DATE: 12/1/00 CONTACT: Martha Duke, (864) 656-4905 WRITER: Giles Singleton, (864) 656-3876 Sumter student in new Clemson University service program CLEMSON -- Jason Friday, from Sumter, enjoys being a role model for youths. He likes reading aloud to students and taking them to the library. "They are so attentive. Seeing them enjoy what we were doing made me remember what it was like to be a kid again." Friday serves as a mentor at Cone Primary School in Greenville, S.C. Friday is one of five students to become a Campbell Scholar at Clemson University. These scholarships are a new kind of community scholarship for Clemson, made possible by the generosity and vision of Bob Campbell, a Clemson alumnus, and Betsy Campbell, a Furman University alumna. Five students from Clemson and four from Furman were selected as Campbell Scholars because of their demonstrated commitment to public service activities. Each student spends 10 hours a week participating in tutoring, after-school activities and writing and discussion to enhance their community. The Campbell Young Leaders program is a school project also funded by Bob and Betsy Campbell and provides academics and enrichment activities at three Greenville area elementary schools and one middle school. The Campbells believe that if properly motivated, young people can help other young people. By changing the lives of children, young leaders create changes in the community. The Campbell Young Leaders Corp. has been collaborating with Cone Primary School to offer an after-school program for the past two years. Daily school attendance has increased since the program started because students must be in school to participate in the after-school activities, according to principal James L. Gardner. "The Campbell Scholars exemplify the type of student we want to attract to Clemson University. They are bright, articulate and dedicated to serving the community," said John Kelly, vice president for Public Service and Agriculture at Clemson University. The 2000-2001 Clemson Campbell Scholars are Friday, Jennifer Criscola, from Elizabethtown, Ky.; Bylan Dillard from Columbia; Vineet Menachery from Knoxville, Tenn. and Dawn Smith from Whitmire. Friday is a computer engineering major. In high school, Friday was a library volunteer, a member of the Kiwanis Key Club and worked with Habitat for Humanity. END