Feature
She also intensively reads books on fighting
styles to aid in her training. “It may look to the
crowd like I’m throwing wild, crazy (punches
and kicks), but it’s all purposeful,” Starkey said.
Some of her students and college colleagues
have discovered her “hobby” and are surprised
but supportive.“Some of them are very surprised,” Starkey said of her students’ reaction.
“I’m not a very big person, but I’m a kind person. I’m very warm and hands-on and there to
help my students. … So many of them follow
(MMA). They’re very interested in that sport.
And several of them came to my fight and think
it’s pretty cool.”
Her father, a former standout college football
player who dabbled in Gold Gloves boxing, also
had to be won over to his daughter’s newfound
passion. “Before the first fight he was really terrified,” Starkey said. “But when the ref held up
my hand (in victory), I pointed at him. He’s still
nervous for me, but he was proud.”
Stage for Success
SHU Graduate Dellonnie Shelby
Wins Title of “Mr. Michigan”
Dellonnie “Dale” Shelby ’09 will put his professional communications degree to good use
this summer.
The graduate of Siena Heights’ Metro Detroit
Center will compete in the Mr. North America
pageant Aug. 5-8 in Las Vegas, Nev. Earlier this
year, the 41-year-old Shelby was chosen as the
“Mr. Michigan” representative. Now, the Southfield, Mich., resident will compete at the national
level for a chance to broaden his platform of
mentoring and stress management.
Starkey has a few matches scheduled for this
summer and is content with her classroom career. “I don’t have any expectations of going pro,”
Starkey said of her MMA goals. “It’s just a hobby
for me, and I plan on keeping it that way.”
Although he has an extensive background in
public and motivational speaking, Shelby has
had to deal with an anxiety disorder that eventually hospitalized him. He said he has overcome
that disability, and that experience has made
him even more determined to help others dealing with similar challenges. The Mr. Michigan
title has also allowed him more public speaking
opportunities to spread his mentoring/stress
management message.
However, true to her balance of the academic
and athletic, she is eventually planning to take
up another hobby. “I would like to take more art
classes,” she said. “I have a passion for painting.
I do a lot of personal writing, and it leads me
to paint something.” u
“That (anxiety disorder) has helped prepare me
to speak about my platform,” said Shelby, who is
managing his condition. “I’m quite accessible to
many civic groups. I talk about things like parenting and stress management, and how those
things have impacted my life.”
Dellonnie Shelby ’09
“(Public speaking) is something I’ve wanted to
do,” he said. “It gives me further opportunities to
capitalize on my platform.”
The pageant is set up much like the more familiar women’s competitions. The contestants will
be judged on categories such as private interview, formalwear, casual wear, on-stage interview
and platform issue. Shelby said his experience—
as a public speaker—will give him an advantage.
“I am accustomed to being in front of large
groups of people,” said Shelby, a married father
of two young children. “I have a great advantage
because I have life experiences, and that is relevant to what a lot of people are experiencing
in their lives.”
And even though past pageant winners have
been closer to age 20 than 40, “I do have a very
youthful look,” Shelby said of his physical appearance, which he maintains through cross country
running and meditation. “I’m not intimidated.”
“She (his mother) spoke very
favorably of the (Detroit) program . . . And it was an incredible program. Siena was very
accommodating.”
Above: Crystal Starkey (far left) defies the odds and competes in a
very male dominated sport as a female Mixed Martial Arts fighter.
Shelby said his educational experience at
Siena Heights was a positive one. In fact, it was
his mother, Velma Shelby Crawford, a 1988
graduate of SHU’s Metro Detroit program,
who recommended Siena to him. “She spoke
very favorably of the program,” he said. “And
it was an incredible program. Siena was very
accommodating.”
Shelby was selected Mr. Michigan from more
than 50 applicants based on criteria such as academic success and community service. The pageant is open to men ages 18-52, and Shelby was
the first African-American to earn the title of
Mr. Michigan. He said he is currently preparing
for the Mr. North America pageant, which will
include a substantial prize package and a year
of public appearances and speaking engagements around the country.
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