Madison VanDuyne

      A survey of 36,000 high school students conducted by the non-profit Josephson Institute in 2006, as part of the National Character Counts program, indicated that one out of five students believed that  “People who are willing to lie, cheat or break the rules are more likely to succeed than people who do not.” 

The lack of personal ethics and the “soft-skills” needed by industry has reached such heights that the implementation of character education has become a necessity in our schools.  The pillars of Character Counts are identified in elementary, middle and high schools and builds on the principals of trustworthiness, respect, caring, responsibility, citizenship and fairness. 

  I have invested hundreds of hours to my platform towards reversing the current trends of apathy, self-indulgence and declining national pride.  Through my efforts, I have proven that the fundamental premise of the Miss America Organization that women through service and education can be empowered to effect positive change in the lives of others.  As Miss Roanoke Valley, Miss Virginia, and ultimately, Miss America, my personal mission is to spread the message of Character Counts, and to foster in individuals, young and old, the development of personal values, self-esteem, social responsibility, and self confidence.  

The following are highlights of my experiences as a spokesperson and advocate for the Character Counts program:

·         Lead a Juice Drive program benefiting 321 service agencies in Virginia, and involving 29,000 school children, local television and business government leaders in Southwest Virginia

·         Keynote Speaker at elementary, middle and high school events, advocating the Character COUNTS! program to over 1,500 students.

·         Working in collaboration with Virginia Senator John Edwards, Board Chairman of Valley Character to promote volunteerism in the Commonwealth

·         Recipient of President George W. Bush and the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation’s  President's Volunteer Service Award.

·         Facilitator for the Character COUNTS! Program: Ethics in the Workplace, an annual program that invites recognized leaders in the community, to educate high school seniors on the responsibilities and ethical decision in the work environment.

·         Publicity Chairperson for Botetourt County’s Relay for Life, in which I interviewed cancer survivors to published their stories of hope, as well as provide educational information on various types of cancer and preventative treatment recommendations in the Fincastle Herald  newspaper, reaching over 28,000 people weekly.

·         Member of the Executive Board for Botetourt’s American Cancer Society’s  Relay For Life, assisting to raise $250,000 over a three year period.

·         Volunteer with the Children’s Miracle Network, providing leadership in area fundraising, education and advocacy programs.  Personally collected over $5,000 in goods and services for the Children’s Miracle Network annual fundraiser in Roanoke.

·         National “Start Something” Scholarship Recipient presented by the Tiger Woods Foundation for exceptional volunteer service. I was honored to meet Tiger Woods. 

Each of these activities is an avenue for facilitating my vision of building stronger communities through citizenship and respect. As Miss Roanoke Valley, I will continue to promote the Character Counts program within the Commonwealth and the nation through partnerships with schools, school districts, youth-service groups, and communities at large.   I will carry forth the touch ignited by President Kennedy, humanized by the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and heralded by President George W. Bush making community service and civic pride not just an ideal for Americans but a duty carried out with passion and commitment.

For more information about Character COUNTS! please visit: http://charactercounts.org/