18 The Compass Wednesday, October 26, 1994 University’s first national merit scholar chose ECSU over Harvard, Howard U. Fkoto by Da^ Friedman Chakka Ruffin, the first National Merit semifinalist to ever attend ECSU, CHdnl travel to Ftoridato participate in the finals. Instead the $40,000 scholarship went to her sister, Tir^ By Lolethia Underdue Most high school seniors have to worry about being accepted into the college of their choice, but ECSU's Chakka Ruffin had so many offers to attend college—all on full scholarships—that the hard part for her was deciding which offer to ac cept. Schools offering her full scholarships included Harvard University and Howard University and Elizabeth State University. Why did this Wilson,N.C.nativechoose ECSU? "It had the qualifications I was looking for," says Ruffin. "It's an HBCU (Histori cally Black College and University) and it's small." Ruffin, the first National Merit Scholcir to ever attend ECSU, said she was also influenced by University recruiters. "I liked what they were telling me, iand I decided to come." National Merit Scholars semifinalists are selected on the basis of the Pre-Scho- lastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), said Ruffin. Prospective scholars are not allowed to tell anyone they are semi-finalists, she added. They are also required to fill out a questionnaire,answeringquestions about tf^mselves, and to write an essay. "I didn't even know I wasa semifinalist Twan. until my senior year," said Ruffin. Ruffin said sfie didn't travel to Florida to participate in the finals. The National Merit Scholarship, worth $40,000, went to her sister, Tinkia Twan whose I.Q., according to Ruffin, "is two points short of being a genius." Ruffin, the oldest of ten children, all girls, said coming from a large family didn't make her nwre competitive. She describes her parents and all of her sisters as being, "Very smart and talented." Ruffin's mother currently holds a nurs ing degree and has worked as a regis tered nurse. Her father is a long distance truck driver. Ruffin and Tinkia Twan scored the second and third highest scores in the country on the Armed Services Voca tional Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).The highest scorerer on that test was also a student at Ruffin's high school. What was special about E. T. Beddingfield Hi^ School? "They worked us to death," she says. Ruffin credits her mother writh influ encing her the most because "she kept supplying the money tobuy morebooks." Ruffin had this tip for students plan ning on taking standardized tests: "Study hard imtil the last month before the test and then just relax." To relax, Ruffin writes poetry, songs, and short stories, and she also enjoys sewing and drav^g. She enjoys all mu sic "except gangsta rap and deep coun try." Ruffin, who isdoublemajoringinchem- istry and computer science, plans to be a cheWcal engineer. She has already been offered "a full scholarship to an engineer ing school in Israel." Her plans also include room for a fam ily. 'T see a husbaivd in my future, and I want to have ten kids." OPEN HOURS: Mon. - Thurs.: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Fri. & Sat.: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm Sunday: 12:00 noon -10:00 pm mSHUN XING I Chinese Restaurant Szechuan, Hunan & Cantonese (Take Out or Eat In) 1841 West Ehringhaus St., Port Elizabeth Centre #19 Elizabeth City, NC 27909 SPECIAL COMBINATION PLATES (with Pork fried Rice & Egg Roll) Hi it, C 1. Chicken with Broccoli 5.95 -t C 2. Beef with Broccoli 5.95 C4 C 3. Shrimp with Broccoli 6.50 ■n >T C 4. Moo Goo Gai Pan 5.95 5(1 't C 5. Beef with Chinese Vegetable 5.95 fi- C 6. Pepper Steak 5.95 C 7. Shrimp with Lobster Sauce 6.50 ■)& C 8. Shrimp Chow Mein 5.95 it, C 9. Chicken Chow Mein X CIO. Roast Pork with Chinese Vegetable 5.95 C11. Sweet and Sour Pork or Chicken 5.95 X C12. Roast Pork Lo Mein 5.95 X ^ ^ ^ C13. Roast Pork Egg Foo Young 5.95 C14. Boneless Spare Ribs 6.50 C15. Chicken with Cashew Nuts M Cl6.★Hunan Chicken Cl7.★Chicken with Szechuan Sauce 5.95 Cl8.★Chicken with Garlic Sauce 5.95 LUNCH MENU LUNCH SPECIAL (11:00 am to 3:00 pm) (Service with Fried Rice or White Rice & Choice of Wonton, Egg Drop Soup or Soda) Chicken with Broccoli 3.85 Beef with Broccoli 3.85 Shrimp with Broccoli 4.20 Moo Goo Gai Pan 3.85 Beef with Chinese Vegetable 3.85 Pepper Steak 3.85 Shrimp with Lobster Sauce 4.20 Shrimp Chow Mein 3.85 Chicken Chow Mein 3.85 Roast Pork with Chinese Vegetable 3.85 Sweet and Sour Pork or Chicken 3.85 Roast Pork Lo Mein 3.85 Roast Pork Egg Foo Young 3.85 Boneless Spare Ribs 4.20 Chicken with Cashew Nuts 3.85 Hunan Chicken 3.85 US L 1. L 2. m. L 3. ^ Ht. «h >T L 4. 6 L 5. -fr -1- L 6. *& L 7. L 8. V, L 9. 31 X j*. L10. L11. LI 2. LI 3. * ■f n L14. it, L15. a, Lie. tt. L17. ii, L18. Tel: (919) 335-5188 / 338-5198