THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508130275
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER SUFFOLK
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
FOR A WEEK in June, 17-year-old James Temple sampled military life, studied rocket design and worked on state-of-the-art equipment in a chemistry lab.
A rising senior at Lakeland High School, James was among 600 top students from throughout the nation to attend a Summer Scientific Seminar at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.
To be invited, students must have completed their junior year and have been in the upper 10 percent of their class. He or she also must excel in math, science and engineering, and want to investigate the educational opportunities of the Air Force Academy.
Although limited financial assistance is available each year through private grants, most students provide their own transportation and pay a nominal registration fee.
``When I first arrived, I didn't know anyone,'' James said, ``but I made friends quickly and got to know four or five really well. Even though I saw them for only a week, I found I miss them.''
Wake-up call at the academy was at 6:30 a.m., and the dress code was casual activities, ``lights out'' was at 11 p.m., when taps sounded, James said.
On the afternoon of the first day, students were given the choice of a tour of the Colorado Springs area or a mountain hike to the top of Pike's Peak. James opted for the four-mile hike.
The students, who attended co-educational classes, were divided into groups of 10 to 12 and assigned to a cadet, who accompanied them throughout the week. ``You couldn't go anywhere without a cadet taking you there,'' he said. ``You ate with your group and the food was good, served family-style.''
Asked to select 10 of 27 available seminars, James attended classes in anatomy and physiology, rocket design, chemistry and economics.
``We got to work on `cool' state-of-the-art equipment in the chemistry lab,'' he said. ``We dissected a goat's eye and touched a human brain.''
Although seminars were scheduled throughout the day, there was free time after dinner for recreation or relaxation.
James said, ``Two people made a sign and hung it in the dorm hall that said, `Want To Hang With Us?' At night, we brought chairs out into the hall, talked, and played cards. As people passed by, we tried to guess their name and state.''
A native of Goldsboro, N.C., James is the son of Ellis and JoAnn Temple. They have been residents of Suffolk for eight years.
James, who is an honor student with a 4.18 GPA, also has excelled in athletics. He has earned 11 varsity letters - two in football, and three each in wrestling, track and academics - the most in the history of Lakeland.
Suffolk's 1995 Academic Athlete of the Year, James was named the USA Wrestling Cadet State Greco Champion and ranked fourth in the Southeastern USA Regional Greco in 1994.
James is president of the Beta Club, was selected Beta Club Student of the Year 1995, and ran for state Beta president. He has been a member of the Interact and Spanish clubs for the past three years and assisted in the production of the play, ``Little Shop of Horrors.'' When needed, he arrives at school at 7:30 a.m. to tutor students in algebra.
The second of four sons, James followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Ellis, by becoming a junior member of the Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department and the Law Enforcement Explorer Post 124.
``I'm a junior fireman until age 18,'' James said. ``I work outside a fire
As a junior policeman, James has worked security at Peanut Fest and other events. He also works in the evidence room, numbering and filing any items taken from prisoners.
Although his experience at the Air Force Academy was a positive one, James has decided to apply for admission to the University of Virginia.
``I want to be a radiologist,'' he said, ``and I was told that the Academy wasn't the best way to go. But I want to join the Air Force ROTC at U.Va. I'll have to take military courses and give up some weekends to the military, but I'll come out commissioned as a second lieutenant. Then, I'll go on to medical school.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
James Temple, a rising senior at Lakeland High School, plans to
attend the University of Virginia.
by CNB