THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 3, 1994 TAG: 9406020170
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY EILEEN MALEC, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940603 LENGTH: Medium
The Cape Henry Collegiate senior has a kaleidoscope of interests and abilities. Enough sothat the school's director of guidance, Arlene Ingram, refers to him as a ``modern day renaissance man.''
{REST} Ingram nominated Patton for the Virginia Beach Civitan Club's Outstanding Young Citizen of Virginia Beach Award. Patton was named first runner-up and received a plaque and a $50 savings bond this spring from the civic organization.
Patton, 18, represented his school at the White House last fall in accepting the Blue Ribbon School Award from Vice President Al Gore.
Patton plans to attend the College of William and Mary in the fall and pursue a degree in international relations. He hopes of one day working in foreign service or for the U.S. State Department. ``I don't really want to be a politician, at least not right off, maybe later,'' he said.
Patton credits his mother for having the greatest influence on him. ``She took me everywhere as a child, to political meetings, everywhere,'' he said.
His own involvement first blossomed at age 10 when he trained to be an acolyte at All Saints Episcopal Church of Virginia Beach.
``It took a lot of spunk,'' said his mother, Laura, a volunteer coordinator at the Life-Saving Museum of Virginia. His father, Thomas, is a second vice president at Smith Barney Shearson.
Patton joined the yearbook staff in eighth grade and has stuck with it. In 1992, he won a design award for his yearbook work, and he now serves as editor-in-chief. ``I like working on the yearbook because I can make decisions that no one else can question,'' he said. He already has spoken with next year's yearbook editor at William and Mary and will have a staff position.
Patton is known for making friends wherever he goes and will often ``shoot the breeze with the headmaster'' at Cape Henry. In his free time, he hosts all-night Monopoly marathons, enjoys gardening, and even gets the chain saw out to prune. On weekends he works at a local veterinarian clinic and volunteers at the Life-Saving Museum and for several political campaigns.
As president of the Student Council Association this year, he organized the Fall Athletic Pep-Rally and Semi-Formal Dance, a Joy Fund benefit for the Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, the school's annual blood drive, and the Holiday Homeless Clothing and Book Drive.
He took a leadership role with the school's Model United Nations team, which competes nationally. Students represent a country and diplomatically problem-solve current topics such as Bosnian affairs and North Korean aggression.
Patton's only regret is that he wished he could have been more involved in athletics.
But, he added, he's ``tickled pink about going to William and Mary'' and hopes to continue to stay involved.
by CNB