By Mark Boshnack
Staff Writer
ONEONTA _ "The most important thing I get to do is what I am doing right now," the current Miss New York told a student assembly at Greater Plains Elementary School on Monday.
Elisabeth Baldanza brought her story that includes growing up in East Meredith, winning the state pageant and plans for her future, to about 100 students in grades 3-6. She made a similar presentation at Riverside Elementary School later in the day.
Baldanza, 23, who will be competing for the Miss America crown in January, said she first decided to enter the pageant this year. She used her lifelong love of dance in her pursuit of the crown.
She never expected it to go as far as it has, she said. The pageant will be televised Jan. 26 on The Learning Channel.
"I would love to be Miss America," she said.
But if that doesn’t happen, she will be happy in her current role until a new Miss New York is crowned in July 2008.
She talked about life lessons that have been reinforced by her experiences.
The most important thing a person can do involves service to others, she said.
"Try to get up and think of ways to make someone else happy each day," she told the students. It will help students feel better about themselves, she said.
"You have a responsibility to choose how you act," she said.
The Oneonta Lighthouse Christian Academy graduate said that she is uncertain of her future goals, concentrating on making presentations around the state and getting ready for the competition.
She received her bachelor’s degree earlier this year from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa.
Students came away from the nearly hour-long talk with a positive message.
Sixth-grader Kristen Wells said she was most impressed by the discussion about service.
"It’s good to help people," she said.
She also enjoyed holding the regional crown that Baldanza passed around for students to handle.
Fifth-grader David DePauw said he learned a lot about what Baldanza went through to become Miss New York. He was not surprised about hearing about Baldanza’s lessons in life because he knows there are things that are more important than money, he said.
Greater Plains music teacher and private instructor Cindy Donaldson was Baldanza’s vocal coach when she played the part of Wendy for the Orpheus Theatre production of "Peter Pan" nearly 10 years ago.
"I was thrilled," she said, when she learned about her former student’s achievement, but she was not surprised.
"Whenever she had a goal in mind," Donaldson said, "she would achieve it."
