Reprinted from the Virginia Gazette, Saturday, November 25, 2000:
by Jim Baker
Baker's Dozen
JAMES CITY, Virginia — From Russia with love: Vicki Pavlova, 17, came to Williamsburg from Russia as an exchange student in 1999. Nine months later, she graduated from Jamestown High. And last June 26, she had her suitcase packed and was ready to return to Russia. On June 25, she received a letter from William & Mary saying that she had been accepted as a student.
Thus, she had 24 hours to make a decision that would tax a much older person. She had already been away from home and her parents for a year. Should she go home and pass up the opportunity of attending W&M? Or should she stay in the United States and not see her parents for four more years?
Her "adopted" parents here, Steven and Gilinda Rogers, agreed to continue providing her room and board if she decided to stay. But they could not afford the $16,000 a year out-of-state tuition, so financing college would be uncertain at best.
Vicki decided to take her chances. Meanwhile, Chesapeake Bank provided Vicki with an $8,000 loan. Gilinda Rogers is conducting yard sales with the help of neighbors to raise tuition money. And Vicki has a website spelling out her situation, which she hopes will help. It is www.vickiscollegefund.com.
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