DATE: Friday, May 16, 1997                  TAG: 9705160689

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

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MILESTONES

CHESAPEAKE

Shermelle E. Robinson, a junior biology major at Virginia State University, is one of 15 students nationwide to be awarded the 1997 United Negro College Fund/Merck Undergraduate Research Award Scholarship.

Robinson will receive up to $25,000 toward her tuition, room and board and fees next year. She will also be mentored by a Merck scientist and may receive two eight-week summer research internships with stipends totaling $10,000.

To qualify for the award, students must be juniors who demonstrate an interest and ability in furthering their scientific education, pursuing a career in scientific research and performing laboratory work.

Robinson will spend the summer at Merck's Rahway, N.J., research site, working in the Natural Product Discovery Department. A provost's scholar and honors list student at Virginia State, she is a member of the VSU chapter of the NAACP, the Biology Club and Beta Beta Beta, the biology honor society.

She plans to attend medical school and pursue a career as an obstetrician/gynecologist.

Robinson is the daughter of Sherman and Mary Robinson of Chesapeake.

NORFOLK

Florence J. Verstynen, a Norfolk school crossing guard, recently was named School Guard of the Year by the Pilot Club of Norfolk.

Verstynen, a Norfolk resident, assigned to the intersection of Piping Rock Road and Pebble Lane, safely ushers children to Poplar Hall Elementary School.

She was chosen for the award based on 33 years of service as a guard and because of her strong rapport with children, Norfolk Police Cpl. Jim Richards said.

Verstynen was honored at a dinner Tuesday night at the Ramada Inn in downtown Norfolk, where she received a plaque and a monetary gift.

PORTSMOUTH

William H. Ray Sr. of Portsmouth has been selected as a finalist for the 1997 Jefferson Awards National Celebration of Service to America.

Ray, 79, will be honored for more than 50 years of volunteer service at the Jefferson Awards National Ceremony June 18-20 in Washington. The ceremony will be held at the U.S. Supreme Court. Ray also will meet senators at the Capitol building and attend a dinner at the Loew's L'Enfant Plaza Hotel.

The Jefferson Award, a program of the American Institute for Public Service, was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Sen. Robert Taft Jr.

While raising 10 children of his own, Ray gave much of his time and labor to make sure there were recreational activities for the youth in his community.

Ray always has found time in the evenings and weekends to work with young women and boys baseball in the summer, and football and basketball in the winter. Even now, with failing health, Ray still works with the Charles Peete Little League, of which he is a founder.

More than 45 years ago, Ray cleared and leveled land, provided by the city, to make and maintain a baseball field.

Prior to finding sponsors, through businesses and agencies, for the purchase of sports supplies and equipment, he used his funds and ingenuity.

SUFFOLK

Rashid Mills, a fifth-grader at Southwestern Elementary School, is among 16 Virginia students to earn the Children and Youth Task Force community service award.

Rashid represents the best of the region in his age category. That includes South Hampton Roads, Western Tidewater, the Peninsula and the Eastern Shore.

Rashid is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Mills of Dutch Road. He is an active member of the New Gospel Temple God in Christ, a Boy Scout and a 4-H Club member.

Rashid received his award recently at the Virginia Science Museum in Richmond. Gov. George F. Allen and other state dignitaries attended.

REGION

The following women have been named 1997 Outstanding Professional Women of Hampton Roads and will be honored at the 16th annual Awards Ceremony to be held Tuesday at the Virginia Beach Pavilion:

JoAnn Falletta, conductor, Virginia Symphony - Woman of the Year; Elizabeth Brickhouse, executive director, the Haven Family Center - Pioneer Award; and Brenda Gail Klar, president, Beth Sholom Home of Eastern Virginia - Community Service Award.

Ten more outstanding women honorees are Thelma Drake, the first Republican to be elected to Virginia House of Delegates from Norfolk in 100 years; Janie L. Toner, president, Allstate Development Corp.; Catherine S. Oden, one of only four female orthodontists in Hampton Roads; Susan C. Pilato and Donna C. Irwin, Partners Undercover; Donna A. Elliott, architect with Cederquist Rodriguez Ripley Maddux; Regina Mobley, reporter and news anchor for WVEC-TV; Carolyn Garrett, principal, Arrowhead Elementary School in Virginia Beach; Nancy L. Eleuterius, president, Sentara Mental Health Management; Lisa Chandler, vice president, Nancy Chandler Associates, and president of the Norfolk City Union of The King's Daughters; and Gaynette LaRue, financial consultant, Wheat First Butcher Singer. ILLUSTRATION: Photos

Robinson

Verstynen

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