Nobles and Knaves

OPINION:

Noble: F. Keith Miller, the Virginia high-school food-services manager who uses his bonuses to give a yearly scholarship to a graduating senior.

Every year, Mr. Miller stashes away his loose change and work bonuses. Instead of treating himself, he uses the money to give a student at Mills E. Godwin High School a $1,000 scholarship to help out with college costs. Students submit an essay about their high-school experience and how it has helped prepare them for college and one is chosen by Mr. Miller, with some help from teachers and school counselors.

Mr. Miller first began giving his scholarship in the late 1980s. He was working at a fast-food restaurant and gave out the prize to local high-school students in Henrico County. He took a job at Godwin in 1993 and now gives the award to kids at his school, where he is on a first-name basis with most teachers and students. Several years ago, he added another scholarship to his repertoire: the $500 Wind Beneath My Wings award, given to a school employee nominated by students. Hopefully the students will nominate Mr. Miller one year.

“Fifteen, 20 years ago, $1,000 went a lot further… I don’t know what bit of help it is now that tuitions are sky-high but hopefully it makes it easier on the student,” Mr. Miller says. As any recipient of this scholarship can certainly attest to, every little bit helps.

For helping students more that just a little bit, F. Keith Miller is the Noble of the week.

Knave: Pat and Sheena Wheaton, the New Zealand couple petitioning to name their baby “4real.”

No, we’re not making this up. Mr. and Mrs. Wheaton decided on this unusual moniker after seeing their child in an ultrasound, and, presumably, they were struck by the reality of the pregnancy. They went to register the baby’s name with New Zealand’s Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages and were told that names with numerals are prohibited. The Kiwis like to prevent parents from using offensive names, Saddam Hussein or Adolf Hitler being two no-nos.

Unfortunately, the rule doesn’t apply to stupid names. As of Thursday, the registrar’s office explained that the name had not yet been rejected, but that the case is being reviewed with the family. If the situation has not been clarified by July 9, the baby gets registered as “real.” Ideally, Mr. and Mrs. Wheaton will decide to choose a name that won’t get Junior beaten up regularly.

For a whim which promises their child a lifetime of hassle, Pat and Sheena Wheaton are the Knaves of the week.