McDonald's awards Camden, Delaware, senior

CAMDEN, Delaware - Caesar Rodney High School senior Adae Amoako received a $1,000 scholarship from McDonald's Tuesday, but he is just a little embarrassed about it.

Maybe it's because Ronald McDonald personally delivered the giant check to Adae's French class, on a unicycle, with Adae's mother and brother in tow.

"I'm very happy," Adae said. "And a little embarrassed."

"And that was our goal," local McDonald's owner Mark Salebra said. "A little bit of both."

Adae's mother, Doris Amoako, didn't share in her son's embarrassment, but certainly joined in his hap-piness.

"I can't express my happiness," Mrs. Amoako said. "I am overjoyed and proud of him."

The scholarship, being offered for the first time to a Delaware student, honors black high school seniors who display academic achievement, volunteer efforts, dedication to the black community and financial need.

Both Adae's principal, Kevin R. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Salebra said the student is more than deserving of the honor.

"Adae is a really neat kid," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "He is very conscientious in the classroom and is one of those people who always does the right thing. I couldn't be happier for him and his family. It is an Ameri-can dream coming true."

Adae and his family moved to Delaware from Ghana, Africa in June 2000 after his father, Joe Amoako, accepted a teaching position at Delaware State University.

While Adae does not plan to follow in his father's academic footsteps, he does plan to attend DSU and major in biology and chemistry.

His goal is to become a physician, although he hasn't decided what area to specialize in.

When Adae isn't being ambushed by unicycle-riding clowns carrying gigantic checks, he's maintaining his 4.0 grade point average, working part time at the McDonald's on Del. 10 and playing tennis for the Caesar Rodney team.