ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, July 1, 1996 TAG: 9607010097
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALESSANDRA SOLER STAFF WRITER
Michelle Kang remembers the first time she performed in front of an audience. She was six years old and was chosen as one of the young ballerinas in her hometown dance studio's production of The Nutcracker.
"It was a really small part, but it was one of those things where my parents got to say 'That's my little girl up there,'" recalls Kang who has been dancing and playing the piano for more than 10 years.
This once shy little girl has certainly come a long way since then. On Saturday night, she played the piano in front of a crowded auditorium at the 1996 Miss Virginia Pageant at the Roanoke Civic Center. And it was her nearly flawless performance of Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C sharp - minor, along with her elegance and poise as a veteran crowd pleaser, which earned her the title of Miss Virginia.
Miss Apple Blossom Festival, Kang, celebrated her 22nd birthday Sunday at the Hotel Roanoke conducting interviews and meeting with pageant officials who went over her responsibilities as the new Miss Virginia. Shortly after the afternoon briefing, Kang was presented with the keys to a Chevrolet Camaro which she'll use during her year of service. Beyond her $13,000 scholarship prize which she described as "much needed," Kang was also given a cellular phone. And by the end of next week, she'll be moving into her Pebble Creek apartment, enjoying the many privileges that go along with being pageant "ambassador" of Virginia.
"I truly believe we live in one of the most beautiful states in the country and I would love to be the second Miss Virginia to be named Miss America," she said.
Kang's main priority for the next few months will be preparing for the Miss American Pageant in September in Atlantic, City, N.J. said Bud Oakey, the pageant's public relations director.
"Practice certainly does make perfect, or at least close to perfect, and that's what I'll be concentrating on until then," said Kang, who plans on playing the Liszt piece again in September. "I think performing in front of crowd is wonderful. I'm lucky enough to be able to entertain people and it's very exciting."
While she watched as last year's controversy unfolded, Kang said she never hesitated becoming involved with this year's Miss Virginia Pageant. "I was a little bit disconcerted and disappointed, but I have a great deal of faith in the program. These young women have the capacity to make a difference and change things for the better and I'm proud to be a part of that."
Kang, who was born in Bethesda, Md., moved to Virginia at the age of four. She grew up in Fredericksburg with her younger siblings Esther and Sam, and has been volunteering throughout the community ever since she was old enough to get around town on her own. At the age of 12, she was already teaching Sunday School at a local church.
"My parents have always taught me that education doesn't stop in the classroom; it's an extension of work done throughout the community and I've taken that to heart," she said.
Judges at the Miss Virginia Pageant recognized Kang's efforts and awarded her a $500 Community Service Award. But they weren't the only ones. Earlier this year, she was the recipient of another service award presented to her by the College of William & Mary where she graduated with a degree in sociology.
In an effort to do her part in preventing child abuse, Kang started volunteering as a court appointed special advocate for children the summer after her junior year in college.
"I basically act as a fact finder," said Kang, who plans to use her scholarship money to pursue a law and master's degree in public policy. "I talk to parents, teachers and any of the other people involved in the child's life. And I know that I've done something positive for each and every child that I've advocated for."
Kang said her love for children is what prompted her to focus on developing abuse prevention programs during her reign as the new Miss Virginia.
"My passion for children is very deep-rooted," she said. "This problem is devastating and very complicated .... it's not just the government's problem or your neighbor's problem - it's everyone's problem."
Kang said she hopes her involvement with the legislature will help her achieve her career goal of working for a national child welfare organization to prevent child abuse.
"I have a wonderful relationship with the legislature and with many communities throughout the state and I hope to use this as a way to get people focusing on the interests of children," she said. "I think the public can no longer stay silent about the problem. People are afraid of what's not familiar to them and they need to understand how prevention programs work."
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Eric Brady. 1. An emotional winner, Michelle Kang isby CNBcrowned Saturday night by Amber Medlin, Miss Virginia 1995. 2.
Below, the accomplished pianist finishes what listeners called a
nearly flawless performance of Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.
2 in C sharp minor. color. 3. Michelle Kang's fellow contestants
cheer her victory Saturday at the Roanoke Civic Center.