By Erika Anderson

Staff Writer

TYRONE-Not every student gets the opportunity to meet her mentor.

For Kristi Williams, an eighth-grade student at Our Lady of Victory School, that opportunity became a reality when Melissa Summers, radio personality at KISS 104.7 FM presented her with a $1,000 grant for winning first place in Macy's "Follow a Leader Contest."

Williams was one of more than 1,600 students from Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore, Miami, New York, Philadelphia and New Jersey who participated in a contest that asked students to select one of many role models in their respective cities whose footsteps they would most like to follow.

Williams, 12, read about the contest in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which co-sponsored the program along with Macy's.

The students were asked to select one of eight chosen mentors, including Summers and other Atlanta leaders they would most like to follow and who they felt best exemplified their idea of a personal role model.

"I listen to Melissa Summers on the radio and she is just such a positive person," Williams said. "If someone gives a negative comment, she always comes back with a positive comment."

Summers, known to listeners as "Atlanta's Girlfriend," has increased the station's midday ratings from the top 10 to the top five. She was named one of "Atlanta's Top 100 Black Women of Influence" by Atlanta Business League. She co-hosts the nationally syndicated show, "Lost in the 80s," and participates in many charitable activities.

In her essay, Williams called Summers a "breath of fresh air."

"Her inspirational, dynamic, self-assured style reaches out and touches a diversified audience," she wrote. "Ms. Summers is in sync with her listeners in more ways than one. Not only does she efficiently fulfill musical requests, but she readily offers positive, sincere advice to those in need of encouragement. Have faith and be strong are messages that she passes on during her late morning to afternoon radio program."

Summers was asked to pick one essay out of five semi-finalists for her category to be considered as a finalist for the national youth motivation program.

"It was really hard to just pick one of the five essays," Summers said. "All of them were great, but I felt so impressed that this young lady was able to connect with my spiritual and professional side ... She seems so mature in knowing what she wants."

After Summers chose Williams' essay, the essay was then chosen as the first among all the mentors' essays in Atlanta, giving Williams, in addition to the $1,000 educational grant for herself, a $5,000 grant for Our Lady of Victory. Summers presented Williams with the grants at a special breakfast held at the Lenox Macy's on Nov. 4.

"I felt so excited all my hard work had paid off," Williams said. "It was such a surprise to actually win and that they thought my essay was exceptional."

Williams' mother, Rose, thinks her daughter is pretty exceptional.

"She makes my day," she said. "I am just so proud of her."

Mrs. Williams admires the writing skills that her daughter possesses and said that her daughter has always been determined to do well.

"She puts very high expectations on herself," she said. "She likes to not only do well, but to really achieve. I'm always amazed when I read her stories. Her writing is just so put together."

Williams said that she would like to "be a doctor, but continue writing on the side."

"I really like writing stories and creating scenes," she said. "It gives me a chance to express myself."

She stays very involved at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Atlanta, as a member of the youth choir and of the usher and confirmation ministries, and said she "enjoys the feeling of being involved."

"I just really like helping people," she said.

Williams also likes her school. Citing math as her favorite subject, Williams is one of only five eighth-graders at the new school, which opened this year.

"I love the safe feeling of being in a warm, Catholic environment," she said.

In her essay, Williams said she believes that "my education can help me follow in Melissa Summers' footsteps because the qualities that she displays are present in the philosophy of Our Lady of Victory School."

"I am an eighth-grader in a faith-filled environment, and like Ms. Summers, I am spiritually rooted, positive, knowledgeable, capable of charming an audience and dedicated to fulfilling my highest dreams," she writes. "I realize that I will encounter difficulties along the way, but with prayer, faith, and trust for God's word and respect for myself and others, the victory will be mine."