High achievement runs in the family 

Kimberly Gittings, Miss Georgia USA 2009, does not see herself as a typical beauty pageant contestant. This ROTC cadet, who is majoring in medicine and speech communication at UGA said, “I’m just as comfortable on my mountain bike as I am in an evening gown.” From playing the harp to holding a high school internship in endocrinology with Dr. Naland Shenoy at Eastside Endocrinology in Snellville, her skills and talents run the gamut. And for this, she credits her mother.

“I have an Asian mother and Asian mothers tend to push their children to do their best.”

Her mother, YoungShin Gittings doesn’t argue with this.

“Korean mothers are willing to sacrifice to provide the best things for their children, encouraging them to pursue excellence in all they do,” said Gittings.

Neighbors noticed the outstanding parenting skills Gittings displayed with her daughters Kimberly and Kristen two decades ago when they were living in Valdosta.

“I was approached by several friends in the possibility of providing child care for them while they worked. Knowing how much I love being around children, I agreed and soon after I became a certified family child care provider for the state of Georgia.”

This was more than just a way for Gittings, the wife of an Air Force officer, to make a little extra money at home. She took classes and kept abreast on teaching methods and the latest childcare trends, even incorporating many Montessori methods into her instruction.

“I teach children respect for their elders and to help out by fixing meals, serving and cleaning up. They learn it and it becomes a habit. I think parents recognized and appreciate those things I teach their children.”

The whole community took notice of Gittings’ outstanding child care services and in 1998 nominated her for the Georgia Child Care Professional of the Year Award. She placed in the top five, and then in 1999 captured the title. “I was ecstatic when I won and was presented the award by the former First Lady of Georgia, Mrs. Roy Barnes.”

That year, her family moved to Lilburn and Gittings had to start from scratch finding children to care for in her home. But it didn’t take long. She’s spent the last ten years caring for the children of teachers, principals, doctors and attorneys and has a stack of thank you notes and reference letters as testimonials for her wonderful work. And once again, her children’s’ parents nominated her for an award, this time at the national level. On May 7, just before Mother’s Day, Gittings will travel to Washington D.C. where a Georgia senator will proclaim her the 2008 Outstanding Childcare Provider of the Year.

Gittings is thrilled, of course. But equally, if not more thrilling, is the achievement of her daughter Kimberly, which you all can watch tonight at 7:00 on NBC, as she competes a national title, that of Miss USA.

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