THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 16, 1994 TAG: 9409150156
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY NEWSOME, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
THEY'RE A BEHIND-THE-scenes kind of group, but in their own quiet way, the Elks are accomplishing some big things.
The Benevolent Protective Order of Elks gave $23,400 in scholarships last June to five Virginia Beach students now starting their first year of college. David Colburn, ``exalted ruler'' of the Elks' Virginia Beach lodge, said the five gifts are among 25,000 scholarships the organization gives nationwide each year.
Colburn said Belinda Kong, a graduate of Princess Anne High School, was one of two national winners, one male and one female, of the Elks' highest scholarship of $20,000. Others winning scholarships include Allison Pollok of Salem High School, Jeremy Johnson of Kellam High School, Amy Joslin of First Colonial High School and Mark Munson of Tallwood High School. The grants were awarded on merit and student essays, said Colburn.
The scholarships are funded by $5 million in interest from the Elks National Foundation, which was built by personal donations from members over the years. Colburn said the fund goes toward ``our two main concerns - the development of our youth and service to the veterans of the United States.''
Elks built and staffed the nation's first veterans hospital during World War I, said Colburn, and then gave it to the federal government. They also sponsor a nationwide basketball competition for youth, ``Hoopshoot,'' where the top prize is a $25,000 savings bond.
However, Elks also work on a local level, Colburn said, and any funds raised in Virginia Beach stay in the community. Those funds enable local children to attend a summer camp in Bedford and provide drug awareness pamphlets used in the city schools.
Colburn said little is heard about the Elks because they ``do not want to be an organization that pats itself on the back all the time and recruits new members.'' There are more than 2 million Elks in the United States, he said, but recruiting is not allowed. They wait for people to come to them. ``A lot of people who need notoriety don't need to be Elks,'' he said.
Colburn has been an Elk for 23 years and volunteering in sports and school events was a way for him and his wife, Trudy, to stay active in their children's lives. Two of their sons graduated from Kellam and a third is there starting his junior year. Trudy Colburn said all three sons volunteer on their own.
``It's the `trickle down' effect,'' she said. ``You reap what you sow.''
The Colburns said taking the initiative is important because many of the problems faced by youth result from the failure of adults to devote more time to them.
``We always think someone else is going to do it,'' David Colburn said.
Belinda Kong, 18, also learned the value of volunteering. She came here from Hong Kong 10 years ago after her mother died. Her father had to return due to health problems, leaving Belinda and her brother with their aunt and uncle.
Volunteering began as a way to improve her chances at a scholarship, said her guardian and uncle, James Wilshire. ``But it changed her and soon became a part of her life, and I guess that's what it's all about,'' he said.
Sue Michelini, office manager for the American Heart Association's Virginia Beach office, said she was impressed by Kong's intelligence and dedication. Kong volunteered regular hours each week while balancing school and work at the Dunes Motor Inn at the oceanfront.
``She still calls us regularly to see if we need help and even got her brother involved,'' said Michelini.
The Elks scholarship means that Kong can attend the College of William and Mary, where she will major in English and philosophy and minor in mathematics. Writing will probably be somewhere in her future plans, said Wilshire. Kong has already written two novels, he said, with one published.
``She asks me, `If I get wealthy through my education, what should I do?' '' said Wilshire. ``And I say, `Give something back, like the Elks did.' '' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY NEWSOME
David Colburn, ``exalted ruler'' of the Elks' Virginia Beach lodge
and a Elk for 23 years, said volunteering was a way for him and his
wife, Trudy, to stay active in their children's lives. The three
sons also volunteer.
by CNB