Shelby woman chosen KSU queen
Posted: 8/28/2009
By James Mulcahy
Elisabeth Martin is all about diversity, and now she spreads
that message using herself to illustrate her point.
Elisabeth, from Shelby County, was in April named Miss Kentucky State University. That's quite an accomplishment -- especially for a Caucasian girl attending a historically black college.
In fact, Elisabeth's own research indicates that she is the first white girl to be elected queen of any black college -- ever. She sees this not only as a personal triumph, but a triumph for her school, too.
"For Kentucky State University, I think it's a big accomplishment," she said. "The university has shown its diversity through its queens." Elisabeth said a Nigerian student was queen in 2001, and a queen in the 1950s was biracial.
Elisabeth, a fifth-year senior studying English literature, said that perhaps the election of President Barack Obama helped in her quest for the crown.
"It really helped show that America would support a person not based on his appearance or his skin color or his biological background, but more on what he stood for," she said. "People supported Obama as an individual rather than as a black president."
Student reaction to a white queen at a black college was mixed, Elisabeth said. "Most of the students were excited, but a few didn't know what to do with it. For the most part, everyone was very positive."
But winning this popular vote at the 2,700-student university took four years of building credibility -- and a campaign staff of 75 volunteers.
"My track record is very positive when it comes to integrity issues and character issues," she said. "I've been consistent throughout my four years here."
The queen
Elisabeth Martin's parents are well known locally. Her father, James, is an accountant in Louisville but used to work at Country Market (now Save A Lot). Mom is Starla, a local artist known for her murals.
"People knew my parents, and they always knew me as 'James' daughter' or 'Starla's daughter.' I like that environment where people know who you are."
That philosophy of friendliness was instrumental when it came time for college.
"I chose KSU because of the small class size," she said. "I didn't want to be a number; I wanted to be a person. I wanted to be who I wanted to be -- Elisabeth. My professors know my name instead of being one in a hundred."
She also chose KSU because of its diversity.
"Diversity is one of my biggest emphases on life itself," she said. "That's what I love most about this campus: it's so diverse."
The 2005 Shelby County High School graduate hopes to use her love of diversity and skills in English lit to become an English teacher -- in Asia.
"I've taught in three countries -- Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. I really enjoy teaching the villagers."
As campus royalty, her days are often filled with public relations assignments.
"Miss KSU does open houses and orientations and anything else the university has requested her to do," she said. "There's also a Mr. KSU. We host events for organizations, sometimes we judge pageants, and we help put together pageants for the university. I do a lot of women's empowerment seminars; he does men's empowerment. I do things with elementary, middle school and high school students in the local schools -- especially with the girls. We do a lot of recruiting."
Elisabeth had a hard time convincing her friends that the title would not go to her head.
"One of my biggest things was keeping that standard up," she said. "A lot of people are like, 'Once you get in that position you'll ... miss class more ...' No. Academics are first; that's why you come to the university. During election week, I never missed a class. I may have been tired, but I was there."
The campaign
Being chosen by one's peers is a task not for the faint of heart. Elisabeth treated the election as if it were a political campaign. She gathered 75 of her closest friends and went to work.
"We had 900 postcards, 725 bookmarks, 120 buttons, 100 T-shirts, 500 flyers, 50 posters, two banners, 900 candy bags -- and we made 200 brownies for the men," she said with a savvy smile. "There were 348 votes, which is the biggest turnout in 10 years, and that was a good thing. This year was a very controversial election, not just because of me, but another individual who was running for a different position. As far as getting in, I had everything perfect. I never had anything on my conduct record. I have one of the highest GPAs for a Miss KSU (3.5). I have 130 credit hours. In fact, I can graduate right now if I want."
Even with those credentials, Elisabeth put her trust elsewhere.
"My biggest thing is how God impacted everything -- I couldn't have done it on my own," she said. "I knew God was going to take care of me, even if I didn't win. If I've messed up on something, or if it has succeeded, he's always used that as a stepping stone."
Along with diversity, Elisabeth wants to use her Miss KSU title to embrace womanhood.
"I realize that it's cool to be a woman," she said. "You can be tomboyish or you can be preppy, but realize who you are. Get to know yourself."
Elisabeth, from Shelby County, was in April named Miss Kentucky State University. That's quite an accomplishment -- especially for a Caucasian girl attending a historically black college.
In fact, Elisabeth's own research indicates that she is the first white girl to be elected queen of any black college -- ever. She sees this not only as a personal triumph, but a triumph for her school, too.
"For Kentucky State University, I think it's a big accomplishment," she said. "The university has shown its diversity through its queens." Elisabeth said a Nigerian student was queen in 2001, and a queen in the 1950s was biracial.
Elisabeth, a fifth-year senior studying English literature, said that perhaps the election of President Barack Obama helped in her quest for the crown.
"It really helped show that America would support a person not based on his appearance or his skin color or his biological background, but more on what he stood for," she said. "People supported Obama as an individual rather than as a black president."
Student reaction to a white queen at a black college was mixed, Elisabeth said. "Most of the students were excited, but a few didn't know what to do with it. For the most part, everyone was very positive."
But winning this popular vote at the 2,700-student university took four years of building credibility -- and a campaign staff of 75 volunteers.
"My track record is very positive when it comes to integrity issues and character issues," she said. "I've been consistent throughout my four years here."
The queen
Elisabeth Martin's parents are well known locally. Her father, James, is an accountant in Louisville but used to work at Country Market (now Save A Lot). Mom is Starla, a local artist known for her murals.
"People knew my parents, and they always knew me as 'James' daughter' or 'Starla's daughter.' I like that environment where people know who you are."
That philosophy of friendliness was instrumental when it came time for college.
"I chose KSU because of the small class size," she said. "I didn't want to be a number; I wanted to be a person. I wanted to be who I wanted to be -- Elisabeth. My professors know my name instead of being one in a hundred."
She also chose KSU because of its diversity.
"Diversity is one of my biggest emphases on life itself," she said. "That's what I love most about this campus: it's so diverse."
The 2005 Shelby County High School graduate hopes to use her love of diversity and skills in English lit to become an English teacher -- in Asia.
"I've taught in three countries -- Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. I really enjoy teaching the villagers."
As campus royalty, her days are often filled with public relations assignments.
"Miss KSU does open houses and orientations and anything else the university has requested her to do," she said. "There's also a Mr. KSU. We host events for organizations, sometimes we judge pageants, and we help put together pageants for the university. I do a lot of women's empowerment seminars; he does men's empowerment. I do things with elementary, middle school and high school students in the local schools -- especially with the girls. We do a lot of recruiting."
Elisabeth had a hard time convincing her friends that the title would not go to her head.
"One of my biggest things was keeping that standard up," she said. "A lot of people are like, 'Once you get in that position you'll ... miss class more ...' No. Academics are first; that's why you come to the university. During election week, I never missed a class. I may have been tired, but I was there."
The campaign
Being chosen by one's peers is a task not for the faint of heart. Elisabeth treated the election as if it were a political campaign. She gathered 75 of her closest friends and went to work.
"We had 900 postcards, 725 bookmarks, 120 buttons, 100 T-shirts, 500 flyers, 50 posters, two banners, 900 candy bags -- and we made 200 brownies for the men," she said with a savvy smile. "There were 348 votes, which is the biggest turnout in 10 years, and that was a good thing. This year was a very controversial election, not just because of me, but another individual who was running for a different position. As far as getting in, I had everything perfect. I never had anything on my conduct record. I have one of the highest GPAs for a Miss KSU (3.5). I have 130 credit hours. In fact, I can graduate right now if I want."
Even with those credentials, Elisabeth put her trust elsewhere.
"My biggest thing is how God impacted everything -- I couldn't have done it on my own," she said. "I knew God was going to take care of me, even if I didn't win. If I've messed up on something, or if it has succeeded, he's always used that as a stepping stone."
Along with diversity, Elisabeth wants to use her Miss KSU title to embrace womanhood.
"I realize that it's cool to be a woman," she said. "You can be tomboyish or you can be preppy, but realize who you are. Get to know yourself."
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