Surprise full ride to W&M

coronax2
Mon, 19 Mar 2007 15:07:40 +0000

I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s full story…



Armstrong High School senior Darryl Stephens was surprised today with a full scholarship to The College of William and Mary, presented by college president Gene R. Nichol.

Stephens readily accepted the offer.

A foster child who has lived in an area group home since May, Stephens aspires to be a pediatric neurosurgeon. He spends his afternoons assisting with research at VCU Medical Center.

This morning, Stephens was called out of class for what he thought was an interview with someone from William and Mary’s admissions office. When he entered Armstrong’s conference room, he saw a team of supporters, including state Sen. Benjamin J. Lambert III and Louis W. Sullivan, former U.S. secretary for health and human services. Sullivan, who was introduced to Stephens nearly two years ago at Armstrong, traveled from Atlanta for the announcement.

In the upcoming William and Mary freshman class of 1,350 students, about 45 will enter with scholarship packages similar to Stephens’, which covers everything from tuition and fees to textbooks.

“It’s a dream come true,” Stephens said.

For a full story, see tomorrow’s Times-Dispatch.