Salisbury High School Student Earns Prestigious Banneker/Key Scholarship

SALISBURY, Md.- The price tag of college is a hefty one. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees at private colleges for the 2011-2012 school year was more than $28,000. Throw in housing and meal costs, books and other fees, and it is easy to see how quickly those expenses add up.

But one Salisbury high school student and his family are now breathing a little easier.

Christopher LeCompte had the distinction of being chosen as a semi-finalist for the Banneker/Key Scholarship and was then invited to the University of Maryland, College Park for an interview. He just found out he is now officially a Banneker/Key Scholar.

This means the James M. Bennett High School senior has a full ride to college ahead of him, including coverage of all tuition and fees, room, board and books.

Bryan LeCompte described his emotions, after learning his son had earned an all-expense paid college education.

"Overwhelmed, excited, proud," he said.

But even though he was up against thousands of others, LeCompte says he is not surprised his son Chris is now a Banneker/Key Scholar.

"He's worked real hard and he's earned it and I'm really proud," he told us.

Explained Chris, "The first thing that I was asked for my interview was my involvement in the community and my community service."

Besides his noteworthy academic achievements, Chris has devoted countless hours to the community - something the selection panel took note of.

"The Appalachia Service Project, I've now been involved in that for four years, all through high school and throughout the school year," he said. "We've been involved in various activities such as building wheelchair ramps or hosting canned food drives, working at the HALO Café in the Christian shelter."

Those projects all lead to the group's yearly mission trip in Appalachian communities in need.

"We divide into teams and we each work on homes for one week so it's one my favorite weeks of the summer, it's a really good experience," Chris told us.

And it seems those experiences and hard work have paid off.

"College is expensive so I was hoping to get some help and when I got the Banneker notice, I was pretty relieved."

Added his father, "I'm just ready to support him through the whole exciting undergraduate experience."

The Wicomico County School District says Chris LeCompte's achievement is something that doesn't happen every year in this area.

Chris says he plans to study math or engineering when he begins his studies at UM-College Park in the fall.