ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9607010096
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALESSANDRA SOLER STAFF WRITER
CREDITING HER PARENTS for dance and piano training as well as discipline, Michelle Kang won the 1996 state crown.
One day early, Michelle Kang received an extra special 22nd birthday present this year - a chance to represent the state of Virginia in September's Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, N.J.
Kang, Miss Apple Blossom Festival, was named Miss Virginia at the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium Saturday night in the 43rd Annual Miss Virginia Scholarship Pageant.
Amber Medlin, who ended her reign as last year's Miss Virginia, presented her with the crown.
"I've dreamed about this moment for a long time," said Kang, who also received the $500 Community Service Award.
Kang is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, where she majored in sociology and minored in music. She is a court-appointed special advocate for abused children and said her goal is to become a children's policy advocate for a national child-welfare organization, an objective she plans to accomplish while promoting her platform for child-abuse prevention.
"It's crucial for us to support programs which invest in prevention," said Kang, who received a $13,000 scholarship - $6,000 more than last year's prize - as the new winner. "We need to shift the focus from intervention to prevention, and I'm going to continue promoting child safety as one of my first priorities."
Kang said she plans to use the prize money to earn a law degree and to obtain a master's degree in public policy. Today, she will be presented with a new car and a cellular phone. She will also be given an apartment in Roanoke for the next year.
Kang, who speaks Korean, credits her success in the competition to the discipline instilled by her parents. "They were the ones who provided me with the piano and dance training, and it's given me the confidence to be comfortable and poised on stage," said Kang, who has played the piano for 15 years and danced for 11. She performed Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.2 in C sharp minor during Thursday's preliminary talent competition.
"All of the hard work finally paid off," she said.
First runner-up to Kang was Rachael Snider, Miss Lynchburg Scholarship Festival, who will receive a $6,000 scholarship. She said she will use the money to pursue her graduate degree in counseling.
Snider, who was also in last year's top 10, said she will continue working to put into action her platform promoting awareness of the needs of senior citizens.
"I'm going to continue making appearances throughout the community," said Snider. "I was hopeful and I'm just excited to have made it in the top five."
Miss Norfolk Festival, Stacey Moseley, was awarded a $5,000 scholarship as second runner-up. Nita Booth, Miss Chesapeake, was third runner-up and got a $2,300 scholarship. Marnie Klar, Miss Portsmouth Seawall Festival, was fourth runner-up and received a $1,200 scholarship.
The five other semifinalists each won $400 scholarships. The remaining 14 contestants were each given $100 scholarships.
The nonfinalist talent winners, Brandy Marie Burnette, Miss New River Valley Festival, Elizabeth Howell, Miss Hampton-Newport News, and Larniece McKoy, Miss Northern Virginia, walked away with $200 each.
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/Staff. Michelle Kang performs Franz Liszt'sby CNBHungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C sharp minor Saturday en route to
winning the Miss Virginia crown. color.