Contact: Dr. Karen Dilka Eastern Kentucky University Date submitted to deafed.net – May 29, 2007 Date submitted to deafed.net – May 29, 2007 To contact the author for permission to use this PowerPoint, please To contact the author for permission to use this PowerPoint, please To use this PowerPoint presentation in its entirety, please give credit to the author. To use this PowerPoint presentation in its entirety, please give credit to the author.

Heather Whitestone- McCallum Presented by: Krystle Trimble, Veronica Lux, Kelly Southgate

A Star is Born Heather Whitestone was born in 1973 in Dothan, Alabama Heather Whitestone was born in 1973 in Dothan, Alabama Profoundly Deaf since 18 months of age Profoundly Deaf since 18 months of age Haemophilus Influenzae Virus Haemophilus Influenzae Virus Meningitis Meningitis Christmas Day Christmas Day

Early School Years Mainstreamed in public school Mainstreamed in public school Helen Keller – role model Helen Keller – role model Fell behind at 11 yrs. old Fell behind at 11 yrs. old Central Institute of the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri Central Institute of the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri Two grade levels per year Two grade levels per year

High School Returned after 3 years Returned after 3 years At 15, Jesus became biggest role model At 15, Jesus became biggest role model Graduated from Berry public high school Graduated from Berry public high school 3.6 GPA 3.6 GPA

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

Jacksonville State University Special Deaf program Special Deaf program Local pageants for scholarships Local pageants for scholarships Shelby County Junior Miss Shelby County Junior Miss Miss Point Mallard Miss Point Mallard Miss Alabama Miss Alabama First and second attempts were unsuccessful First and second attempts were unsuccessful Won the third time Won the third time

Competing for the Title Atlantic City, New Jersey 1995 Atlantic City, New Jersey 1995 Ballet Routine Ballet Routine Via Dolorosa by Christian vocalist, Sandi Patti Via Dolorosa by Christian vocalist, Sandi Patti First woman with a disability to be crowned Miss America First woman with a disability to be crowned Miss America

STARS Success Through Action and Realization of your DreamS Success Through Action and Realization of your DreamS Positive attitude Positive attitude A goal A goal Willingness to work hard Willingness to work hard Realistic look at your problem Realistic look at your problem Support team Support team

Going to the Chapel Married John A. McCallum on June 8, 1996 Married John A. McCallum on June 8, 1996 Met during her reign Met during her reign Visit to Speaker of the House Visit to Speaker of the House Mother of two boys Mother of two boys John and James John and James Live in Atlanta, Georgia Live in Atlanta, Georgia

Cochlear Implant August 7, 2002 August 7, 2002 Dr. John Niparko at John Hopkins Hospital Dr. John Niparko at John Hopkins Hospital Nucleus 24 Contour cochlear implant Nucleus 24 Contour cochlear implant Sept. 19 it was turned on Sept. 19 it was turned on Wanted to hear her familys voices Wanted to hear her familys voices Hearing my audiologists clapping hands when the implant was turned on brought unimaginable joy to my heart.

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

For an Autographed Picture Write to: Heather Whitestone-McCallum P.O. Box Marietta, GA 30006

Works Cited ontent/bio.shtml ontent/bio.shtml ontent/bio.shtml ontent/bio.shtml estone.htm estone.htm estone.htm estone.htm p3/cid=772 p3/cid=772 p3/cid=772 p3/cid= kers/Speaker.cfm?SpeakerID= kers/Speaker.cfm?SpeakerID= kers/Speaker.cfm?SpeakerID= kers/Speaker.cfm?SpeakerID=1582