THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603210370
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 107 lines
Chris Conyers wants to thank someone for giving him a chance. For giving him a reason to dream, a reason to believe that working hard and playing fair pays off sometimes.
Problem is, 15-year-old Conyers doesn't know whom to thank. Somebody out there has waved a magic wand over Conyers and granted him a full-blown, four-year ticket to any college he can get into.
All expenses paid. Anywhere he wants to go. Very thin strings attached.
The wand-waver wishes to remain anonymous.
``I thought it was a real generous act. I would like to meet him just to say `Thanks,' '' Conyers said.
``I've asked around, but no one will tell me who he is.''
Conyers is the fourth Southside Boys and Girls Club member in the past six years to be blessed by the silent benefactor.
Southside's executive director, Elwood ``Coach'' Williams, knows the person but is keeping quiet. Williams refers to the benefactor as ``he'' but may be using the pronoun generically. With a coy smile, Williams said the benefactor frequents some of the club's functions and lives in Norfolk. Perhaps.
Williams said the mystery man - or woman - visited the club several years ago and became impressed with Southside's programs for Berkley children.
``He liked what he saw here,'' Williams said. ``A clean building, a different program structure, kids demonstrating a sense of pride.
``He started the scholarship because he doesn't think there's enough being put into these areas. Certain neighborhoods will always be down because we don't have enough money being invested into them. But once you educate the people, you give them the tools and skills to have an impact on changing their own environment.''
Williams chose a small committee of club board members and employees to pick the first three recipients based on their grades, school involvement and community service. So far, one female has graduated from Virginia Tech, where the second recipient is now enrolled. The third student is attending a college in New Jersey.
``I could call and find out the name of the school, but I don't want to give too much away,'' Williams said.
``Let's just let that add to the mystery.''
The benefactor looks for students beginning high school so that they have time to work on grades and prepare for college. Once there, students must maintain at least a `C' average and stay in good standing with the school - no discipline problems, no drug using or selling, no becoming parents while in college.
``We don't look for A-average students when we pick kids. Those students will get other scholarships,'' Williams said. ``We want people who might not have the best grades but they are people of good character, good reputation, active in the home, school and community. Someone who shows they want to move forward.''
Conyers, unlike the other candidates, was handpicked by the man - or woman - who spotted the teen at several club functions. Williams admits that Chris has met the person before.
``He didn't know much about Chris,'' Williams said. ``He just worked on instinct. . . . He saw him at a function and pointed to Chris and said, `He'll be the next one.' ''
Conyers has been Youth of the Year at Southside for the past two years. He's a member of Lake Taylor's track team and orchestra, part of the CHROME (Cooperating Hampton Roads Organization for Minorities in Engineering) team, the school's Model U.N. and Brotherhood of Lake Taylor, an African-American male mentoring group. And then he's at the Southside as often as possible to work with younger members.
His mother, Margaret Conyers, describers her son has ``always being helpful around the neighborhood, always being the president of this or editor of that.''
``He doesn't believe in sitting in the back of the bus,'' Margaret Conyers said. ``You go to the front. You might have to wait a few minutes but someone might move over and let you sit down.''
Margaret Conyers wants to be second in line when it comes to handing out thanks. Margaret Conyers was hurt on the job six years ago and hasn't been able to work steadily since; she's raised her three sons alone with Worker's Compensation checks and faith. ``It certainly takes a burden off of me because he's always wanted to go to college,'' Conyers said. ``I didn't know how I was going to do it.''
Margaret Conyers found out about her son's good fortune almost two years ago after he won the first Youth of the Year honor, when former Philadelphia 76ers basketball great Julius Erving was in town and presented her son with the award. Could the man with the legendary hands be handing over money too?
``I don't know but I hope to have the opportunity to meet this person one day,'' Margaret Conyers said. ``To choose my son, to handpick my son. There is a God and he works through so many.
``It really causes me to smile in my sleep sometimes. Lord, just think what door this is opening for him! To know all he had to do is go to school, work and keep on going.''
Until Chris Conyers meets this person - which he'll do once in college - Conyers is now flicking through brochures from Hampton University and the College of William & Mary. He plans to major in law, political science or human social behavior to become a lawyer, then judge, then president of the United States.
``I wouldn't know what to say if I met the person,'' Conyers said. ``All I can do is say thanks. And to try to be the best I can be so that this person knows I didn't waste the money.'' ILLUSTRATION: LAWRENCE JACKSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Chris Conyers is the fourth Boys and Girls Club member to get a
scholarship from a silent benefactor.
by CNB