THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170243
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 28 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 43 lines
Melissa R. Hood used her writing skills and grades to earn a trip to Australia and New Zealand. Now all she needs is the money to go.
The 13-year-old Crestwood Middle School honor student won her school's Young Authors award with an essay on the people of Africa.
That award, her honor roll grade average and her maturity gave her the right to become one of 40 young ambassadors from Virginia to Australia/New Zealand under a program called People to People student ambassadors.
The program, based at Spokane, Wash., was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to give students an opportunity to meet and share ideas for international peace, friendship and understanding.
Other Chesapeake youngsters who also earned the opportunity to travel halfway around the world are Terry M. Black, Samantha R. Briggs, Aja T. Charity, Aaron L. Clark, Melody L. Faulkenberry, J. Travis Jenkins, LaQuisha B. Long and Hidi L. Schmitt.
Although Hood's family is proud of her achievement, they're not really able to afford the $4,000 it will take to send her on her way, according to mother Terry Hood.
Hood is being partly sponsored by her church, Freedom Baptist Church, and she is spending her after-school time earning money by baby-sitting, raking leaves, cleaning houses, walking dogs and any other jobs she can get.
But more is needed. So Hood is appealing to Chesapeake organizations, businesses or individuals to donate money to send her on her trip.
Her trip will last 22 days and begins in June, the day after school closes for the summer. ILLUSTRATION: TO HELP OUT
Donations to help send Melissa Hood, left, to Australia and New
Zealand can be sent to Freedom Baptist Church; c/o Melissa Hood; 308
North Centerville Turnpike; Chesapeake, Va. 23320.
by CNB