Aug 23 2005
This article was published on Aug 23 2005 and was archived on Oct 24 2005. The information below may be outdated or inaccurate.
Clark, who has cerebral palsy, diabetes and a learning disability, began his scholarship essay with this statement, "There comes a time in your life where you have a choice to make. Either live in denial and complain about your circumstances or accept your circumstances and learn to live with them."
When he enrolled in college he became his own advocate, talking one-on-one with his professors helping make arrangements for his services from the college's LEAP center. The center, which is for students with learning disabilities, has provided a means for Clark to have more time to devote to tests and the services of notetakers to augment his own notetaking in class. He says, " I've learned to be comfortable with myself, to let people know about my situation."
Dr. Jane Warner, president of AHEAD in Virginia and assistant director of Services for Students with Disabilities at Virginia Tech, says, "Chip was chosen for his leadership activities, and disability related service, as well as for his academic and personal goals." She added that the scholarship program is in its first year and that a second scholarship was awarded to a student in a four-year college. Students applied for the scholarship and were chosen through a review committee process set up by AHEAD in Virginia.
Clark has been active in college activities including serving as a Student Government Association senator since 2002 and being a member of the Campus Crusade for Christ. He has also held a work/study job on campus in the Student Activities Office and with the LEAP Center. "You've got to be involved ... you survive by taking your classes and you thrive by being involved in activities," he adds.
"Chip Clark is regarded by faculty, staff, and students at New River Community College as a highly motivated, humorous young man who has strived to achieve beyond every minimal requirement. His excellent interpersonal skills have made him a leader on our campus as well as a counsel to high school students considering college, and to new students attending college for the first time," says Jeananne Dixon, coordinator of the Center for the Learning Disabled. "He always demonstrates enormous amounts of time, energy, compassion and enthusiasm to every task that he takes on."
The scholarship came to Clark at a good time. His federal financial aid had expired, yet he still wanted to take classes to help in his transfer to a four-year university. He planned to take only one course and to find a job during fall semester. When he learned of the scholarship last week, he immediately signed up for 12 credits. He will have enough credits after fall semester to earn a second degree -- an associate in Arts and Sciences in Education.
He resides in Pulaski with his parents Philip and Deborah Clark and his siblings, Jeremy and Olivia.
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