McCorkle wins Miss South Carolina

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Posted: 9/4/02

Valeria Valenzuela
Staff Writer
ecuachiquita@yahoo.com

The same feet that once walked the pathways of North Greenville College and the same feet that crossed the stage to receive a North Greenville College diploma, are now the same feet that are getting ready to step onto the stage of the Miss America pageant.
Little did NGC know that it carried among its student body a future Miss South Carolina and a possible Miss America.
Little did NGC know that one of its students would overcome a learning disability and gain such a prominent title as Miss South Carolina 2002. Yet this is a reality and the description of NGC graduate with a mass communication degree, Kelly McCorkle.
As early as 1996, when she danced as an entertainer in the Miss South Carolina pageant, McCorkle's potential to gain the crown was discovered. She saw that the girls who participated in this pageant were full of care and zeal for their platforms. The production director of the Miss South Carolina pageant came up to McCorkle during this time and told her that he saw in her a potential Miss South Carolina. These two things sparked an interest in McCorkle and drove her to strive for the crown. With determination, McCorkle ran for the crown for the third year on July 13, 2002. This time, she finished the night wearing the crown.
Though nervous, especially when the top 10 were called out, McCorkle claims to have had a peace about the whole contest.
"My focus this year was just about serving the community and focusing on God," said McCorkle.
When she was announced as the winner, McCorkle said she felt so humbled and completely in God's hands.
Cecilia Pritchard, activities coordinator and previous suite-mate of McCorkle at NGC, was present at the pageant. She was very excited that night.
"From the very beginning I knew it was going to be Kelly. She was so confident...it was just visible," said Pritchard.
One of the things Pritchard admires about McCorkle is her motivation and drive, as she worked hard extra hours with willpower and not a hint of discouragement in order to reach her goal.
The Miss South Carolina and Miss America pageants are the largest scholarship organizations for women and the largest community service programs for women in the nation. McCorkle makes clear that it is not just about a crown.
The platform, which McCorkle represents, is that of learning disability education and awareness. This is a cause that is close to her heart because of her personal history, being dyslexic and with deficiencies in auditory processing. Though many thought McCorkle was wasting time attempting to even get a high school education, she proved them wrong by going beyond expectations.
There has never been a national spokesperson for this type of platform and McCorkle's number one goal at the moment is to have a larger forum. She is currently pushing for an alternative diploma program, which will provide another option for the learning disabled to be able to go straight from school to work. Currently, 50 percent of learning disabled students drop out from school. This platform is what McCorkle is now focusing on full time.
"I just want people to hear and be educated," said McCorkle.
McCorkle, who is very appreciative of North Greenville College, believes she could not be who she is without the help of NGC. She urges NGC students to not take for granted all that they are being fed spiritually, academically, and physically.
McCorkle's steps are now being headed towards the Miss America pageant that will be held the 17-21 of September between 51 total contestants. She is excited to go, full of peace, and with a desire to stay focused. If McCorkle wins the Miss America pageant she would bring back a $25,000 scholarship to the college. She said she would be very glad to do that for NGC. However, she is more excited to take and make known the North Greenville message that Christ makes the difference.
Clinging to Jeremiah 29:11, McCorkle believes that God has a plan for everybody. Her very life proves that God can use anybody to do anything.
"It's all about God...not about Kelly wearing a crown," said McCorkle.
She asks for the prayers of NGC students. She desires to continuously bear the fruits of the Spirit, so that more than anything, people would see Christ in her.