THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 16, 1995 TAG: 9503140126
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jon Glass
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
NationsBank of Virginia has offered a $50,000 incentive to the Tidewater Scholarship Foundation as the non-profit group launches a fund-raising campaign to help Norfolk and Portsmouth students pay for college.
The grant, awarded by NationsBank President Randolph W. McElroy, is designed to help the foundation broaden its base of support. For every $3 the foundation raises, NationsBank will provide $1, up to $50,000. That means the foundation must generate $150,000.
``Having this as a carrot, or leverage, gives us something stronger to work with,'' said Gerald L. Cooper, executive director of the foundation. ``It's the first challenge grant we've ever received.''
The group runs a program called ACCESS, which helps Portsmouth and Norfolk students negotiate the college-application process, including finding financial aid. Since it was founded in 1988, ACCESS has helped 6,500 students get $22 million in financial aid. The program each year grants about $150,000 of its own funds in ``last-dollar'' awards.
ACCESS employs advisers at each high school in the two cities to work with students. The program pays for such things as college application fees and SAT exams.
To be eligible, students must maintain a 2.5 grade-point average, be drug free and receive the recommendation of their principal. Students and their parents sign an ACCESS contract, usually in ninth grade.
Businesses, individuals or groups interested in donating funds may call the foundation offices at 441-2867. Bound for Germany
Four vocational students from Norfolk schools will spend more than two months working in apprenticeships with companies in Germany as part of an education exchange program.
The students, all high school juniors, are: Chris Vindeola, studying business and marketing at Norview and Norfolk Technical Vocational Center; Cristina Carlisle, studying engineering and technical careers at Granby; Tammy Stuppy, studying business and marketing at Lake Taylor; and James Schopen, studying engineering and technical careers at Lake Taylor.
The exchange program is run by the Richmond-based Ameurop Cultural Relations Foundation, created in 1980 by industrialist Kurt Koerber to improve cultural relations between the U.S. and Germany. He believed that young people and private industry should share in that responsibility.
The students will live with host families. In exchange, German students will live with families in Virginia and attend high school vocational classes. Workshop on wheels
Schools and community agencies that help students with disabilities find work or post-secondary education opportunities will sponsor a workshop from 9:30 to 2 p.m. on March 24.
Students, parents and educators are invited to join a tour of the schools and agencies. Participants will meet at Meadowbrook School at 7620 Shirland Ave. at 9 a.m. Lunch is available for $2.50.
Educators can earn recertification points for attending.
Call Carolyn Daniel at 441-1277 for more information. by CNB