ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 10, 1997 TAG: 9702120023
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: extra credit
Name: Kianna M. Price
Age: 19 (as of yesterday)
School: University of Richmond; 1996 graduate of Patrick Henry High School, Roanoke
Year: First-year sophomore
What she's done for others: Kia was on Patrick Henry's PRIDE team, a performing group that brings anti-drug messages to elementary and middle schools. She received the 1996 PRIDE National Youth Award at the organization's national conference in Ohio, one of five recipients out of 600 nominations. She also received the 1996 Outstanding Leadership Award at the National Leadership Conference, sponsored by Rotary International and the American Legion.
Kia became involved in student government in the eighth grade when she was elected Student Government Association president. She continued her leadership roles in her freshman year as captain of the junior varsity cheerleading team, then as president of her class and of the PRIDE team in her junior year. In her senior year, Kia was SGA vice president, captain of the varsity cheerleaders and president of the PRIDE team.
``Kianna was always concerned about the whole student body when a decision was made in SGA,'' said Tim Bane, her SGA adviser in high school. ``She led by example. If there was something to be done, she would always take on more than the others. If you had more students like her, education would be a very, very easy field to be in.''
In 1995 Kia was chosen as a delegate from her school to Virginia Girl's State, a selective, intensive conference designed to teach young women about governmental procedures. She ran against 10 other girls in her political party, gave ``lots of speeches,'' received the party's nomination and ultimately was elected governor of the 50th session of Girl's State by the 600-member assembly. Last year she presided over the conference, with all the responsibilities and functions of a state governor - conducting meetings, passing and vetoing legislation (in theory only) and ``giving more speeches.''
Kia volunteered at TRUST's Teen Line as a phone counselor and worked two part-time retail jobs during her senior year. Still, she maintained her grades and was accepted as a Cigna Scholar at the University of Richmond, providing her with a major scholarship. Because of her advanced classes at the Governor's School and The Center for Humanities, she was able to enroll as a first-year sophomore.
``There are millions of things I could say about Kianna,'' said Rita Willis, a guidance counselor at Patrick Henry. ``She's always giving of herself for nothing in return, for the sheer joy of seeing someone else smile. She will stand up for what's right no matter the consequences.''
Kia was a member of her school's Beta Club, an honor society and service organization. She played viola in the Roanoke Youth Symphony for five years, and sang in the Roanoke College Children's Choir for nine years as well as in High Street Baptist Church's youth choir.
Other activities: Last semester Kia was chosen for the cast of the musical ``Into the Woods'' and was invited to sing with the school's jazz combo. She was also asked to sit on the scholarship selection committee.
I would like people to think of me as ...: ``an individual who cares about benefiting others and the welfare of others. The talents I have are not just for myself. Everything I do and get involved in is to better the lives of other people.''
In my free time I like to ...: ``What free time? I love to listen to music and like working with kids. Last week I went to the Girls' and Boys' Club of Richmond.''
What I'd like to change about the world: ``People's attitudes. I'd love for people to wake up and realize that we're not alike. Because I don't look or talk like you doesn't make me any better or any less.''
Most important issue facing teen-agers today: ``The one common thing is the pressure of drugs and alcohol. A lot of kids do it because they say there's not anything else to do. I found things to do in my spare time. Teen-agers use a lots of excuses - there's nothing to do, they want to fit in, they didn't know drugs were so bad for them. That needs to stop now.''
The toughest lesson I've learned so far is ...: ``to determine who your true friends are. I always took my friendships for granted. I cherish my family and friends more now that I'm away. True friends are hard to come by.''
My greatest thrill has been ...: ``Girl's State. It was overwhelming and uplifting to see 600 girls unite together, strong girls who will make a difference in our society.''
My major goal in life is ...: ``to open a youth performing arts center in Roanoke. We have a lot of things here, but we need one central location.''
Best advice I've received is ...: ``to be yourself.''
My dream date: ``Someone who respects everything I'm interested in and me as a woman, someone I can talk to about anything and who can talk to me about anything, a guy who has a future for himself, an educated man who's dependent and independent, who's willing to ask for help.''
Plans: Kia plans a double major in leadership studies and speech communications, with a minor in music. She may enter the fields of broadcasting or public relations.
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: color.by CNB