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

DATE: TUESDAY, August 31, 1993                   TAG: 9308310032
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Joanne Anderson
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

SHOT AT SCHOLARSHIP LURED CONTESTANT

The 25-year-old blonde, who will compete in the Miss Virginia-USA pageant in Bristol in October, holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of South Carolina, served as an intern for South Carolina Sen. Strom Thurmond in Washington in 1990, and now is working on a master's degree in business administration at Virginia Tech.

"Personally, I decided to enter this contest because of the scholarship awards," said Vincent, who also works full time as a claims adjuster with the Erie Insurance Group of Christiansburg.

Corporate sponsors who are supporting Vincent include the Carper Insurance of Blacksburg, Castlerock Insurance of Pearisburg and Christiansburg and First General Services of Virginia, a construction company with offices in Roanoke, Richmond and Abingdon.

A Christiansburg resident, Vincent has the encouragement of the Christiansburg-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.

To prepare for the pageant, Vincent is participating in fitness classes, studying makeup and hair-styling techniques, watching tapes of pageants and staying up on current events.

While many people contribute to the efforts of any pageant contestant, Vincent credits her mother, Wanda Vincent of Bristol, with providing a generous dose of enthusiasm, along with advice and assistance:

"Mom's great. She's been involved in the beauty pageant scene as a judge and helps me with all aspects of preparation," Vincent said.

The contestant also is preparing to meet Mrs. Virginia, Paula Jones of Blacksburg, to compare details as each gets ready for competition in October.

A tennis player and scuba diver, Vincent already has cleared one unexpected hurdle.

More contestants registered for the Miss Virginia-USA pageant than the event could accommodate.

Officials had to narrow the field to 40 - and Lisa Vincent will be part of it.