Merry Christmas!

I hope everone has a merry Christmas; I know I am having one! I'd like to thank the board members for the wonderful gifts they gave me. Also, remember the real reason of Christmas. Drive safely if you are visiting freinds and family. :)

Volunteer Opportunity

Here is a volunteer oppportunity that was in the St. Joseph Newspress:

"The National Military Heritage Museum and American Legion Post 11 are sponsoring a "Heart to Heart" letter-writing and support program.
The goal is to support the men and women deployed to Afghanistan, said Frank Flesher, museum diretor. The organizations will be sending letters and cards overseas next year. They are asking schoolchildren, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups and others to prepare letters or pictures.
Volunteers will prepare them for shipping to the troops and pay mailing cost. For additional information, call (816)233-4321.

Judging a pageant

Last Sunday, I was honored to judge a pageant in St. Joseph, Mo. It was the first time I got to judge and it was hard! I loved watching all the girls have fun modeling and answering questions. It was really different being the one judging instead of competing.

I also sang the anthem and helped with crowning. Congrats to all who competed, they did great.

Emceeing a glitz pageant

Last weekend, I emceed a semi-glitz pageant in Kansas City. This was my first personal experience with a glitz pageant.  Of course, I've watched Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC, but this wasn't quite the same as the show! Everyone was pretty normal!
 I have emceed a pageant before, but this one was different because once competition for a category ends there is a break so the contestants can get ready for the next phase of competition. I didn't need filler because once the phase of competition was over the audience would leave or get and up talk to each other and not pay attention to the emcee, :) so the filler I prepared didn't get used. I did learn a lot about Ronald McDonald House. All attendees brought items to donate for them. I also did!

I really wanted to try on the Ultimate Grand Supreme's crown, but I didn't get the chance to. I did have an awesome time seeing how other pageant systems work, though! And I did get to talk about my platform.  I also got to tell some of the girls about the Young Miss/Misses of Missouri pageants, so I hope some of them compete in the America system.

Ringing Bells

This holiday season I got to ring bells for the Salvation Army twice! The first time I rang bells with my little friend, Trinaty, who is five and won the title of Little Miss St. Joseph at the Miss St. Joseph scholarship pageant. We enjoyed a two hour shift, ringing at the mall on a Friday night. While we were ringing, Trinaty went to see Santa and I actually found a teen to volunteer and ring bells with me!

The second time I got to ring bells, was with my sister queen Emily, in Hannibal, Mo at Wal-Mart. We also rang bells for a two hour shift.

Now that I have rang bells myself, I can't go by bell ringers without donating! Thank you if you have donated, it really makes the bell ringers day!:)
This is the Cameron Wal-Mart, on my way home from a busy day in Hannibal.

 

Lighted Parade

This December, I got to participate in my first lighted Christmas parade in Hannibal, Mo! I didn't mind the cold because of all the warm feeling I got when I would ride by little girls and they would say, "Look it's a princess!" I had a great time!

Children Learn Holiday Crafts

In Hanniabl, Mo I got to help kids make holiday crafts! Here is a link to the Hannibal Newspapers's story over it: http://www.hannibal.net/photos/x560073071/Children-learn-holiday-crafts?foto=3

Downtown Lighted Festival

The friday before Thanksgiving was a cold day, but that didn't stop Santa from hearing the wishes of the young at the Downtown Lighted Festival. I got to help him out with pictures.

Miss America Report

Last week, I just got done writing a five paged paper on women's representation; in it I included a lengthy section about Miss America and how the wonderful young women that participate in the scholarship pageant represent themselves. I also talked about the differences in glitz pageants and the Miss America pageant. The Miss America pageant is nothing like the show Toddlers and Tiaras. In the America system girls learn skills that they will keep all their life, like being able to publicly speak and interviewing skills. I hope I get a good grade!

Donating Toys

Today, after school I went to the local mall to donate new, unwrapped toys to the Noyes Home, a foster home in St. Joseph. One of the local radio stations was there to help promote it. While I was walking up to donate my toys, Greg and BJ, the hosts, where on air and said, "Hi, Jacqueline," and started firing questions at me, about my title, what obligations I had to fill as Miss Heartland's Outstanding Teen, and such. I got to talk about my platform and thank the radio station for doing this because nit only is it a great cause, but it also is an easy way to volunteer. I challenged the teens in the area to donate the money they would spend on movie or a toy.

I was asked to sing on air! Scary, but I managed signing a small part of Dream a Little Dream of Me. (: Happy volunteering!

Turkey Trot

On Thanksgiving day my family and I ran a 5K that supported some non-profit organizations in St. Joseph. There were 700 participants that either ran or walked the 5K. Overall I placed twelfth out of all the females that ran; in my age group, 13 to 19, I got seventh with a time of 23:48. I was excited to run my first 5K and get a time, so that I can apply this when I run cross country next year. I also had a very yummy Thanksgiving!(:

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just like to say, have a great Thanksgiving! I have so much to be thankful for... Enjoy your turkey ;-)

Miss St, Joseph/ Midland Empire Pageant

The Miss St. Joseph & Miss Midland Empire pageant was a success! I had a busy day of announcing girls in interviews, emceeing, singing the Nation Anthem and my last year's talent. My favorite part was getting to crown the winners! I had so much fun meeting all the contestants and I'd like to wish good luck to all the girls at their next pageant! Kensie helped with emcee duties, as well as Miss Columbia's OT, Jocelyn Weyer.

Last night's winners were:
Miss St. Joseph Seanica Reineke, Miss Midland Empire Amanda Sasek, Miss Midland Empire OT Patricia Vanquez-Miller, Miss St. Joseph OT Amanda Buettener.

My sister competed in the pre-teen division.

Being a Role Model

It hits you that you really are a role model when you are standing in line for fast food after basketball practice and a girl around six comes up behind you and says, "Aren't you Miss St Joseph?" Her grandma was with her. I got to explain that I had been Miss St Joseph's Outstanding Teen, and that now my title is Miss Heartland's Outstanding Teen, and of course I invited her to check into the Misses of Missouri program. So, even when you aren't wearing a crown and sash, you are still a role model and are still representing the Miss America system.

I am always blown away when little girls read the Miss America logo on the sash, and immediately think I am Miss America, as I explain someday I hope to be, but right now I am a local title holder, it reminds me that we are all out there representing the program. Miss America can't be everywhere, but we can represent those four points where we go. I think a good example of that is how when we were parking cars in Hannibal at the Folklife Festival and collecting for CMN, a gentleman came by and donated. He didn't even park in our lot! He commented that he was surprised to know that young women would work so hard to get to the Miss America stage. He really hadn't realized that girls work hard as local title holders for years sometimes, competing at state, then work hard there before taking to the Miss America stage. He said, "So someday when I see you walk across the Miss America stage, I can say, 'Hey, I saw that girl collecting money in a parking lot for CMN in Hannibal, MO." I do hope he can say that, and more importantly, I know he gained a better understanding of what Miss America is all about!

Happy Verteran's Day!

Thanks you to all who have served, and still are, serving our country! We wouldn't be where we are today if we didn't have courageous veterans!

Happy Veteran's Day!

Thank you to all veterans, and those currently serving to keep us safe and free! :) Thinking especially of my 88 year old great-grandma, an officer in WW2, who was a nurse, patched up my great-grandpa. They were married not long after meeting. He died just shy of their 50th anniversary, before I was born. Thank you to all who serve! :)

16 Point Buck!

Last weekend I was so blessed to shoot a 16 point deer! My massive buck weighed 225 pounds, and was the biggest deer anyone in my family has ever shot. Let's just say I have some jealous family members!;) Haha. My first buck is at the taxidermy; I can't wait to get him back!

Good luck to all those hunters!

Sunday October, 30, I got to help with Royal Princess's Party/Pageant. The party/pageant had costume contests, talent contests and look alike contests, which is where two or more people could dress up as the same thing and get judged on how similar they looked.

I had a booth that took donations for CMN and sold items to help to pay for wardrobe for state. While I was there I got to fill some time in and talk about my platform, the journey to state and Miss America's Outstanding Teen. I was also passing out papers to help find me a princess to take to state. I hope all the girls had fun, I know I did!

I also got asked to help judge the next pageant by Princess Royal, which will be held in December! I'm pumped! :)

Singing Sisters

Also on October 29, Emily and I got to help with the 4th annual "Singing Sisters," an event that is put on by F.A.C.T., Families and Communities Together. The "Singing Sisters" event promotes women to sing for Breast Cancer Awareness as well as to speak about their personal stories with Breast Cancer. Since Emily's platform is Preventative Cancer Care, this was right up her ally. She got to speak in front of the crowd to tell her personal story, which is about her grandma who has suffered from cancer. After she spoke I helped her to pass out Breast Cancer Awareness stickers. It was such a lovely day to get out and volunteer! :) 

"Read and Glue"

On October, 29 I got to help with "Read and Glue," put on by Hannibal, Mo's library. Emily and I read a Halloween book to the attending child, "Usually," the librarian said, "There are more kids, but today we only have one." Last Saturday they had seventeen children! We helped the little girl make a bat. To make her bat she had to cut the outline of her hands out and then glue them to the body of the bat and pick out eyes. Though the crowd was small we had a lot of fun! When we asked the girl to take a picture with us she got shy, but then she realised that we probably wouldn't be there next week so she better get a picture with us.

Every Saturday the Hannibal library puts on one of these little events, for ages 4-6. I hope that Em and I get to go help out again!

Calling All Volunteers!

I received an email today about a volunteer opportunity:

What: 2011 Area Bowling Tournament for Special Olympics Missouri Northwest Area
When: Saturday, November 5th
Time: Two Volunteer Shifts—8:15am-noon, 12:15-4pm
Where: Southside Family Fun Center in St. Joe, MO

TO SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER GO HERE:
http://www.facebook.com/l/zAQGNfR_aAQEkmq2bV0gSIaMDKYZ96_645A6R38ctkYChHA/www.penncomm.com/volunteerMgt/eventDetails.php?regID=228&clientID=1006



The bowling tournament still needs volunteers, so if you are available I would encourage you to go!

 Happy volunteering!

Vocal coach

I found a vocal coach! YAY!!:) I'm so excited to get to work with a past choir teacher. She already has ideas about talent music. I just HAD to blog about this, haha.

Folk Life Festival

I woke up early Sunday to be in Hannibal, Mo around 9 A.M. to help collect money for CMN. CMN stands for Children's Miracle Network; which is the platform of the national titleholders. By blocking off my pageant director's work's parking lot we were able to charge $5 per a parking space. Those who parked there got to park there all day.

Some people were very nice and donated money to CMN, saying that if they would have seen our parking they would have parked there instead of the place they had parked.

I met this little boy who said I was pretty and picked me a flower. :) But, he was too shy to give it to me and take a picture. I signed a picture of myself for him; my first autograph as Miss Heartland's Outstanding Teen!! (:

I wasn't able to help out Saturday because of band competition in Trenton Mo, but my sister queen Emily collected around $450 for CMN! Emily wasn't able to help out Saturday because she had some big tests, but we still collected around $375 for CMN. Overall, it was a very successful weekend!

I enjoyed walking around on a break to see all the things people were selling, and of course, "Eat my way up Main street!"

Jess, her friend Laine, and my dad got to explore Hannibal. The girls visited the cave and of course loved it! After hearing some stories about Tom Sawyer they had to put a penny on the train tracks. Whenever the girls would hear a train they would get excited, but then let down to see it was on the wrong track. Finally, a train came of the track that they had put their pennies on, only to find that the copper was so soft it got compressed into the track!

Had a great time seeing my director and some other pageant board members! :) Can't wait till I go back next weekend. 

Doll Club

Once every month I get the chance to volunteer at Doll Club. Last Friday I volunteered to help with the craft, which was making a doll skirt and tote bag. The girls had to put elastic through the skirt and sew it down to create a Halloween skirt that their doll could wear.  Of course, to match the skirt the girls made a bag by sewing, by hand, the straps on. To go with the craft the museum curator brought out purses from the collection. The girls got to ooohhh and aahh over the ones made totally out of beads!
I got to talk to the girls about my platform, teen volunteerism, and how not only does my platform just reach out to teens, but also those younger. I said that if you volunteer now, you'll get in the habit to volunteer when you're a teen too!


I think the girl's favorite part about doll club is when they get to play with the dolls. The museum has a vast variety of American Girl dolls and their accessories! I watched the girls put on a pageant, so cute! :) I can't wait till next time!

Teen Volunteerism

The Miss America pageant system has a rule that each contestant has to have a platform.  Platforms can vary from promoting reading or teaching others about cancer. I chose the  platform Teen Volunteerism because I think that volunteering is important, not only to  non-profit organisms, but also to teens. In today's world, it is hard to get a job; by  volunteering you can meet people who have connections and can reference you to people  that will help you to get a job, and you may figure out what you want to become when you get older. One of my favorite places to volunteer is the St. Joseph museums at Doll Club. Doll Club is  a club that gets girls from the ages of six and up sewing and doing other things that they  may not get to do at home. In past meetings girls have sewn clothes for their American Girl  dolls, or hosted fashion shows with them. How do you get started? Maybe I have persuaded you to get out in your community and volunteer,  and maybe not, (give it a chance though), but where do you start? In my past school there was an  award called the Presidential Service award. This award is given to those who complete a certain  amount of volunteer hours. Right now, I'm trying to get this award at my current school because  the don't have this award, or any type of volunteer award, and I want the teens at my school to be  able to have the benefits of volunteering too! But, to learn more about this award click here. By  clicking there you will be taken to the award's main page. By clicking here you will be taken to the  web site that will help you to find volunteer opportunities.  Hope this helps you to get started, and remember volunteering doesn't just apply to teens, others can do it too!  Happy volunteering!

Pictures and Pumpkins

This weekend I went to the St. Joseph museums to take pictures that will be used in the Missouri Tourism magazine and on museum advertisement. We were promoting the American Indian artifacts. I got to take a picture in the Archeology room, my favorite! (:

Also, I would like to congratulate my mom, on, yet again, winning a place in the annual Pumpkin Festival in St. Joseph. In the family competition my sister, along with her friend, and dad took first! Jess and her friend were nerdy Nerds; the candy Nerds, dressed as nerds. Clever, haha! My dad was dressed as Willy Wonka and Kelsie, my dog, was an Umpaloompa. (Not sure on the spelling)

P.S I've been very busy, Homecoming week, and didn't get to blog about the Miss Columbia pageant! Congrats to the four new titleholders. Can't wait to see everyone at state! Have fun with your titles; I know I'm having fun with mine! :)

Thank You Heartland Pageant Board

I'm very excited and thankful to have won the Miss Heartland's Outstanding Teen title! I would like to thank all of the sponsors, board members, and volunteers for putting on such a wonderful pageant. All the contestants did very well and I'm sure that we will see some of the other girls crowned soon. In the mean time get out there and volunteer! I hope to blog soon on my platform and the events that are coming up. See you at the Miss Columbia pageant, can't wait!