University of Virginia Library

University Welcomes Record 119
Into Echols Scholar Program

By JEFF LANE

A record 119 first-yearmen
are participating in the
University's Echols Scholars
Program this year.

Offering broad flexibility in
course choices, the program
enables highly qualified
students to pursue their
academic careers without the
conventional requirements of
the entering student.

This record number of
scholars exhibited mean SAT
scores of 709 on verbal and
718 on math in comparison
with mean scores of 600 and
625 respectively for the
entering class of the College of
Arts and Sciences.

According to Assistant Dean
for Special Scholars Harry Y.
Gamble Jr., the Echols
Program is quite satisfactory
on the academic side with its
large number of options. He
would like, however, to see this
aspect even more liberalized in
the future.

Mr. Gamble described the
only deficiency of the program
as being the residential
limitations at the present time.
The program would be much
improved if the Echols
Scholars could live together all
four years instead of only the
first, Mr. Gamble commented.

Virginia residents comprise
49 per cent of these first-year
Echols Scholars. Ninety-two
per cent of the group
graduated in the top fifth of
their high school class. While
29 per cent are graduates of
private schools, the remaining
71 per cent attended public
schools.

The Echols Scholars
Program, a University tradition
since its inauguration in 1960,
was named in honor of William
H. Echols, a distinguished
former professor at the
University.

During their initial year, the
scholars live together in a
section of a first-year
dormitory, thus attempting to
create a modern version on Mr.
Jefferson's "Academical
Village."