ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 28, 1996 TAG: 9609300050
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: KING GEORGE
A Northern Virginia businessman and his wife plan to build a private, Christian-based military school along the Rappahannock River.
The coed boarding school would offer high school students the opportunity to sail, learn civil engineering and participate in worldwide exchange programs, Navy veteran Forrest C. Wheat said Thursday.
Wheat said he hopes construction of his Virginia Naval Academy can begin in mid-1997. Plans call for the school to open with 100 freshmen in fall 2000.
The site is on a King George County estate owned by Dr. J. Richmond Low, a retired surgeon. The county Planning Commission will consider a rezoning request Oct. 8.
Forrest Wheat said he was drawn to the site primarily because its setting along the river allows deep-water access to the Chesapeake Bay.
In addition to their core courses and electives, students would focus on a particular field each year. Freshmen would grow their own crops, sophomores would navigate boats, juniors would learn civil engineering and seniors would study aviation and space.
- Associated Press
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