Reigning Mrs. Virginia, Army officer visits U.S. Army NASCAR team

ARNEWS ^ | Lt. Col. William Thurmond

[SandRat]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service, April 5, 2006) – The U.S. Army NASCAR racing team has played host to hundreds of dignitaries, VIPs and generals over the past several years, but this past Sunday they spent some time with an army officer who has combined talent, leadership and educational pursuits to achieve success both in and out of the army.

Capt.-promotable Rose Lopez-Keravuori, who also happens to be the reigning 2005 Mrs. Virginia, was a guest of the U.S. Army team at Sunday's DIRECTV 500 Nextel Cup race. It was the first NASCAR race for Keravuori, who was crowned Mrs. Virginia last May.

A 1997 West Point graduate with degrees in Spanish, French and Computer Science Engineering, Keravuori spent six years on active duty in Germany as a military intelligence officer.

A multi-talented woman, she is a classically trained musician who is also fluent in several languages.

“I speak French and Spanish fluently, and German pretty well,” said Keravuori. “And I’ve studied at a university level Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Hungarian.”

Keravuori credits her extensive language ability for improving her work as a military intelligence analyst in the U.S. Army Reserves. “They help a lot. But unfortunately my languages don’t really help me in the areas where we’re deployed today. Arabic would help me.”

When she’s not working, Keravuori and her husband are avid outdoor adventurers. Their experiences range from ordinary to extreme, including some desert sand dune surfing.

“I did that in Namibia, in western Africa,” said Keravuori. “After active duty I took a year and a half off with my husband and we’re both outdoor enthusiasts. We took 30 days to hike across Costa Rica, camping with indigenous tribes throughout. We ice climbed in New Zealand and hiked around Tibet. I love being outdoors.”

Living in Arlington within sight of the Pentagon, Lopez-Keravuori has traveled all over Virginia to promote her pageant platform on education. Slated to surrender her crown in May, she’ll then prepare for her next adventure – a six month deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

“I’ll be going to Bagram in Afghanistan as an executive officer, so I’ll be an intel officer for Soldiers dispersed throughout the country. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to deploy and do my part,” said Keravuori.

Before Sunday’s race, Keravuori took a few lessons in how to change a tire using one of the team’s gas-powered impact wrenches. And just like most things she’s tried, she soon had it mastered … almost.

For more information on Rose Lopez-Keravuori visit http:// www.MrsVirginia2005.com.

[SandRat]

Photos by Lt. Col. William Thurmond

Reigning 2005 Mrs. Virginia and Army officer Rose Lopez-Keravuori talks with two Army NASCAR crew members David Cook (left) and J.D. Hilton in the Martinsville Speedway garage prior to the start of Sunday’s race.

(From left to right) Henry County Deputy Sheriff Douglass Sharpe, reigning 2005 Mrs. Virginia and Army officer Rose Lopez-Keravuori and her friend Joanna Pierce look at pictures of Sharpe’s daughter Sherri, a CH-47 helicopter pilot currently deployed in Iraq.

Reigning 2005 Mrs. Virginia and Army officer Rose Lopez-Keravuori tries her hand at tire changing in the Army pit stall prior to the start of Sunday’s DIRECTV 500 NASCAR race in Martinsville.

(From left to right) Army NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek, Joanna Pierce and reigning 2005 Mrs. Virginia and Army officer Rose Lopez-Keravuori talk on pit road just before the start of Sunday’s DIRECTV 500 NASCAR race in Martinsville.

[SandRat]

NASCAR and Mrs. Virginia PING!!!

[umgud]

Looks like Front Row Joe was front and center.

[tubebender]

Nascar ping...

[SevenofNine]

OH NORMMMMMM

[BenLurkin]

Go ARMY!

[NormsRevenge]

Go ARMY!

[NormsRevenge]

I stuck a link for this on to this week's Nascar thread .. Thanks!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT