Battalion
s
TATE
Page 5 » Monday, February 15, 1999
rsm
iouston-based company denies
*
tilde’
cholarships to honor students
HOUSTON (AP) — They were,
thout a doubt, the best and
itingoutthai ghtest high school seniors in the
icational pro'jntry: straight-A students, Na-
' studentsabo nal Merit Scholars, their class
ease the odds
illy transmittee
vever, somebt
rt week would
tioual” if safe-
aid, insteadoi
do ms to sttide
rtions of Rich;
ns workout vi
ulling any de;
ever.
lonents of cog,
-bor hopes ibe
dll somedayb
edictorians.
One student from every state in
? nation and the District of Co-
nbia, connected by a common
ead: All applied for and won a
),00('-a-year college scholarship,
tewable for four years, from
uston-based AdamsVision USA.
There was just one problem.
amsVision now admits there is
money — never was.
Now the students, having com-
■ted their first semester at col-
;e, are scrambling for financial
listance while their parents are
>d and apprec irchmg for answers and, in
ont-informnu tie cases, lawyers.
'Howtopa.< AdimsVision founder Val
nd the week-i amp insists he still is trying to
tudy “TheAh a® up money to honor the
ale for footba tolai ships.
“Tpi very saddened that we’re
the point that we are, but at the
nejtime I’m very hopeful that
1 will get these scholarships
rted and be able to continue our
nmitment,” Adams said. “This
s agood thing we were trying to
But information uncovered
autl Adams and the scholarship
terprise raises questions about
tether it was a legitimate effort
reward good students or a scam
^Btrated by a man with a rap
et full of financial crimes.
‘Besed on my contact with
ripients only)
b Huval is
: major.
him, I would be concerned if he
were in any business where any
one was relying on his promises,”
said John Boone, a prosecutor
with the Harris County district at
torney’s office.
Boone described Adams as a
habitual criminal, convicted of
theft for writing bogus checks in
1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1993 and
1995. Adams remains on proba
tion for a 1993 case.
“His schemes were fairly
grandiose,” Boone said. “The least
"This was a good
thing we were
trying to do ”
— Val Addams
AdamsVision founder
serious of scams he was doing he
had some sort of a fake business,
and he would use checks from the
business basically just to live
well.”
Boone said Adams may have
had legitimate enterprises but that
“typically there would be no sub
stance behind the business. It
would just be a front.”
Adams acknowledges his crim
inal past but maintains the schol
arship effort was on the level. He
notes that the students were not
asked to pay an application fee or
provide any money, something the
students and their parents con
firm.
And he insists he invested
$300,000 for expenses such as
salaries for the professional edu
cators who selected the recipients.
“If I spent $300,000 to shyster
somebody, that’s my response to
that. I don’t think anybody in their
right mind would do that,” he said.
The scholarships, he said, were
the company’s primary focus.
In fall 1997, AdamsVision sent
applications for its “Scholar-Lead
ership Award” to every high
school in the country. An attached
letter promised the awards would
be presented to the winners by the
governor of their state at a musical
event at the Grand Ole Opry House
in Nashville.
Eligible students had to have at
least a 3.0 grade-point average, a
combined SAT score of 1160 or
above and submit an essay and
three letters of recommendation.
Jean Lockhart, a former teacher
Adams hired as a consultant on the
project, assembled 15 educators in
December 1997 to select the win
ners.
She said Adams assured her
from the start that the scholarship
money was in place. But Lockhart
became suspicious after Adams,
despite his contention, failed to
pay her and the educators who se
lected the students.
On Jan. 8, 1998, letters were
sent to 51 students announcing
they had won, including Texas re
cipient Justin Burt of Uvalde, who
now attends Notre Dame.
But their elation turned to con
fusion a few months later when
AdamsVision dispatched another
letter saying funding for the schol
arships was not yet complete.
The letter stated AdamsVision
was negotiating with “two major
corporations” regarding sponsor
ship of the awards presentation
and that, although funding was in
complete, it remained “absolutely
confident we will receive corporate
sponsorship.”
At that point, however, many
students already had accepted ear
ly placement with universities. Ad
ditionally, some had lost out on
other scholarships after winning
one so large.
About a month before classes
began, AdamsVision sent another
round of letters to each winner’s
university, informing them that the
scholarship would be paid in
$5,000 increments at the end of
each semester.
Then came the final blow.
Last month, Adams sent a two-
paragraph letter to each university
stating simply that AdamsVision
“will not be financially capable of
honoring the Scholar-Leadership
Award at this time.”
Adams said he is continuing to
try to get corporations to bankroll
the scholarships and provided as
proof correspondence with dozens
of firms, including Sony, Ford,
Time Warner and locally based
Houston Industries, now called Re
liant Energy.
ot union refuses to yield to judge’s orders
LAS (AP) — More than half of the Amer-
n Airlines pilots participating in a sickout
ve taken themselves off the sick list, but it
is nut enough to prevent 550 flights from be-
l canceled Sunday.
Another 231 flights, or about 10 percent, of
ipbeka flights scheduled for the Presidents Day hol
ly on Monday have already been canceled be-
use not all of the pilots were immediately
liable for flying.
The mass return followed a judge’s contempt
FAC /)^ er f’ aturc ' a y against the pilots union and two
•» ^•-^•'-"Dts top officials.
ics anc | Gynecolo An American spokeswoman said “well un-
r 1,000” of the 9,400 pilots were still shown
ns of
•ology
sick on Sunday, compared to the nearly 2,500
ursday and Friday, when one in four pilots
dared themselves unfit to fly.
“We’re just glad they are coming back and
we hope by the end of the week to be in busi
ness as usual here,” added Sonja Whitemon,
saying the airline could be offering close to 100
percent service as soon as Tuesday.
According to American, about 40 pilots per
hour have been taking themselves off of the
sick list since a federal judge held the Allied Pi
lots Association and two top board members in
contempt and promised sizable fines against
them.
U.S. District Judge Joe Kendall said Satur
day that the union did not do enough to en
courage pilots to return to work after his court
order.
More than half a million travelers have been
left at the gate by the nation’s second-largest air
line because of the large number of pilots call
ing in sick.
Despite the continued cancellations, most of
the nation’s airports were calmer Sunday with
many passengers prepared for delays.
At Miami International Airport, heart-shaped
decoratiqns adorned American’s baggage
counter wall Sunday, and musicians strolled
through the Terminal serenading passengers.
But many travelers remained angry.
Kendall said he would decide Wednesday
how much to levy in fines, although he
promised they would be substantial. He re
quired the union to place $10 million with the
court and for union president Rich LaVoy and
vice president Brian Mayhew to remit a total of
$15,000.
“I’m the guy who gets to stick his chin out
there. I’m trying to protect the careers of these
pilots,” said LaVoy, who told pilots in a hotline
to continue to call crew scheduling to get off of
the sick list.
tic Counseling
-Risk Pregnane;
sound and Eleclit
Monitoring
C-
Jfju
rtc w
riosis and Treatif ^ r
ility
idual, Nurturins
ery of Your Bab;
^ Excision of Cen
lasia
ippointment,
nd most other
ce
iite 117
2
49
&
What’s a VP to do?
Thursday, February 18th
6pm MSC 216T
Learn about the new Vice President
positions in the MSC and how you can be
a part of the action.
Questions??
Contact Jennifer V. at 845-1515
Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your
special needs, We request notification three (3) working days prior
to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abilities.
May Graduates
Official Texas A&M
Graduation Announcements
on sale
Jan. 11 - Feb. 26, 1999
For Information and to place your order
access the Web at:
http://graduation.tamu.edu
All orders must be placed over the Web
All payments must be received by February 26
MSC Box Office
845-1234
Mon-Fri 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Quantum Cow Tutoring
260-COWS In The Sparks Bldg. On Northgate.
zal
CHEJVtXdTRY
DON’T SPEND HOURS ON THOSE
WRITE-UPS!
LAB
\ Wise, Pum
Weenie, Zip
iiover, Wadf
more only:
-nt Retired 1
New Rel>
•“more, out
)erby & M)-
7 more only !
Kicks, Hopf
So, Goldie, i
pore only! SOLUTIONS TO PRELABS,
1 Cow REPORTS, POST LABS!
jjjfotei 20—/ (Far purpose m only)
[c supplied ~~ =
LPfTy, Inc. "
Texas Aggie
Athletics This Week!
Baseball Tuesday 3:00
vs. Southwest Texas State at Olsen
Tennis (W) Wednesday 3:30
vs. SMU
Basketball (W) Wednesday 7:00
vs. Nebraska
Softball Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Aggie Invitational
Baseball Saturday 1:00
vs. UTA
Tennis (W) Saturday 1:30
vs. Nebraska
Basketball (M) Saturday 3:00
vs. Texas
Baseball Sunday 2:00
vs. UTA
Tickets off campus
Kroger in College Station
A Proud
Corporato Sponsor!
# THE PRINCETON REVIEW
2 reasons you should prepan
with our 6RE course
WE’RE SMARTER
Our students have higher average improvements than
students who took other courses.
YOU’LL REALLY LIKE US
More than 94% of our students were recommended by
a friend.
Classes started this past weekend
... but there’s still time. Call today!
(409) 696-9099
T 11 [j A"\\ /to- www.review.com
VS-JJ :;vv u ii v,--V/ ii
The Princeton Review is not affiliated witli Princeton University or ETS.
AGGIE RING ORDERS
THE ASSOCIATION OF FORMER STUDENTS
CLAYTON W. WILLIAMS, JR. ALUMNI CENTER
DEADLINE: February 17, 1999
Undergraduate Student Requirements:
1. You must be a degree seeking student and have a total of 95 undergraduate credit hours reflected
on the Texas A&M University Student Information Management System. (A passed course, which
is repeated and passed, cannot count as additional credit hours.)
2. 60 undergraduate credit hours must have been completed in residence at Texas A&M University if
your first semester at Texas A&M University was January 1994 or thereafter, or if you do not qualify
under the successful semester requirement described in the following paragraph. Should your
degree be conferred with less than 60 undergraduate resident credits, this requirement will be waived
after you graduate and your degree is posted on the Student Information Management System.
30 undergraduate credit hours must have been completed in residence at Texas A&M University,
providing that prior to January 1, 1994, you were registered at Texas A&M University and
successfully completed either a fall/spring semester or summer term (I and II or 10 weeks) as a full
time student in good standing (as defined in the University catalog).
3. You must have a 2J) cumulative GPR at Texas A&M University.
4. You must be in good standing with the University, including no registration or transcript blocks for past
due fees, loans, parking tickets, returned checks, etc.
Graduate Student Requirements
If you are a May 1999 degree candidate and you do not have an Aggie ring from a prior
degree, you may place an order after you meet the following requirements:
1. Your degree is conferred and posted on the Texas A&M University Student Information
Management System; and
2. You are in good standing with the University, including no registration or transcript blocks for
past due fees, loans, parking tickets, returned checks, etc.
However, if you have completed all of your course work prior to this semester and have been
cleared by the thesis clerk, you may request a “letter of completion” from the Office of
Graduate Studies (providing it is not past their deadline). The original letter of completion,
with the seal, may be presented to the Ring Office in lieu of your degree being posted.
Procedure To Order A Ring:
1. If you meet all of the above requirements and wish to receive your ring on April 15, 1999 , you must visit
the Ring Office nfi later than Wednesday. February 17. 1999 between the hours of 8:30 a.m.-3:30
p.m. to complete the application for eligibility verification.
It is recommended that you do not wait until February 17 to apply for your ring audit. Should there he a
problem with your academic record, or if you are blocked, you may not have sufficient time to resolve
these matters before the order closes out on February 19.
2. Return no later than February 19, 1999 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. to check on the
status of your audit and if qualified, pay in full by cash, check, money order, or your personal Discover,
Visa or MasterCard (with your name imprinted).
—
Men’s 10K - $329.00
Women’s 10K-$203.00
14K-$434.00
14K-
Add $8.00 for Class of ‘98 or before.
The ring delivery date is April 15, 1999.
Yep. That’s how we feel, too.
The similarities are kind of uncanny: strength,
pride, respect. But as they say, when you're a
leader, certain things just come with the territory.
At PLATINUM technology, we've moved to the front of the pack in the I.T.
industry by providing superior software products and consulting services that
enhance the performance of our clients' I.T. infrastructures. By doing so, our
customers are able to leverage valuable business information and rhake better
decisions. Which is why, time and time again, major corporations look to us for
wise and confident solutions.
Isn't it time your talents
helped lead the way?
Depending on your skills and interests, you can explore exciting
career opportunities in any one of our facilities across the country.
We are seeking professionals to join us in the following role:
Information Management Consultants Ii :
If you are majoring in
MIS • Systems Engineering
Computer Science • Information Management
Information Technology
we would like to talk to you!
We'll be on campus
FEBRUARY 16
For more information,
visit the Career Planning & Placement Center.
PLATINUM technology
.Jecause it's a jungle out there.
At PLATINUM technology, inc., you'll be in good company. We not only have
exceptional benefits but we also offer tuition reimbursement, and the freedom
and flexibility to be your own leader.
If you are unable to visit us on campus, please submit your resume in the
following manner: For U.S. Mail/Fax please use 12 point font with minimal use
of bullets, italics, underlining and bolding. For e-mail/Internet, please use ASCII
format. PLATINUM technology, inc., Attn: Staffing Services-Code: COLLEGE,
8045 Leesburg Pike, Suite 300, Vienna, VA 22182. Fax: 703-848-
3357. E-mail: imc.staffing@platinum.com PLATINUM is an affirmative
action equal opportunity employer, rich in diversity.
For additional employment opportunities
at PLATINUM technology, inc., please visit
our website at www.platinum.com
PLATINUM
TECHNOLOGY