She Was Second Runner-up in Miss America Pageant

WINSTON-SALEM – One day you’re a student; the next, you’re Miss North Carolina. Before you know it, you’re thisclose to being Miss America.

It happened to Kirstin Elrod, 23, who graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Music on May 29, 2004. On July 26, she won the Miss North Carolina crown. On Sept. 18, she competed in the Miss America Pageant before a live, national TV audience and came in second runner-up.  

Kirstin (pronounced Keer-stin) Elrod will speak about her reign as Miss North Carolina and her trip to Miss America, as well as her time at NCSA, as the keynote speaker for the annual Family Weekend at NCSA. She will speak at approximately 9:50 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, in the Main Theatre of the School of Filmmaking Studio Village on the NCSA campus. She will be joined by her parents, Sharon Farrell of Cary and Terry Elrod of Raleigh.  

Miss North Carolina will be introduced by her major teacher at NCSA, Marilyn Taylor of the School of Music faculty. Elrod studied opera performance in the School of Music, where she received scholarships from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and the Wachovia Foundation, as well as the Chancellor’s Scholarship.  

A native of Cary, Elrod graduated from Cary Senior High School, where she was a cheerleader, member of the State Championship Cross-Country Team, representative on the Student Council, and member of Students Against Drunk Driving. She was a North Carolina Scholar and attended North Carolina Governor’s School. 

While at NCSA, Elrod also attended numerous classes in the School of Drama. She is certified by the Society of American Fight Directors and worked professionally as an actor at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire during its 2003 season. She was recently elected to the Opera Company of North Carolina’s Advisory Board of Directors. Elrod was Miss Carolina Foothills in the Miss North Carolina pageant. Her platform is “counteracting chemical and substance abuse.” After her reign, she plans to pursue a career in musical theatre, theatre, and film. 

The theme for this year’s Family Weekend at NCSA is “experience the magic.” Parents and family members attending Family Weekend at NCSA will have a continental breakfast beginning at 8:45 a.m.

Oct. 30. Beginning at 9:30 a.m., opening remarks will be given by Vice Chancellor for Student Life Anne White, Provost Lucinda Lavelli and Student Government Association President Sarah Bumgarner. Remarks by NCSA Chancellor Wade Hobgood will follow Miss North Carolina’s keynote speech. 

At approximately 11 a.m., attendees will participate in special sessions that include: an exploration of the Alexander Technique, which discovers natural body movement; taking a film editing class; and panel discussions about student life issues.  

The arts schools will hold open houses and special demonstrations for the families during the afternoon, and parents may have conferences with high school academic program faculty members. On Saturday evening and Sunday, parents are encouraged to visit with their children and attend student performances, exhibitions and screenings.  

More than 230 people – 106 families – have already signed up to attend NCSA’s Family Weekend, which is organized annually by the Division of Student Life.  

Editor’s Note: This is a ticketed event and not open to the general public.  

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