
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, July 2, 1995                   TAG: 9507030077
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SHANNON D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NEWPORT NEWS WOMAN WINS MISS VA.

Four years of hard work finally paid off for Andrea Ballengee Saturday night as a tearful Cullen Johnson crowned her the new Miss Virginia at the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium.

Ballengee, a runner-up to the crown for the past two years and a finalist in 1991, said the Miss Virginia title has been a dream of hers since high school.

"It's definitely a dream worth keeping," said the 21-year-old Miss Hampton Newport News.

"You can go over it and over it in your mind, but when it happens it's so overwhelming," said Ballengee, a graduate of Virginia Tech.

A near-perfect performance of her lyrical dance to "Jessica's Theme" from the movie "The Man From Snowy River" and repeated success in the swimsuit competition from her preliminary win Thursday helped Ballengee as she took the title and a $7,000 scholarship.

Ballengee said she was looking forward to putting her platform into action, since she has become more involved with it each year she competes. Ballengee is pushing for businesses to become involved with youth in their communities.

"I've been working with it so long, it will be a continuation," she said.

Runner-up to Ballengee was Amber Medlin, Miss Virginia Beach, who will receive a $2,600 scholarship. Medlin, a 1994 graduate of Radford University, said she will use the scholarship to pursue a master's degree at Old Dominion University.

Miss Northern Virginia, Lily Michael, was second runner-up with a $1,400 scholarship. Dawn Tuttle, Miss Lynchburg Festival, became third runner-up with a $1,050 scholarship. And, Nicole Jones, Miss Rappahannock, was fourth runner-up with a $850 scholarship.

Tuttle and Jones both said they were surprised to make the final 10.

"I didn't warm up vocally," Tuttle said, with Jones admitting the same. Both contestants sang in the talent competition.

Miss Lonesome Pine, Rebecca Venable, won the Community Service Award, a $500 scholarship. Miss Appomattox County Festival, Michala Sumnick; Miss Pittsylvania County, Jana Wright; and Miss Southside Virginia, Jacqueline Cook, will split a $600 award as non-finalist talent winners.

by CNB