DATE: Friday, March 7, 1997                 TAG: 9702270656

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: Making a Difference 

SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   44 lines

OCEAN LAKES' TANN LETS HER RECORD SPEAK FOR ITSELF

After meeting McKeesha Tann, you have to wonder how someone so easy-going can get so much done.

The soft-spoken high school senior is class president at Ocean Lakes High School, where she was co-captain of the varsity volleyball and basketball teams this year and for basketball last year as well. She also plays volleyball with the Coastal Virginia Junior Olympic Travel Team, is a member of the National Honor Society and has volunteered as a tutor and at a food bank. McKeesha was junior class president, sophomore class vice-president and has served on the SCA Executive Board at Ocean Lakes since the school opened in 1994.

Oh, by the way, she was also chosen homecoming queen by her fellow students in the fall and is carrying better than a 3.0 grade point average.

Ask her how she does it all, and she'll flash one of her quick smiles.

``I just like working with people,'' she says.

Ocean Lakes Principal Jerry Deviney describes McKeesha as ``an outstanding young lady.''

``She's been an integral part of building the foundation out here,'' he said. ``She (leads) in a very quiet, unassuming way. I think kids look up to her for that reason.''

McKeesha, who lives with her mother in the Seatack area of the city, averaged 12 hours per day at the school during basketball season, 10 during volleyball. She believes her work ethic comes from her mother, a customer service representative with Virginia Power who also has volunteered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Girl Scouts and other organizations.

From high school, McKeesha plans to go on to college, possibly to the University of Virginia or to another school if offered an athletic scholarship. Whatever the school, she plans a career in sports medicine.

And she doesn't consider the time she gives to her school and to others anything extraordinary.

``I don't give my life totally to others,'' she said. ``I'd rather see someone benefit. If I could give to help someone or to benefit someone, I would.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

McKeesha Tann

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