Stay focused on your goal. Beginning today, take control of your destiny.

Thats the advice students in 12,000 schools in five states will hear from West Virginia Universitys Eddie Reed, M.D., one of nine African-Americans recognized for their accomplishments and leadership by the Dominion energy company in its 15th AnnualStrong Men and WomenEducational Series.

Dr. Reed is the director of the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center at WVU and a professor in the WVU School of Medicine.

Strong Men&Womenhighlights the accomplishments of selected African-American role models and converts their stories into an educational series that will be distributed during FebruaryBlack History Monthto schools across Dominion’s natural gas and electric retail service areas in West Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

“I am pleased, proud, and honored to have been selected for the Dominion

Strong Men and Women Award,Reed said.I am humbled to join the company of Colin

Powell, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Kenneth Gray, and my co-honorees for 2005. Among the 2005 group were: the African American woman physicist who developed the seminal computer programming for sonic boom technology; and, an African American neuroscientist who received the highest award from the National Science Foundation last year. I believe that this is not only an honor for me, but speaks to the opportunity that West Virginia offers to all its citizens.”

A team of Dominion employees selects each yearsStrong Men&Women.Judges look for candidates who have demonstrated leadership and courage in public life.

Dr. Reed is a natural choice to inspire the next generation of African-American scientists and physicians,said Robert M. DAlessandri, M.D., WVU vice president for health sciences, who was one of several University leaders present when Reeds award was announced Jan. 21 in Richmond, Va.He is one of WVU s most important leaders in research, in patient care, and in education, and his work for womens health has been felt worldwide.

Reed is well known for his work on the use of drug therapy for ovarian cancer, which is the most deadly cancer of the female reproductive system. Before joining WVU , Reed served as the chief of the Medical Ovarian Cancer Section at the National Cancer Institute’s Bethesda, Maryland, campus. Under his leadership, the Mary Babb Randolph Cancer center has developed a new anti-cancer drug development program and a comprehensive breast cancer program.

Dr. Reed is a mentor to young faculty members, researchers and students,said John E. Prescott, M.D., dean of the WVU School of Medicine.This award will tell his story to tens of thousands of young peopleand inspire them to greater accomplishment.

WVU Hospitals President Bruce McClymonds also attended the Richmond event.Dr. Reeds is known by our patients as a brilliant and caring physician, and they often express appreciation for his work. This award will help others across the region learn of the excellent care available at the Cancer Center, and the leadership Dr. Reed provides here.

Other 2005 honorees are: Valerie Daniels-Carter, founder and chief executive officer of V&J Holding Co., Milwaukee, Wis.; Christine Mann Darden, Ph.D., a leader in the field of sonic boom technology at NASA , Hampton, Va.; novelist Marita Golden of Michellville, Md.; neurobiologist Erich Jarvis, Ph.D., Duke University; George L. Miles Jr., president and CEO of WQED Multimedia, Pittsburgh; Laura W. Murphy, director of the national office of the ACLU , Washington, D.C.; former Cleveland Browns player Ozzie Newsome; and retired Col. Porcher L. Taylor Jr., Ph.D., of Petersburg, Va.

Biographies and portraits of all the honorees will be included in the Black History Month materials that Dominion is distributing to schools in the region. The materials are also available online at: http://www.dom.com/about/education/strong/index.jsp .

Dominion is one of the nation’s largest producers of energy, with an energy portfolio of about 28,100 megawatts of generation. Dominion also serves retail energy customers in eight states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company’s Web site at www.dom.com .