THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 14, 1994 TAG: 9407130164
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY
STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
CINDY KING, a recent graduate of Randolph-Macon College, studies for the fun of it. And that may be the secret of her success.
``I really love to read and enjoy studying,'' King said. ``I believe it set the tone for who I am now. In college, I took many classes that I didn't need, and I went to school for an extra amount of time to do an internship and write a thesis.''
King, 23, earned a long list of academic awards and credits at Randolph-Macon. She graduated magna cum laude with a 4.0 grade-point average, ranking fourth in a class of 241.
In the spring, she was inducted into Phi Alpha Theta, an international honorary society in history, and received the Trustees Scholarship Key Award from Alpha Gamma Delta Nationals for Exceptional Academic Achievement.
In addition, King was presented the William E. Gray Award in English and was recognized by the Randolph-Macon Department of English as the 1994 Outstanding English Major.
King does not fit the stereotype of a studious introvert.
Enthusiastic, friendly and fun-loving, she was elected Randolph-Macon College's Homecoming Queen in 1993.
In her spare time, King tutored freshmen in history. And as activities chairman of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, she led 45 sorority members in the design and construction of a Homecoming float, planned the decorations and refreshments for tailgating events at football games, and coordinated sorority fall and winter intramural games.
``It was a lot of responsibility,'' King said. ``But each sorority and fraternity would compete with balloons, flowers, streamers and refreshments at tailgating events, and we won a recent contest. While my friends were going to parties, I was thinking about this project.''
As Rush Party chairman for her sorority during her junior year, King also planned rush events and coordinated costuming, decorations, refreshments and entertainment. Elaborate plans included turning the sorority house into a ``summer camp.''
``We wore khaki shorts and boots and decorated the upstairs room like a lodge with bear rugs,'' King said. ``We totally transformed the house by making murals and pitching a tent in the front yard.''
``I try to be a friend to everybody, especially at school,'' King said. ``But I also have a very serious academic side. While doing my thesis, I had no trouble working all weekend. I knew when to say, `I have to do my work.' ''
When the opportunity for an internship became available at the historic Hanover Tavern near Ashland, King applied and was accepted to work there for a month, earning three college credits.
``Patrick Henry worked there in his early 20s,'' she said. ``The tavern was falling apart. There was no fire detector and no handicap accessibility.''
In addition to writing all the articles for the Hanover Tavern Foundation's newsletter, King designed and authored a pamphlet on the history of the building and wrote a $35,000 grant proposal to a local oil corporation on behalf of the tavern.
After she enrolled in a constitutional law and argumentation class, King became interested in pursuing a career in law.
As president of the Pre-Law Society, she hosted the deans of admissions from neighboring law schools, who advised students on applying to law school and provided information on preparatory courses.
``I'm not ready to settle for a job yet,'' King said. ``While I still have the stamina, I want to go to law school.''
After a busy summer working as a receptionist for her dad, Jimmy King, at the Electric Motor Contracting Company in Chesapeake and helping at Churchland Baptist Church's Vacation Bible School, King plans to attend Wake Forest University. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Cindy King has been recognized by Randolph-Macon College's
Department of English as the 1994 Outstanding English Major. She
graduated magna cum laude with a 4.0 grade-point average, ranking
fourth in a class of 241.
by CNB