THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, July 21, 1995                  TAG: 9507190166
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER       PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   48 lines

BLACK STUDENTS WIN SCHOLARSHIPS THE FOUR WINNERS FROM THIS AREA WERE CHOSEN THROUGH A RIGOROUS REVIEW PROCESS.

Four recent graduates from area high schools have won college-sponsored scholarships through the National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Negro Students. These awards are financed by the college or university the students plan to attend.

Winners were chosen through a rigorous review process that used standardized test scores, academic records, principal recommendations and information about activities, personal interests and goals. Nearly 100,000 black students asked to be considered for the competition.

This was only one round of the National Achievement program, which has awarded nearly $3 million in 1995 from business sponsors, the program's funds and higher education institutions.

In this latest round of awards, about 235 scholarships were granted nationwide. So far this year, about 800 black students have won some form of National Achievement Scholarship.

Local winners are:

Bryan Curtis of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake. Among his activities, Curtis was National Honor Society president, varsity football captain and assistant Sunday school superintendent. His award is from the University of Virginia, where he plans to study medicine.

Joshua Gates of Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake. Gates played clarinet in the All-State Band, attended the Governor's School for the Arts and was a member of the National Honor Society. His scholarship is from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he plans to study computer science.

Lesha Cowell of Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk. Cowell was the Student Council Association's vice president, a peer tutor and a member of the French Honor Society. Her award is from Howard University. She has not chosen a field of study.

Roland Rountree of Green Run High School in Virginia Beach. Rountree was yearbook editor, a senior class officer and a member of the Junior Engineering and Technical Society Club. His award is from Virginia Tech, where he plans to study nuclear physics. by CNB