Contact: Dr. Karen DilkaContact: Dr. Karen DilkaEastern Kentucky UniversityEastern Kentucky University

Date submitted to deafed.net – May Date submitted to deafed.net – May 29, 200729, 2007

To contact the author for permission To contact the author for permission to use this PowerPoint, please e-mail: to use this PowerPoint, please e-mail: Karen.Dilka@EKU.EDU Karen.Dilka@EKU.EDU

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Heather Whitestone-Heather Whitestone-McCallumMcCallum

Presented by: Krystle Trimble, Presented by: Krystle Trimble, Veronica Lux, Kelly SouthgateVeronica Lux, Kelly Southgate

A Star is BornA Star is Born

Heather Whitestone was born in Heather Whitestone was born in 1973 in Dothan, Alabama1973 in Dothan, Alabama

Profoundly Deaf since 18 months of Profoundly Deaf since 18 months of ageageHaemophilus Influenzae VirusHaemophilus Influenzae VirusMeningitisMeningitisChristmas DayChristmas Day

Early School YearsEarly School Years

Mainstreamed in public schoolMainstreamed in public schoolHelen Keller – role modelHelen Keller – role modelFell behind at 11 yrs. oldFell behind at 11 yrs. oldCentral Institute of the Deaf in St. Central Institute of the Deaf in St.

Louis, MissouriLouis, MissouriTwo grade levels per yearTwo grade levels per year

High SchoolHigh School

Returned after 3 yearsReturned after 3 yearsAt 15, Jesus became biggest role At 15, Jesus became biggest role

modelmodelGraduated from Berry public high Graduated from Berry public high

schoolschool3.6 GPA3.6 GPA

Dance FeverDance Fever

Loved to dance at an early age.Loved to dance at an early age.Used dancing as a refugeUsed dancing as a refuge Joined Dothan School of Dance to Joined Dothan School of Dance to

study balletstudy ballet

Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville State University

Special Deaf programSpecial Deaf programLocal pageants for scholarshipsLocal pageants for scholarships

Shelby County Junior MissShelby County Junior MissMiss Point MallardMiss Point Mallard

Miss AlabamaMiss AlabamaFirst and second attempts were First and second attempts were

unsuccessfulunsuccessfulWon the third timeWon the third time

Competing for the TitleCompeting for the Title

Atlantic City, New Atlantic City, New Jersey 1995Jersey 1995

Ballet RoutineBallet Routine Via Dolorosa Via Dolorosa by by

Christian vocalist, Christian vocalist, Sandi PattiSandi Patti

First woman with a First woman with a disability to be disability to be crowned Miss crowned Miss AmericaAmerica

STARSSTARS

““Success Through Success Through Action and Action and Realization of your Realization of your DreamS”DreamS” Positive attitudePositive attitude A goalA goal Willingness to work Willingness to work

hardhard Realistic look at Realistic look at

your problemyour problem Support teamSupport team

Going to the ChapelGoing to the Chapel

Married John A. McCallum on June 8, Married John A. McCallum on June 8, 19961996Met during her reignMet during her reignVisit to Speaker of the HouseVisit to Speaker of the House

Mother of two boysMother of two boysJohn and JamesJohn and James

Live in Atlanta, Georgia Live in Atlanta, Georgia

Cochlear ImplantCochlear Implant

August 7, 2002August 7, 2002 Dr. John Niparko at Dr. John Niparko at

John Hopkins John Hopkins HospitalHospital

Nucleus 24 Contour Nucleus 24 Contour cochlear implantcochlear implant

Sept. 19 it was Sept. 19 it was turned on turned on

Wanted to hear her Wanted to hear her family’s voicesfamily’s voices

““Hearing my audiologist’s Hearing my audiologist’s clapping hands when the clapping hands when the implant was turned on implant was turned on brought unimaginable brought unimaginable joy to my heart.”joy to my heart.”

In Heather’s WordsIn Heather’s Words

““Through ballet I was fortunate to find a Through ballet I was fortunate to find a place to escape, a refuge from my place to escape, a refuge from my feelings of being an outsider. The feelings of being an outsider. The dance studio was the one place I felt dance studio was the one place I felt accepted and ‘just like everybody else’. accepted and ‘just like everybody else’. Hoping to improve the rhythm of my Hoping to improve the rhythm of my speech, my mother had enrolled me in speech, my mother had enrolled me in a ballet class when I was five years old. a ballet class when I was five years old. The ballet class boosted my self-The ballet class boosted my self-esteem.”esteem.”

For an Autographed PictureFor an Autographed Picture

Write to:Write to:Heather Whitestone-McCallumHeather Whitestone-McCallum

P.O. Box 672801P.O. Box 672801Marietta, GA 30006Marietta, GA 30006

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://www.heatherwhitestone.com/http://www.heatherwhitestone.com/site/content/bio.shtmlsite/content/bio.shtml

http://www.vaccinetruth.org/http://www.vaccinetruth.org/heather_whitestone.htmheather_whitestone.htm

http://www.perfectpeople.net/http://www.perfectpeople.net/biopage.php3/cid=772biopage.php3/cid=772

http://www.cochlear.com/http://www.cochlear.com/MissAmerica.aspMissAmerica.asp

http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/http://www.washingtonspeakers.com/speakers/Speaker.cfm?SpeakerID=1582speakers/Speaker.cfm?SpeakerID=1582