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Features ?? 6 THE GAMECOCK Wednesday, November 18. 1987 Military hi queens cap Rv f'l.AlUK niKPKNRROTK Staff writer The first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Army ROTC is not usually homecoming queen titles. Two women in USC's Army ROTC program changed that this fall when they were each named homecoming queens. This year, Melanie Williams, a political science senior, was crowned l r: v>v o iiuiiivv,uiitui5 anu riau Johnson, also a political science senior, was crowned Virginia Military Institute's homecoming queen. Johnson was named VMI's homecoming queen through her involvement in the ROTC program. "Last summer at ROTC advanced camp at Fort Bragg, one of my fellow cadets was from VMI," Johnson said. "Since VMI is an all-male school, they always choose their homecoming queen from other sellouts, anu ne suomiuea my picture. It was a real thrill to win." Johnson, who attends Columbia College, is able to attend the ROTC classes at USC under a crossenrollment agreement that allows students from other schools without ROTC programs to take advantage of USC's offerings. Johnson is a recipient of a twoUSC student to Miss US^ By TAMARA WILLIS Features editor A USC student was recently j n4; ? c ? -1- 1 ? ? V.IUWHCU iviii)> ouuin v^aiuima, cunning her to compete in the Miss USA Pageant. Early childhood education junior April Abel traveled to Myrtle Beach the weekend of Nov. 6 to compete in the Miss South Carolina-USA Pageant. She and 38 others in her division spent the weekend competing at VVilright Auditorium on the Coastal Carolina campus. The categories were swim suit, evening gown and interview. The win voiuuia nau iu iutv.v wiiu tacn judge for three minutes and were asked a surprise question while on stage. Host Robert Hallock asked Abel about her hobby of collecting baskets. She said he asked her what her favorite basket was like and whether she would give it to him. She told him no because it was too special. Abel said the weekend was filled with interviews, rehearsal with iviMpti; fnr th/? Anoni 11 n %.%x, ^pv...?5 number, dinners and a lot of fun. She said she deeided to compete in the pageant in March and received her application in the mail in July. She sent the required photo and biographical information and received her acceptance within two weeks. After being accepted as a competitor, she began working out and watching what she ate. She said she did not have any kind of coaching, but competed in a few pageants and did some modeling as a teenager. On Nov. 7, Abel was crowned Miss South Carolina. "1 was really ex SUPER OP1 BUY A PAIR, GET A SPA II vou w .If) <'\r tor .t (Ic.il \n <|u.ilil\ cvfwr.if .it II knlini m l( ivmi .it the lime ot pur* h.isc tot .1 In-r \ lltJV (I < oi'iplctc p.Ill ol Ijl.ISM"* $99 COMPLETE DAILY < EXTENDED WEAR BAUSCH & LOMB SOFT CONTACT I FMQF I his ,i(l is .ilso Hood tor $' ')* < onl.K l lenses .it f I Knbin's downtown store Ihis spei i.il [>ri( e m< Indes .1 p.iir of li.ins< h \ I ornl) <I?i 11v <>i extended we.ir ( onl.K t lenses, eve ex.imm.ition by independent do< tor ot optometry .ind follow-up < .ire Hurry, these offers expire November 28, 1987 Quality eyewear, /ast service ?H'KM^umm : S i ON C I N I Eye Examinations Available By ln< I r ?' sf( ofmI |>.nr iv from 11 Ktihin \ |*J87 I ishum .ivIi^fDdtu jikI olhrf spec mI pn?\< ri|)tmri\ mtjiiim imecoming tture titles year ROTC scholarship and is planning a career in the military, preferably in aviation. Williams plans to attend law school after finishing her undergraduate work. She said she appreciates the options her ROTC training offers. Both queens say experience in Army ROTC has taught them leadership skills, how to deal with people in an v/|^ii-iiiiiiuv.u, a^^cinvt way unu how to analyze situations so they can act appropriately. Johnson says the training also helped her in the competition for the 1986 Miss South Carolina title in which she finished in the Top 20. "Talk about competition; it was worse than ROTC summer camp. At camp all I had to worry about was camouflage. 1 didn't have to worry about my eyelashes or fingernails," Johnson said. ROTC training helped Williams rccnoni'/c hr?w f:?r she rmilH nncli herself. She said it helped distinguish between the times when she should lead and when she should follow. "It's training that really hones your judgement, and that's something you can use the rest of your life." t on her way k rageant citcd. It was something I've always wanted to do. I had always watched the pageants on television and saw the girls waving, but I never thought it would be me." Abel said she had about 30 people cheering for her on the night of the contest. Her dad sponsored her and was very supportive throughout, she said. "When 1 won, my dad was ecstatic. He must have jumped a mile high in the audience." Abel received cash awards, clothing, cosmetics and other prizes. She will also get to interview with talent and modeling agencies in New York. - ~ She will compete in the Miss USA Pageant in March. It will be held in El Paso, Texas. The pageant will be nationally televised, and the winner will receive $250,(XX) in cash and prizes. Abel said she will be staying out of school next semester, because she will have to be gone three weeks in February to prepare for the competition. "I'm looking forward to going to Miss USA in March, but I still can't grasp the fact that 1 am actually going." She said she plans to return to school when the competition is over. She is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She also (caches dance in Lexington and is a volunteer at Epworth Children's Home. She plans to teach first grade when she completes her education and would also like to pursue a master's degree in speech pathology, she said. riCAL SALE! RE FREE ii < .ill s< < tf t hii; l' I '. ! > .t ' !(>v\ n sit in It tin ,ti i // / / 3R ?M * vs8i r 11J8 Main Street skmskksh Two Blocks North Of The Capital B R S 7W-2020 Jependent Doctors Of Optometry Oil I i ??IUm lion .11wI ifm lijitfs l?Mr pl.lsln li'st cla\ isia*?i Miiglr vismi in inii.il < h.ir^i- Ihi'sr .in- no! vnh?H aiO> ,iih of met & B1 arc taken at the Carol! 3AY to have your picture t 1 I I gsSH^BBSS^BB^S^^BSB^BMr libJI^Hw ,: . MV* V H0H| V '"'^|^^*B;:^^:' ".V- pSl' Melanie Williams (left) and Fran Johnson take part in a military exercise, a pi USC's Homecoming Queen, and Johnson was crowncd Homecoming Queen at KHBShI 4B HMIM? April Abel, the reigning Miss South Carolina. I IfiZZ M _ yj & Novell 5 Rr S The I Friday and ! { sp?cid .. X Nov. 2i i. Rubin For An Appointment 7 <"< ?,'?isi.-s...^si.>K t Nov. 29thi 1 J Nov ^ ^^ - V no Mall I ^ SI -OO aken for the yearbook E % ^ w y i Bfri Wr-Bl wmrnmmmJMm v . ---;" ^Ym ir^r^^ll^n' ?ME3Bfl8M3BHl V^aflBi ;;..-;: PflHE9^^3%8*^M?'MZ^?f% JHSV<' a MVHraiB^jH art of their ROTC training at (JSC. Earlier this fall, Williams was named Virginia Military Institute. ON 1 A m jmrrci i/o From staff reports sale for Whitney Houston. Tickets McKlssick Museum are SI7.SO. Nov. 19 to 20: There will be a Tickets for events at Carolina meeting of volunteers for "The Coliseum may be purchased at the First Egyptians" exhibit. Anyone coliseum box office, Taylor Street interested in serving as a volunteer Pharmacy and all other usual for the exhibit may attend the outlets. Tickets may be ordered by meeting at McKissick. For more in- phone and charged to a Mastercard formation, call 777-7251. or VISA by dialing 777-6586. A $2 . ^ . . service charge will be added to the Nov. 23To JaATty^Wft *WMte *Hota1. Tickets also may be orderacP ^ < off V/iMf* ^n exhibit of molded ' by mail. For ctfntfcrt updatfcSr cfcn plastic relief sculptures by Califor- the concert line, 777-7640. nia artist Ralf Parton will be on exhibit. (JSC Syphony Orchestra Nov. 23: The orchestra will per c?? r* ? - ... ivivrvisaivr. is v^icn ihjiii 7 a.m. iu iorm d COnCCn 81 II1C 1 OWIlStlip 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Auditorium at 8 p.m. Tickets arc Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. $4 for adults and $2 for students Sundays. Admission is free. For and senior citizens. more information, call 777-7251 during those hours. - I.ongstreet Theatre Through December 6: Tickets Library Exhibits are on sale for Female Transport by TK f moo. ?ITU ? p ^ L ... . ~ iiuuugii jan. , i7oo. iw cucve uoocn wnn Ann urener U.S. Constitution: S.C. Signers" is directing. Performance dates are on exhibit in the S.C. Legal History Nov. 20 to 22 and Dec. 2 to 6. SunRoom of USC's law school library, day matinees are at 3 p.m., and all The exhibit of letters and personal other performances are at 8 p.m. correspondence is open 9 a.m. to 5 Tickets are $7 and $6 for adults, $6 p.m. weekdays. Admission is free. and $5 for senior citizens and USC For more information, call faculty, and $4 and $3 for students. ' 777-3405. Tickets may be reserved by calling 777-2551/2552 from noon to 5 Carolina Coliseum p.m. Monday to Saturday or one TlirAiinK n ?*? L -f ? ??** >"uub" >"" " mvivvh mv v/n mjui uciurc me penormancc. , ? BLUES ? ROCK \ nbor Sounds # I Qsontlng Tonight 7 Night Hawks with ! Jimmy HoII J Blues $5.00 J i nursaqy nigroi \ ?lb?rt licCllnton X Texas Swing v its $3.00 In Advance x O.OO Day of Show ( Saturday Nights Featuring 7 Th? Coyotes S# ock-N-Roll $3.00 il Shows Coming Up: 7 2nd New Grass Revival a h K 1 l?l t? 2 1= M L I O 1 OV-I 1 I L I I I I I I tsppers J . 30th the Bo Deans 7 embar flttracfifons a st & 2nd Eric Johnson J Guitar Virtuoso / . 3rd Cruis-O-Matic * I Of* With Student ID \ ? 779-8252 { Bazcicir cat FIvq Points JK