ENID woman plans to teach kids not to use drugs as Miss Oklahoma

<br>TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ The new Miss Oklahoma said Sunday she wants to teach elementary children to set goals that will help them avoid drug use. <br><br>Kaci Hundley, of Enid, was crowned Miss Oklahoma

Monday, June 11th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ The new Miss Oklahoma said Sunday she wants to teach elementary children to set goals that will help them avoid drug use.

Kaci Hundley, of Enid, was crowned Miss Oklahoma 2001 Saturday night at the Oral Roberts University Mabee Center. Hundley, Miss State Fair of Oklahoma, won an $18,000 scholarship and a chance to represent the state in Atlantic City, N.J, this fall in the Miss America contest.

``It's kind of been a whirlwind,'' she said Sunday. ``I haven't had time to let it soak in just yet.

``I can't believe it. People keep saying, 'I'll see you in Atlantic City.' Wow! That's about all I can respond with.''

Hundley began talking to elementary school children about drugs in 1995 as a freshman in high school. She created an anti-drug program called ``Be Somebody, Go Somewhere.''

``I think sometimes we don't realize that peer pressure begins at an early age,'' she said. ``If we're going to go and tell these children what to say no to, we better tell them what they can do. I help them find things they're good at.''

Hundley said she will take a year off from school at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., where she majors in music business. She wants a career as a contemporary Christian singer or an entertainment attorney.

Hundley said her favorite part of the eight-day state contest was the interview by a panel of seven judges.

She won the talent competition with a vocal solo, ``The Way of Love.''

The first runner-up was Miss Coweta Area, Betsy Wagner, a 22-year-old ORU graduate.

Miss Broken Arrow Emily Long finished as second runner-up, performing the piano solo, ``Hoedown from Rodeo.''

Forty-three local title holders participated in the pageant hosted by Amy Duncan Basham, Miss Oklahoma 1996.

The Miss Oklahoma pageant is sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Tulsa. It provides more than $85,000 in cash scholarships and more than $4 million in in-kind tuition from Oklahoma universities.