THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 25, 1994 TAG: 9411230112
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KIA MORGAN ALLEN, CAMPUS CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
MALETHA ``MASIKA'' DIXON offers living proof that beauty and brains do go together.
Dixon, who graduated this year from Jackson State University in Mississippi, was crowned the 1994-95 Miss Collegiate African-American in June at Walt Disney MGM Studios in Orlando, Fla. She visited Norfolk State University recently during a 20-city tour of historically black colleges and universities.
The pageant was founded in 1984 to promote historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
Dixon, a 21-year-old Mississippi native, strives for academic excellence and encourages other students to do the same.
She made the National Dean's List with a 3.78 grade point average out of a possible 4.0 at Jackson State. She received a full academic scholarship and was a Charles F. Moore Scholar, which earned her an additional $1,000 a year.
Dixon works as an analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City, Mo. She plans to attend graduate school to get a master's degree in business administration.
She enjoys reading and writing, and also likes dancing and meeting people.
``When you hear different people's ideas about different topics, it helps to give you a better outlook on life,'' said Dixon, who was dressed in a decorative golden headdress and gold African garb.
``It's overwhelming, a thrill, flattering that I am considered to be a role model,'' said Dixon, who was also listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.
But she added: ``Young people should choose their own paths and achieve and go beyond what I have accomplished. . . . I was driven by basic principles of faith in God, belief in myself and determination. My message to people, particularly the young, is for them to grasp their own basic principles and live by them. By doing so, people can accomplish anything without limitation.''
While at NSU, she was honored with flowers by President Harrison B. Wilson during a pep rally outside the Mills E. Godwin Student Center.
The purpose of the tour is to emphasize the importance of higher education and to encourage African-Americans to attend historically black colleges.
``Being Miss Collegiate African-American is an important vehicle'' in promoting the black colleges, she said.
Winning the competition was more than she expected.
``I didn't believe it,'' Dixon recalled. ``My goal was to make it to the semifinals. But when I became one of the four finalists, I started thinking that I might just win.'' MEMO: Kia Morgan is a sophomore at Norfolk State University.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Maletha ``Masika'' Dixon, the 1994-95 Miss Collegiate
African-American, is visiting historically black colleges, including
NSU.
by CNB