THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 5, 1996 TAG: 9604050039
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E9 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Groovy Sapien
SOURCE: BY LAURA NEFF, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
WHAT WOULD you do with a wad of twenties?
Upon collecting a small insurance settlement, Deep Creek junior Cliff Roberson was faced with this question.
``I did the smart thing,'' said Cliff, 17. ``I donated 10 percent of the insurance money as a good deed.''
Determined not to spend his money foolishly, Cliff donated $160 to the United Way, an organization that works with the American Cancer Sociey, in honor of his late grandmother, Vennie E. Groves, who suffered from cancer. Cliff's generosity came from his ``desire to help others who are suffering like my grandmother.''
As a school-wide project at Deep Creek High School, each homeroom class collected money for the United Way of South Hampton Roads.
When Cliff decided to donate, he also decided that it was important that nobody make a fuss about it. So when the United Way can was passed around, he slipped the money in and passed it on. It was Teana Vass, a senior at Deep Creek, who noticed Cliff slip the wad of bills into the can. At first Teana thought it was just $1 bills. Then she realized it was all twentiesand started going crazy.
Most of the students found out about Cliff's donation by lunch, and all were surprised that anyone would donate that much money.
``It wasn't a big deal to me,'' Cliff said. ``I had the money. I decided to donate it and I did.''
Aside from being charitable, Cliff somehow manages to hold down a job, play varsity baseball, serve in the Student Council Association, the National Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America and maintain a 4.02 grade-point average while taking honors classes.
My full, entire birth name: Clifton Lee Roberson
I was born . . . four hours late, causing me to miss Valentine's Day.
Job: Kmart, the place where I spend most of my weeknights to earn the money I spend on the weekends.
Bros and sisters: One sister, Keri, 10
Educationally speaking, I am . . . excelling in academics and heading toward an engineering degree.
My school in three words: Extreme Hornet Pride
The killer day means . . . going snowboarding in a snowstorm.
Boy, I was pretty smart when . . . I hustled my Mom in a game of pool.
But I sure felt like an idiot after . . . I climbed into the back seat of someone else's van.
When I have a crazy midnight snack craving, I want . . . macaroni and cheese.
My personal Oscars go to . . . my Mom, because she's always been a role model to me, and my Nanna, because she takes me to church.
The song of the century is: ``Don't Take the Girl'' by Tim McGraw
The grooviest musical artist is: Clint Black
When I don't have anything else to do, I'm . . . usually conditioning for spring baseball.
Best date I've had: A night at the beach, because the sand was warm and the moon was full.
And the WORST? An evening at the Olive Garden, because I spilled my plate of spaghetti.
If I could change one thing about me I . . . would be taller.
I wish my parents . . . could be teenagers for a day.
I love shopping at. . . Above Board at Greenbrier Mall.
The ultimate night on the town would include . . . a chariot and horses.
The last time I had a vacation . . . I got lost in the Bahamas.
My best job: Being a role model to my little sister
And the worst? A real job.
I can easily brag about . . . my grade-point average.
In 10 years, I'd like to be . . . the president of a large corporation.
If I could change one thing in America I would . . . get rid of racism.
My heroes are . . . my parents, because of their lifetime achievements.
If a film were made about your life, what would be the dramatic turning point? High school, because I started to see the real side of life. I had to get a job.
I should be a veejay on MTV because . . . I can funk the funk.
If I was a guest on a talk show, it would be . . . Montel Williams.
My life summed up in four words: Hopeful, wishing, striving, success MEMO: Laura Neff is a sophomore at Lake Taylor High School.
ILLUSTRATION: MORT FRYMAN\The Virginian-Pilot
When he's not donating money, Clifton Roberson keeps busy playing
baseball and maintaining a 4.02 grade-point average.
by CNB