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!