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Miss
Idea 2003
Wears
a New Crown
by
Susan McNeill
The
rhinestone-studded crown sparkled in the dazzling stage lights. The moment
was at hand. The audience held their collective breath as the emcee read,
“And the new Miss Brandywine is ... Vincenza Carrieri-Russo!” As
the glittering crown was placed on her head, a radiant young woman smiled
at the thunderous applause.
Many
readers will remember Vincenza Carrieri-Russo as Miss L’Idea 2003. Today,
the 20-year-old
University
of
Delaware
sophomore wears a new crown, but her message is the
same. “I want young women to understand the
many benefits of pageantry,” she explains. “I’ve learned so much.
The most important lesson: never give up!”
That
philosophy apparently works. Since age16 she has held many titles
including Miss Mola (2001), Miss Grumo (2002), Miss Tri-County (2003),
Miss L’Idea (2003), and Miss Brandywine (2004). “Although I’ve won a
few titles, I learned more from the pageants I didn’t win,”
Vincenza stresses. “For example, I competed in the Miss Teen Delaware
USA Pageant three times. After each unsuccessful try, I’d go back and
assess what worked, what didn’t. Losing gave me incentive to work harder
next time.”
That
work ethic is evidenced not only on the pageant stage, but in all aspects
of her life. For example, in
July 2002, the then 18 year-old high school senior saw a need in her
community to help increase literacy rates. Where most teens might simply
shrug their shoulders, Vincenza dove in. That summer she co-founded the
statewide literacy organization Success Won’t Wait, Inc. Since then, she
has organized dozens of book drives, collecting over 12,000 used books
for redistribution.
Her
dedication has not gone unrecognized. Vincenza was recently honored
with the Daily Points of Light Award for
July 15, 2004
by the Daily Points
of Light Foundation. Each
weekday, one volunteer effort nationwide is featured on the Foundation’s
web site. Vincenza is one of only seven volunteers from the State of
Delaware
honored since 1998, when the web site went on-line.
“It is an incredible honor,” says Vincenza humbly. “There are many
wonderful volunteers nationwide that give selflessly of their time. They
all deserve to be recognized.”
She
also recently was awarded the State Community Service Award and a $1000
scholarship by the Miss America Organization and the Delaware Community
Service Award and a $500 scholarship by the Miss Delaware Organization, as
part of the Miss Delaware Pageant held in June. These two awards add to a
growing collection including the Town and Gown Award (
University
of
Delaware
), the Village Award of Merit, (State of
Delaware
), and the Gold President’s Student Service Award, (White
House initiative).
With
so many titles, scholarships, and awards, it might be easy to pigeonhole
Vincenza as a “classic overachiever.” Her interests, however, are
quite diverse. She dances, plays piano, loves to cook, and spends plenty
of time just hanging out. “I don’t really see myself as very unusual,”
she says.
So
what’s next for this extraordinary young woman? “I’d like to win my
state title and go to the Miss America Pageant,” she says. “Build my
literacy program. Graduate with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. There’s
so much I want to do.” If
her resume is any indication, she’s well on her way!
IDEA
SETTEMBRE 2004
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