ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, February 23, 1997 TAG: 9702240069
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
MEMO: NOTE: A different verwsion ran in the New River Valley edition.
Cave Spring High School senior Julie Sgroi entered Virginia's Junior Miss competition because she hoped to win a scholarship to help pay her way at the University of Virginia this fall.
By Saturday, she felt as if she had become a member of a sorority and no longer was preoccupied with winning a scholarship.
"No matter what happens, when I walk away Saturday night, the most important thing will be the new friends and experiences in the past week," Sgroi said. "We really feel like we're in a sisterhood now."
It's a sorority that includes TV journalists Diane Sawyer, America's Junior Miss for 1963; Deborah Norville, Georgia's Junior Miss in 1976; and talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford, Maryland's Junior Miss in 1971.
Broadway actress Kim Crosby Westenberg and "Entertainment This Weekend" anchor Jule Moran also are former Junior Miss winners in state or local contests.
Sgroi, 17, is Roanoke Valley's Junior Miss for 1997. She was one of 18 high school seniors from across the state who spent the past week vying for the title of Virginia's Junior Miss for 1997.
Winner Kendra Arnold, Martinsville/Henry County's Junior Miss, received a $4,000 college scholarship and a trip to participate in America's Junior Miss national finals in Mobile, Ala., in June. The runner-up, Katherine Van Horn, Western Fairfax Junior Miss, won a $1,000 scholarship.
The girls spent 10 to 12 hours a day rehearsing Broadway dance numbers and fitness routines, visiting schools and shopping centers, talking with Mayor David Bowers and attending a Roanoke Express hockey game.
Sgroi, an honor student who has written and recorded folk songs, said the contestants developed a close bond during the week.
"It has felt like we're a group of friends putting on a show rather than trying to win," she said. "You almost forget that you're competing."
The students competed Friday and Saturday night in creative and performing arts, presence and composure, and fitness at the Roanoke Civic Center. These three categories accounted for 55 percent of weighted scoring.
They were also evaluated on scholastic achievement, which accounts for 20 percent of their score, and interviews with a panel of judges, the remaining 25 percent of the scoring.
There was no swimsuit competition. Junior Miss officials said it is not a junior Miss Virginia or Miss America contest.
"It's definitely not a beauty pageant," said Kristin Collins, publicity chairwoman for Virginia's Junior Miss. "It's for well-rounded students."
Junior Miss is described as a scholarship competition program to honor young women who excel in many areas. It is open only to high school seniors, and contestants can compete only one year.
Other contestants shared Sgroi's feelings after a week together.
"It's really not competition. Some of us don't want to know who wins," said Katie Sheehan, Hampton Roads' Junior Miss. "It's not right that one person wins."
Bianca Thrasher, Virginia Beach's Junior Miss, said the week "has been about friendship and family - not competition."
Education and scholastic achievement have always been hallmarks of Junior Miss, but are even more so this year.
America's Junior Miss, which is run by a national nonprofit organization, changed its motto from "Emphasis on Excellence" to "Emphasis on Education" this year.
Educational terminology permeates the Junior Miss program. This year's contestants were described as the Class of 1997.
All participants plan to attend college; their choices include Harvard, UVa, Emory, Hollins, Spelman and Wake Forest.
They want to be lawyers, doctors, psychiatrists, an Air Force pilot, a U.S. senator and a governor.
They consider their most relevant statistics to be their grade-point averages and SAT scores.
The average GPA for this year's contestants is 3.76, and the average SAT score is 1,180.
Sixteen are on their high school honor rolls. Eleven are members of the National Honor Society.
Each participates in eight to 10 extracurricular activities. Most have received multiple honors for their academic and school activities.
They displayed variety in their creative and performing arts - from ballet to oration.
Sgroi sang a song she wrote, "Uncover Your Soul," that is on a compact disc of folk, soft rock and other music she recently recorded.
Three other seniors from the Roanoke Valley competed in the state contest this year.
Amy Andrews represented East Salem and did a tap dance. Megan Hannah, West Salem's Junior Miss, performed a ballet number. Both are seniors at Salem High.
Amanda Lytton, Vinton's Junior Miss and a William Byrd High senior, demonstrated her clogging skills.
In the creative and performing arts, the seniors were judged on their originality, technical ability, appropriateness of selection and costume and stage presence.
During the interviews by a panel of judges, the students were quizzed on current events, politics, career goals and other topics.
"That was nerve-wracking for some girls, but the judges were very responsive," Sgroi said. "They wanted to get to know us."
Sheehan said this past week has been one of the most memorable experiences in her life. "I've truly been amazed at how I've gained 16 new friends so quickly. It's been incredible."
LENGTH: Long : 104 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS/Staff. Julie Sgroi, 17, of Roanokeby CNB(left) and Katie Sheehan, 17, of Hampton Roads were contestants for
the title of Virginia's Junior Miss. color.