Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 6, 1995 TAG: 9507060084
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SHANNON D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When Andrea Ballengee entered the Miss Virginia Pageant this year, she listed academic and athletic achievements that would be the envy of any student.
Five days after she won the crown, questions are being raised about some of the honors she claims.
Ballengee, a 1995 graduate of Virginia Tech, listed the achievements on a biographical form that all Miss Virginia contestants are required to fill out and sign.
Ballengee said she:
Was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, a national academic honorary society.
Had graduated magna cum laude from Tech with a 3.8 grade-point average.
Had graduated from Tabb High School in Yorktown as a "Highest Honors Graduate."
Had been awarded the Most Outstanding Female Athlete at Tabb High School.
However, officials from Virginia Tech said Wednesday that Ballengee was not a Phi Beta Kappa member and graduated with the less prestigious distinction of cum laude, which does not require as high a grade-point average.
And the principal of Tabb High School said in response to a newspaper query that Ballengee did not graduate as an honors student and that the Most Outstanding Female Athlete award was given to someone else.
Ballengee could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Bud Oakey, spokesman for the Miss Virginia Pageant, said the pageant is looking into the questions.
"We have worked with Miss Ballengee for four years now and have always found her character and integrity being of the highest caliber," Oakey said.
"The statements being made concerning Andrea's academic credentials have some questions that must be answered by the university. Once answered, we feel this issue will be cleared up," he said.
A Phi Beta Kappa official at Tech raised questions after a newspaper story Sunday about Ballengee's pageant victory identified her as a member of the honor society.
Tom Adriance, chairman of Tech's Phi Beta Kappa membership board, said Ballengee was not a member.
To be eligible for Phi Beta Kappa, Adriance said, a student had to have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.6.
After learning Wednesday that a question had been raised about her claim of membership, Ballengee contacted Adriance to discuss the issue.
She told Adriance and pageant officials that she had received an invitation to a Phi Beta Kappa induction ceremony but could not attend because of a conflicting university function, said Margaret Baker, executive director of the pageant.
Ballengee thought she was a member even though she hadn't attended the ceremony, Baker said.
Adriance, though, said a $50 induction fee is required before anyone can become a member.
Ballengee's parents are searching for the letter to confirm that Ballengee was invited to join the society, Baker said.
"I think it was a misunderstanding and not meant as a misrepresentation," she said.
Also, in response to a newspaper query, the Virginia Tech registrar's office confirmed Wednesday that Ballengee had graduated cum laude instead of magna cum laude, as she claimed on her biographical form.
A student must have a cumulative grade-point average of between 3.4 and 3.59 to graduate cum laude. Magna cum laude requires at least a 3.6 grade-point average.
The registrar's office would not reveal Ballengee's specific grade-point average.
Ballengee stated on the biographical sheet that she was a "Highest Honors Graduate" at Tabb High School, where she graduated in 1991.
But Principal Michael Tylavski said Ballengee did not have the required 3.25 cumulative grade-point average to be an honors graduate by definition. He did say, however, that Ballengee earned an "advanced studies diploma," which required a minimum 3.0 grade-point average and completion of an advanced course of study.
Ballengee graduated 61st out of a graduating class of 287, Tylavski said.
Tylavski said Ballengee won the Most Outstanding Cheerleader award at Tabb High, but not the Most Outstanding Female Athlete award, which was given to another student.
This year was Ballengee's fourth as a contestant in the pageant.
by CNB