Miss-Delectable
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The Frederick News-Post Online - Frederick County Maryland Daily Newspaper
It was love at first sight for Michelle Lapides.
"I was in the first grade when Miss Deaf America 1995-1996 came to my class. When my eyes first saw her crown, I fell in love with the concept of being Miss Deaf America," she said in an e-mail interview.
It's not all glitz and glam for Lapides, though. "I also loved the purpose of the (National Association of the Deaf) Miss Deaf America program," she said.
The 19-year-old Maryland School for the Deaf graduate got her wish this year in the form of a very special birthday gift.
Crowned Miss Deaf America 2008-2010 on July 10, just two days before her 19th birthday, Lapides was later honored by Gov. Martin O'Malley during MSD's Homecoming Oct. 18.
Lapides competed against 22 contestants from all over the U.S. in what she calls "a long process."
"I first had to compete in the Miss Deaf Maryland pageant to win the state title in November 2007," she said.
After winning, she immediately focused on fundraising for her trip to the Miss Deaf America competition.
"After six hardworking months, I flew down to Louisiana for two weeks," Lapides said. "The first week was a retreat for all 22 contestants. The retreat was composed of rehearsals, community events, self-improvement and leadership-related workshops."
The Miss Deaf America competition was held at the 49th Biennial NAD conference in New Orleans during the second week of July. The preliminaries lasted three consecutive days before the finals, when they announced the top six contestants.
As Miss Deaf America, she will wear the crown for two years and make appearances across the U.S.
"My platform is about early exposure of sign language for deaf children. My ultimate goal is to create a kit for parents with deaf children," she said.
The kit would include information such as books and videos, and Lapides hopes it will be given to all parents of a child who fails a doctor's hearing screening test.
Currently studying Communications at Gallaudet University in Washington, Lapides has been a student at MSD since first grade.
Born in Takoma Park, she and her family moved to Frederick in 2002 to be closer to school.
Lapides has been a member of Junior NAD since she was a freshman in high school, and said she will always be an active member until the day she stops breathing.
It was love at first sight for Michelle Lapides.
"I was in the first grade when Miss Deaf America 1995-1996 came to my class. When my eyes first saw her crown, I fell in love with the concept of being Miss Deaf America," she said in an e-mail interview.
It's not all glitz and glam for Lapides, though. "I also loved the purpose of the (National Association of the Deaf) Miss Deaf America program," she said.
The 19-year-old Maryland School for the Deaf graduate got her wish this year in the form of a very special birthday gift.
Crowned Miss Deaf America 2008-2010 on July 10, just two days before her 19th birthday, Lapides was later honored by Gov. Martin O'Malley during MSD's Homecoming Oct. 18.
Lapides competed against 22 contestants from all over the U.S. in what she calls "a long process."
"I first had to compete in the Miss Deaf Maryland pageant to win the state title in November 2007," she said.
After winning, she immediately focused on fundraising for her trip to the Miss Deaf America competition.
"After six hardworking months, I flew down to Louisiana for two weeks," Lapides said. "The first week was a retreat for all 22 contestants. The retreat was composed of rehearsals, community events, self-improvement and leadership-related workshops."
The Miss Deaf America competition was held at the 49th Biennial NAD conference in New Orleans during the second week of July. The preliminaries lasted three consecutive days before the finals, when they announced the top six contestants.
As Miss Deaf America, she will wear the crown for two years and make appearances across the U.S.
"My platform is about early exposure of sign language for deaf children. My ultimate goal is to create a kit for parents with deaf children," she said.
The kit would include information such as books and videos, and Lapides hopes it will be given to all parents of a child who fails a doctor's hearing screening test.
Currently studying Communications at Gallaudet University in Washington, Lapides has been a student at MSD since first grade.
Born in Takoma Park, she and her family moved to Frederick in 2002 to be closer to school.
Lapides has been a member of Junior NAD since she was a freshman in high school, and said she will always be an active member until the day she stops breathing.