ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997                 TAG: 9704140084
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL   PAGE: A-6  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: MORGANTOWN, W.VA.
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 

5 WVU SCHOLARSHIPS BASED ON A DRAWING LUCK GETS ONE-UP ON GRADES

All freshmen are eligible for the $2,000 prizes, as long as they are not on academic probation.

At last, scholarships with none of the usual requirements.

Stellar grades? Nah.

Leadership skills? Not necessary.

Membership in an organization, or a well-written essay? Forget it.

The scholarships - five of them worth $2,000 each - are based on luck, not achievement, with winners determined by ticket stubs drawn from a big drum Saturday night at West Virginia University.

``This is the first time I've won anything,'' said freshman Josh Shreve of New Cumberland, who accepted his prize in a packed ballroom.

All 2,700 West Virginia University freshmen were eligible for the drawing, as long as they were not on academic probation.

One thing did count: attendance. Like a church raffle, winners had to be present to claim the prize. One student missed out because he was a no-show.

``My mom called me this morning and made me come. I'm glad I listened,'' said Scott Inman, a physical education major from Follansbee.

An anonymous donor provided $10,000 for the giveaway, plus an additional $10,000 for five scholarships based on need.

For now, it is a one-time affair, but university officials are talking to the donor about making the giveaway an annual event, said Carolyn Curry, the university president's special assistant for communications.

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