Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 7, 1991 TAG: 9102080248
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETSY BIESENBACH/ SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The girls, though, will be staying only for a week.
The Lionbergers are among eight host families in the Roanoke area who are housing 17 girls for this week's 1991 Virginia's Young Woman of the Year program.
Although the Lionbergers have been involved with the program for years and have even served as judges, they were drafted into service as a host family by their eldest son, Sam III, who is host family chairman for this year's program.
Sam III got involved two years ago when his wife, Vicki, a former program winner, asked him to come with her to a meeting. Vicki is the choreographer for this year's program.
Since then it's been a family affair. Even the youngest son, Greg, 16, the only child still living at home, does his part by giving up his bedroom and bathroom.
"He complains, but he loves it," Rindy said.
The Lionbergers are used to family affairs. Sam is president of Lionberger Construction Inc. and Rindy is the company's director of marketing. Sam III is vice president in charge of pre-engineered buildings.
Besides serving as a judge for past programs, Sam and Sam III also have judged the Miss Virginia Pageant.
Rindy and Sam also probably are better-suited for being temporary parents than most couples. Rindy was voted Mother of the Year by the Roanoke Valley Merchants Association in 1984, and Sam was a Father of the Year in 1987.
"Our house is open to all the kids in the neighborhood," Sam said. It is not unusual for him to go into the family room and find a half-dozen young people there.
The Lionbergers, who hosted three Young Woman of the Year contestants last year, said they don't do a whole lot to prepare for their guests. Soon after the teens arrive, the family holds a "new family meeting," to discuss food and schedules.
The Lionbergers are responsible for getting the girls up in the mornings, seeing that they have breakfast and taking them to rehearsals. In the evening, they have a snack and relax before the girls start getting ready for the program.
Because the girls' schedules are very full, there is very little time for sightseeing, Sam said. Last year, a trip to Mill Mountain had to be taken at 9:45 p.m.
All three of last year's girls were from Northern Virginia or Tidewater, Rindy said, and it was hard for them to believe they could go out safely at that time of night.
"We just take it for granted," Rindy said.
When Sam, who is a staunch Virginia Tech supporter, found out that the girls didn't know that his alma mater is a major university, he hauled the whole bunch up to Blacksburg at 10 p.m. one night so they could see it for themselves.
By the time the week was over, Rindy said, the girls had become close to each other and their host family.
During the final night of competition, Sam and Rindy were in the audience rooting for "their" girls.
Being around the girls "renews your faith in our country and the generation that's going to run this country," Sam said.
"They appreciate what we do," said Sam III. "It's instant feedback."
Rindy called the Young Woman of the Year program, a "a real confidence builder."
Its purpose, she said, is to further the girls' development as well as to recognize the girls for their achievements.
"It's a scholarship program," Sam III said. The girls' grades are a large part of the competition, and more than $3.3 million in scholarships are awarded nationwide."
"We don't see the competitive edge" that pervades beauty pageants, Sam said. The girls were very willing to help each other.
"I was really inspired by the dedication the girls had," Sam said of last year's participants.
Besides their scholastic records, the girls are evaluated on interviews with the judges; physical fitness; creative and performing arts, which Rindy said could include such talents as sewing or story-telling; and how they handle themselves in front of a crowd.
Other hosts for Virginia's Young Woman of the Year are: Becky Conner of Vinton, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Dougherty of Troutville, Ruby Hicks of Roanoke, Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Mason of Vinton, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Massie, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Pence of Vinton, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Porter of Roanoke.
by CNB