Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 15, 1990                   TAG: 9007150265
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DEBORAH EVANS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MISS VA. SAYS FAITH HELPED HER WIN

DePuy, Miss Amherst County, tearfully explained that it was her faith in Jesus Christ that helped her through perhaps the most stressful portion of the 37th Miss Virginia pageant - the finals.

"Jesus Christ. That's all it was," said DePuy, a 19-year-old junior at Liberty University. "That was the only thing that got me through."

During the final round, contestants who on previous nights had danced across the Roanoke Civic Center stage with precision and grace wobbled and thumped, and the voices of some singers occasionally cracked.

As for DePuy, someone in the audience shouted, "Go for it Shannon," as she began her rendition of Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude Opus 10 Number 12." DePuy was one of three finalist to perform classical piano numbers.

During the question-and-answer portion of the evening grown competition, DePuy, who is on the National Dean's list and has a 3.8 grade-point average, was asked what she would do to raise the level of political knowledge and involvement in the United States.

"I like to see programs in high schools and in colleges, that not only stress the political paths of our country but how to get involved today . . . teaching students how to register to vote, where to go to vote and just telling them that every vote is what counts," DePuy said.

DePuy said she will use the $35,000 scholarship award she receives as the reigning Miss Virginia to continue pursuing a business management degree "of course, after going to Atlantic City," she said. Atlantic City is where the Miss America competition is held.

Among the 10 finalists were Thursday and Friday nights' talent and swimsuit preliminary winners.

First runner-up was Miss Lynchburg, Sheri Huffman, 22, of Christopher Newport College. She had won preliminary talent and swimsuit competitions. Second runner-up was Miss Northern Virginia Enya Flack, a 24-year-old graduate of George Washington University who had won a preliminary talent round. Third runner-up was Miss Apple Blossom, Lisa Moorman, a 25-year-old graduate of Bridgewater College who had won a preliminary swimsuit competition. Fourth runner-up was Miss Hampton-Newport News, Ericka Mummey, 20, of Riverside Professional School of Nursing.

Thirty contestants participated in the three-day pageant.

This was the last year Moorman, a Hardy native and a Roanoke magnet school music teacher, could compete. She was first-runner-up in the 1989 pageant. It was Huffman's second pageant. Five of the finalists had previous pageant experience.

The pageant is the preliminary to the Miss America Pageant planned for September in Atlantic City.

Saturday night's talent winner was Miss Virginia Beach, Jillian Noel Johnson, 20, who was not among the finalists. She performed a classical contemporary ballet, "Carmen Fantasy."

The Quality of Life Award - for volunteer work with charities and civic organizations - went to Miss Chesapeake, Patty Dabney, a 19-year-old sophomore at Old Dominion University.

Contestants were judged on a scale of 1 to 10 in interview, talent, swimsuit and evening gown competitions each night.