Suffolk News-Herald

An area student will compete for the title of Pre-Teen America Virginia from Friday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Marriott Hotel in Richmond.

If Samantha Ketcham, 11, wins this title, she will go on to compete in the National Pre-Teen event.

Ketchum is the daughter of Lt. Cmdr. Bill Ketcham and Cheryl Ketcham of Suffolk and a seventh-grade honor student at King’s Fork Middle School.

The Pre-Teen America Pageant is not a beauty pageant. Instead it is a by-invitation only scholarship and recognition event involving young ladies 7 to 12 years of age based on their school academic records, awards and honors won and/or their participation in outside activities.

In addition, young ladies are invited who have been recognized publicly for their outstanding personal achievements, volunteer services, school involvement, leadership abilities or creative talents. It also promotes patriotism, family values, high moral and ethical standards, ecological awareness and self-esteem.

Other academic achievements that Ketchum has accomplished to award her this competition are as follows: she is enrolled in the school’s Quest Program for Outstanding students and is a member of the Principal’s List for straight-A grades for the entire previous school year; she was recognized last year for the highest GPA in her sixth-grade math and writing classes; she was rewarded for earning the second highest accelerated reader points in her grade; upon graduating from Kilby Shores Elementary two years ago, she was recognized for her excellent grades in SOL scores with the President’s Award signed by President Bush and the Kilby Shores Literary Medal for the top reader of the school; she was also named one of the top ten fourth-graders at Kilby Shores and the top Accelerated Reader of the fourth-grade.

At King’s Fork she is participating in SYAA field hockey and YMCA soccer and is a member of the new YMCA Leaders Club and Girl Scouts.

She attends First Baptist Church of Suffolk, Main Street.

Ketcham’s sponsors are Dr. David A. Lotz, Dr. Anderson and Michael P. Sandidge.

The Pre-Teen America Virginia Program will award more than $5,000 in educational bonds, prizes and awards.