In January, Deondra Rose placed first among 28 contestants vying for the title of Miss UGA. During the competition, Rose played “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” on the violin. As a result, she won the talent portion of the pageant. She also won the interview portion of the pageant during which she discussed her platform: youth leadership development. Just before winning the Miss UGA title, Rose learned she has been accepted to the UGA School of Law. Ideally, she would like to earn a law degree and then a Ph.D. in public policy.
Hometown:
Lawrenceville, Georgia
High School:
Norcross High School
Degree objective:
A.B. in Political Science with a minor in Sociology
Expected graduation:
May 2005
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
I was named Miss University of Georgia 2005 a couple months ago. I won the interview competition and the talent competition in which I played the violin. I am a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society, and I expect to graduate summa cum laude with a 3.93 GPA. I finished college in 3 years, and I have been accepted to UGA’s School of Law. I am the president of Pi Sigma Alpha, UGA’s political science honor society. I am a Presidential Scholar, a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, a HOPE scholar, and a National Achievement Scholar.
Current Employment:
I am a student assistant in the business office of UGA’s main library.
Family Ties to UGA:
I feel so fortunate to have such a cadre of supporters in my family. My parents Donna Rose-Gresham and Kelton Gresham, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and uncles are my inspiration! Furthermore, I’m the eldest of four children, so being a positive role model for my siblings is extremely important to me.
I chose to attend UGA because…
…I was drawn to UGA’s reputation for academic excellence. Moreover, I was impressed by the political science program and its world-class faculty.
My favorite things to do on campus are…
…attending lectures given by guest speakers. Among my favorites are the Parthemos lecture sponsored by the School of Public and International Affairs and the Holmes-Hunter Lecture. I am also a fine arts enthusiast, so I enjoy theatrical productions and concerts in the performing arts complex.
When I have free time, I like…
…to conduct research: I have a great appreciation for scholarly research, and I am currently exploring funding phenomena as related to female political candidates. When I’m not researching, I can be found practicing violin, working out, or catching up with friends.
The craziest thing I’ve done is…
…I gave up junk food for almost a year! You could never imagine how many people offer you cookies just when you decide to give them up!
My favorite place to study is…
…the first floor of the main library behind the reference books because the environment is wonderfully conducive to active studying (and not falling asleep)!
My favorite professor is…
…Michelle Ballif in the English Department. She is a brilliant scholar, a dedicated professional, and a terrific role model. My platform issue at the Miss UGA Pageant this year was Youth Leadership Development, and one of my ongoing tasks is to provide an effective definition of leadership. I think that Dr. Ballif exemplifies leadership!
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with…
…Kamala Harris, the first woman and first Indian/African-American to be elected District Attorney of San Francisco. She was only 39 years old when she was elected last year. I would love to talk to her about her career as a prosecutor and her commitment to juvenile justice.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to…
…study abroad! I regret not having had the opportunity to travel outside the country. I firmly believe that experiencing unique cultures and different places is integral to becoming truly educated.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be…
…being Miss University of Georgia. Thus far it has been a surreal experience, and it keeps getting better! I am honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to represent UGA, and I hope to make a positive difference in this community through youth leadership development.