THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 24, 1995 TAG: 9508230168
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THUMBS UP
SOURCE: By SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Although she had a choice of three fine schools, Elizabeth Styron's decision to attend Duke University was a matter of the heart.
``I felt it was where I belonged,'' she said. ``I was only there for a day of scheduled events, but I looked around and just liked the area. The cathedral was beautiful, and I visited the gardens, where there were huge fountains and rose trellises. I love the outdoors, and people were having picnics there.''
A recent honor graduate of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, Elizabeth had been notified earlier of acceptance at both Yale University and the University of Virginia, her father's alma mater. In addition, she was also named an Echols Scholar by U.Va.
Although every student who applies to U.Va. is considered for this prestigious award, only 130 of about 2,000 applicants are selected each year. To be considered, a student must have top grades, leadership ability and involvement in extracurricular activities.
``As an Echols Scholar, you get first choices in classes and don't have to take any required courses,'' she said. ``You can choose those most likely to make an impact. You also live in one of two Echols dorms with special advisers, information and handbooks.''
Elizabeth said her parents, Michael and Hope Styron, did not attempt to influence her decision.
``I made the decision to go to Duke on the deadline day, one minute before the post office closed,'' she said.
A lifelong resident of Suffolk, Elizabeth will celebrate her 18th birthday in September. Her family, which includes brothers, Eric, 19, and David, 14, lives on a cattle farm near Whaleyville.
Elizabeth began school at age 4. Her long list of academic honors include membership in the National Honor Society and the Junior Engineering Technical Society.
As a senior, she was a finalist for The Virginian-Pilot Teen Advice Column and was named a National Merit Scholarship Corporation Commended Scholar.
Last summer, Elizabeth attended the 1994 Young Women in Science summer college program at Mary Baldwin College for the 36 top science students in Virginia.
``I took chemistry and we made our own perfumes and colognes,'' she said. ``Everyone asks me about a cologne that I made, and I still have the recipe for it.''
Elizabeth was named in ``Who's Who Among American High School Students'' in the 11th and 12 grades, was the only student from the academy to be named a Century III Leadership nominee, and was the winner of the U.S. Air Force Math and Science Award.
Although she excelled in the sciences, Elizabeth has a special fondness for writing. She was co-winner of the 1995 English Cup at the academy and received an engraved silver cup.
Named the Society of the Cincinnati Essay Contest State Winner in her senior year, Elizabeth wrote from the perspective of a Chinese student sending letters home to her sister in China, describing the Bill of Rights and life in America.
``The winner was to receive a $3,000 scholarship to be used only at U.Va. and I received it too late,'' she said. ``That was another reason that I felt I was just supposed to go to Duke.''
Elizabeth appeared in two dramatic plays produced by the academy's Literary Club and played mallets in the All-District Band and All-City Band. She participated in Eastern Virginia Regional Honors Band and was nominated for the Governor's School of Virginia for mallets. She received the Four-Year Band Award, Musicianship Award, and Concert Band First Chair Award for mallets for five years.
A member of the Baptist Youth Challenge, Elizabeth has been an assistant Sunday school teacher at the Great Fork Baptist Church. She was a member of an Adopt-a-Highway litter cleanup crew and helped with the Thanksgiving Meals to the Needy program.
At Duke University, Elizabeth plans to focus on English and Public Policy.
``Politics interests me, as well as becoming an English professor,'' she said. ``I'm looking forward to meeting new people who are interested in learning. I want to meet the `movers and shakers' of the world.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Elizabeth Styron says: ``I want to meet the `movers and shakers' of
the world.''
by CNB