) all of whom have attended Virginia colleges or universities.
The amount awarded by the scholarship committee, composed of Waters' family and friends, has decreased over the years. For example, the 1990 winner, Steven Agee, received $5,000 while 1996 recipient, Craig Reed, was awarded $1,000. In an effort to generate more revenue for the scholarship, a three-on-three basketball tournament will be held Sept. 21 at Floyd County High. The registration fee is $20 for a team of three or four members and all proceeds go to the fund.
If three-on-three isn't your game, your interest might be in a sports auction or a Hot-Shot Shoot Out for youngsters. The Hot-Shot Shoot Out may be held on goals shorter than the standard 10 feet, depending on the child's age. The entry fee is $2.
"We used to do just a 'Hot-Shot' competition and we'd get about 100 little kids, but the older kids and adults didn't turn out as much," said Melissa Spence, president of the fund and Waters' older sister. "So we decided to try the three-on-three format to bring in new revenue. Plus the sports auction is always popular."
Among this year's memorabilia to be auctioned is a Washington Redskins autographed poster, a Dallas Cowboys autographed pennant, a Charlotte Hornets autographed basketball, an autographed picture of Kenny Anderson, a special-edition San Francisco 49ers T-shirt and an autographed photo of NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip.
The scholarship is awarded just before graduation, after the seniors at Floyd County have had the opportunity to receive an acceptance letter to college. Spence said the person doesn't have to be a straight-A student or a star athlete, but must belong to either the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Varsity Club, or any sports program at the school.
"We just want to find someone who is channelled in the right direction ... someone who isn't going to drink and drive," Spence said. "We want someone we think is going to be an asset to the community."
Applicants must submit a letter from the college or university they plan to attend with the application. The scholarship money is then sent directly to the institution to help pay for the first year.
Waters was killed on Virginia 221, about three miles outside Floyd's city limits. He was headed to play golf March 12, 1989, when he was struck head-on by David Benson, who had swerved into Waters' lane. Benson pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.
"The scholarship is just something that the family and friends set up to keep J.C.'s memory alive," Spence said. "It was all we could do."
If you have an idea for a story or note about recreational sports, call Angie Watts at 381-1672 in Montgomery County or Radford or 1-800-346-1234, extension 672 elsewhere or fax to 381-1656
LENGTH: Medium: 67 linesby CNB