Pulaski County High School - Cougar Pinnacle Yearbook (Dublin, VA)

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Ladies in waiting is the scene as fifty- five contestants await the crowning of the new Miss PCHS Miss PCHS Dana Long gives a warm smile after being crowned. Second- runner-up Angie Johnston and first- runner-dp Shelly Mabe show their en¬ thusiasm. Miss PCHS — SI

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A Shower of Beauties As everyone took his seat in the Little Theater on November 16, 1986, the question of who would be the new Miss PGHS crossed the minds of many. This year the pageant was dif¬ ferent in that the girls not only wore an evening gown but casual wear also. The girls were still required to have a sponsor and pay the $5.00 entry fee. As the curtain opened, the theme, A Shower of Beauties, was revealed. The fifty-five girls were ready to vie for the title. The masters of ceremony for the evening were Howard Petruziello and Chris Bushong. The contestants were escorted by seniors Randy Chinault, Mark Cox, Maurice Cousins, and Tommy Patterson. The contestants first appeared in their casual wear; each gave her name and sponsor. The girls then changed into their evening gowns. The contes¬ tants each had a turn on the stage. After all fifty-five girls had appeared, the judges with- Masters of ceremony, Chris Bushong and Howard Petruziello call the six finalists out on stage. New Miss PCHS Dana Long adjusts her crown after winning the pageant Escorts are also a part of the pageant. Debbie Davidson is escorted out on stage by senior escort Mark Cox. drew to make their decisions for the second round. The con¬ testants were narrowed to twenty-three, then sixteen for the third round. Each of these girls was asked the question “What are your plans for the fu¬ ture?” The contestants were then narrowed down to the six finalists; they were Dawn Dillon, Angie Johnston, Shelly Mabe, Dana Long, Kim Meredith, and Nicole Wagner. The judges took one last look before deciding the winner. Miss PCHS of 1985, Susan ! Mitchell, took her last walk on stage before crowning her successor. The results were given to the MC’s and they announced the winners. They 1 were second-runner-up Angie Johnston, first-runner-up Sh- ( elly Mabe, and the new Miss PCHS 1986, Dana Long. Dana accepted her crown with great joy and enthusiasm. Dana would now reign until next fall when she would crown her successor. 20 - Miss PCHS

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Ralph Sampson Speaks; Students Listen Curiosity filled the minds of many students as they won¬ dered who the guest speaker was to be at the first all-school assembly on September eighth. Within minutes after class had been dismissed, bleachers in the gym were filled with excited, ch attering students. Conversations suddenly stopped as students spied Ralph Sampson, attired in a white satin sweatsuit and red shirt, ducking through the en¬ trance. He stepped on the small wooden platform at the end of the gym and folded his tall frame into a metal chair. Then as the noise of the crowd died down, Mr. Sheffey introduced the administrator of St. Albans Hospital, Mr. Robert Terrell, who had ar¬ ranged for the visit. After Mr. Terrell had introduced him, the crowd erupted in applause for Ralph Sampson, the power forward of the Houston Mr. Sampson used many methods to get the students involved in what he was saying. Here, he asks the students, “How many of you have tried drugs?” Rockets. As he approached the podium, it seemed to shrink. While he raised the micro¬ phone stand to its highest point, he made light joke s about his seven foot four inch height and his size seventeen shoe. Then in a serious vein, Sampson spoke for forty-five minutes about the use and abuse of drugs. “Drug abuse is a major problem, not only in schools but across the nation,” he stated. “Peer pressure is the number one reason for drug abuse.” He went on to explain some of the effects and statistics of drug use. He gave specific ways to prevent drug abuse at school and at home. He spoke of the popularity of cocaine and how deadly and destructive it could be to a per¬ son’s life. Cocaine and its newest form, crack, affect the central nervous system. Both are very highly addictive and dangerous, he added. He criticized the attitude of people who think that “it’s O.K. to try a drug once, because I won’t get hooked.” Sampson stated, “Most do get hooked!” “If you take drugs, you either live or die,” he said. “If a person who is on drugs is trying to fmd his her way out,” he advised, “you should stay away from your friends on drugs, turn yourself in to the police before someone else does, and get into a rehabilita¬ tion center.” Drugs are a problem not only to students, but to super¬ stars, too. Ralph Sampson spoke from the heart as he told of the death of Len Bias and the drug use of former teammate John Lucas. “Don’t let your friends pressure you into using drugs,” Sampson advised. “Find other people to hang out with. Find better things to do. Plan for and get prepared for your future. Make America drug free. Start with yourself.” “Make this the best high school in America,” he con¬ cluded. “To be the best high school in the country, start by saying no to drugs.!”