THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606070220
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 37 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CAMDEN LENGTH: 73 lines
CONNIE SAWYER III, Camden High School's first-ever recipient of the Morehead Award, has a simple philosophy about his pursuits.
``If something's right to do, I want to do it,'' he said recently while sitting on a bench in the high school lobby between classes.
Sawyer is one of two seniors in the Albemarle region - the other is David Jernigan of Northeastern High School - to receive a $44,500 scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The award covers every expense of a four-year college degree, including a little spending money.
More than 900 of the best high school seniors in North Carolina and from selected out-of-state high schools apply each year for the Morehead Award. Only 50 candidates get it. The John Motley Morehead Foundation awarded the first scholarship in 1951.
Sawyer is soft-spoken, slender and bespectacled, but his outward appearance belies a drive inside that propels him to excel at whatever he does.
``Actually I'm not the best at everything I do,'' he said. ``But I always do the best I can do.''
There aren't many things he hasn't aced. Consider this inventory of accomplishments:
A grade point average of 4.18.
Student body president.
President of Students Against Drunk Drivers.
Drum major for the marching band.
Parliamentarian of the Future Business Leaders of America.
Four years of running track, three years on the basketball team and a year of football.
``I've been blessed to do well all my life,'' Sawyer said.
``I have my parents to thank for that.''
His father and mother are Connie Jr. and Bonnie Sawyer.
After a moment's contemplation, Sawyer continued: ``Maybe it's just that I'm paranoid, but I always feel like someone is watching me and I need to set an example.''
That feeling could come from his eight younger brothers and sisters. Joshua, the second oldest, has been accepted to the prestigious North Carolina School of Math and Science.
Brothers are brothers, and it isn't always easy to tell your brother how good he is, but Joshua did that recently. He approached his oldest sibling one day and said, ``I'm really glad you're doing what you're doing.''
Sawyer realized how much he was being observed, and imitated. In turn, he looks up to his dad. ``If I go see somebody and say I'm Connie's son, they think highly of that,'' Sawyer said. ``I hope to be like that, too, someday.''
Connie III may have already arrived at that goal.
``Connie has a way of carrying himself,'' said Helene Taylor, Camden High School's guidance counselor. She helped Sawyer through the application and local interviewing process.
``He is so genuine. You really get the feeling when he talks about his goals he is going to achieve them. He's going to be successful.''
Sawyer, as all candidates for the Morehead Award, faced intense scrutiny at three levels - local, regional and central.
At the central interviews, held in Chapel Hill, Sawyer was concerned about how he would do after his first one-on-one conversation with a stern board member. It was tense.
But the next interview was with a jovial journalism professor at UNC. He and Sawyer hit it off. Sawyer knew at that point he would do well when he appeared before the entire board.
Sawyer plans to major in law. He believes in that field he can help the most people. To him, it's the right thing to do. ILLUSTRATION: Photos by JEFF HAMPTON
Connie Sawyer III's scholarship provides every expense of a
four-year college degree, including a little spending money.
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB