FORMER VIRGINIA SEN. HUNTER B. ANDREWS
TO GIVE U.VA.'S GRADUATION ADDRESS 

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., March 19 -- Hunter B. Andrews, longtime
advocate for higher education in Virginia and former state senator
from Hampton, will address the University of Virginia's Class of 1997
at Final Exercises May 18.
	"We are honored to have Hunter Andrews as our graduation
speaker.  There have been few more staunch believers in the value of
public higher education in this state," said U.Va. President John T.
Casteen III. "He has worked tirelessly for more than three decades to
ensure equitable educational opportunities for all Virginians.  As
much as any single person he has helped make the Commonwealth's system
of higher education one of the nation's strongest."
	Known as an engaging orator, Andrews has attributed his
fighting for educational opportunities in Virginia to strong personal
feelings about the value of academic study as preparation for later
life. 
	A 1948 graduate of the University's School of Law, Andrews
(D-Hampton) served in the Virginia General Assembly from 1964 until
1996.  As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and Majority
Leader, he played a significant role in guiding appropriations to
strengthen public higher education at a time when the state's colleges
and universities grew rapidly both in enrollment and national
reputation. 
	A native of Hampton, Andrews received his undergraduate
education at the College of William and Mary.  He served for five
years on the Hampton School Board before entering the Virginia
legislature.
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March 18, 1997

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