THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 24, 1994 TAG: 9411220227
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JO-ANN CLEGG, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
The best and the brightest of Virginia Beach youth met for breakfast at Virginia Wesleyan College last Tuesday morning, and they were an impressive lot.
Surrounded by proud counselors and even prouder parents, the bright eyed, well groomed, well mannered high school seniors were there to be honored by the Optimist Club of Central Virginia Beach as part of their Youth Appreciation Week activities.
``This really is a celebration,'' Virginia Beach School Superintendent Sidney Faucette, the event's main speaker, said.
Faucette was obviously pleased at having the opportunity to highlight the achievements of the vast majority of Virginia Beach students rather than having to respond to concerns about students who had made negative headlines in recent weeks.
``We ran a check on the students who get into serious trouble,'' Faucette told the award winners, ``and they account for less than half of 1 percent of all the students in the system. You represent the other 99.5 plus percent . .
``We're a place in this nation that we can be proud of,'' he said as parents, counselors and Optimist Club members nodded in agreement.
The students who were honored had been chosen to represent each of the city's two private and 10 public high schools. From that group of 24 students a panel composed of City Council member Louisa Strayhorn, Del. Leo Wardrup and Oceana Naval Air Station Commanding Officer Capt. William Shurtleff chose Mark Dixon of Salem and Jennifer Abrajano of Tallwood as the outstanding seniors in the city.
``It's the hardest decision I ever made,'' Strayhorn said as she surveyed the students at the breakfast. ``Fortunately, now that it's all over we (judges) are still speaking to each other,'' she laughed.
The youngsters, who collectively had participated in just about every type of school and community organization, played just about every sport and won just about every academic honor, have ambitions as high as their resumes are long.
Dixon, the son of Margaret and Sam Holland, intends to go into medicine. ``I'm applying to a lot of Ivy League schools as well as Duke and U.Va.,'' he said between hugs and congratulatory handshakes.
Margaret Holland, a secretary at Parkway Elementary School, admitted to being extremely proud of her son's achievements. She was also very grateful for his experiences in city schools.
``The Virginia Beach school system has been very good to him,'' she said. ``I feel like he's very lucky to have gone to Salem. He's had wonderful teachers and such a good experience there.''
Like many of the adults attending the breakfast, she was anxious that area residents realize how many good students there are in the Beach schools.
Abrajano, who flew into her mother Erlinda's arms for a big hug when her name was announced, intends to study either engineering or architecture at Virginia Tech or the University of Virginia.
``I'm just so happy at winning this award,'' Abrajano said. ``It was very surprising.''
With a grade point average higher than 4.0, she is one of five students who are currently in a dead heat for valedictorian. She's also vice-president of her class, a member of the color guard and one of the organizers of the Key Club service organization at Tallwood.
Service, it seems, is a family tradition with the Abrajanos. Her father, Nony, is chairperson and founder of the Filipino American Community Action Group which has worked closely with the 4th Police Precinct to reduce crime and support youth activities in the greater Kempsville area.
This is the eighth year that the Central Virginia Beach Optimist club has honored outstanding seniors.
``The awards are just one way of combating the current public view of teenagers as problems,'' club member Carrollyn Cox, the immediate past district governor of the Capital Virginia District of Optimist International said.
In addition to Dixon and Abrajano, the Central Virginia Beach Optimists also honored Donny Rivera and Michelle Lucero of Bayside, Brian Walker and Kristy Redmon of Cape Henry Collegiate, Matthew Snyder and Tara Sadowski of Catholic, Matthew Wilbricht and Leah Friedman of Cox, David Bankart and Meredith Yancey of First Colonial, Richard Clutter and Elena Paselio of Green Run, Patrick Burns and Ann Marie Bowdoin of Kellam, Robert Sidner and Amy Akers of Kempsville, Matthew Berdy and Jessica Harding of Ocean Lakes, Ronald Sayco and Cori Orem of Princess Anne, Jennifer Lepere of Salem and Michael Gentry of Tallwood. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JO-ANN CLEGG
Joe O'Brien, president of the Optimist Club of Central Virginia
Beach, with Mark Dixon of Salem and Jennifer Abrajano of Tallwood.
by CNB