Workforce Youth in Excellence Ceremony

Spoke at the WV Work Force Youth in Excellence awards ceremonies to a group of approximately 200 high school students who have had extreme obstacles to overcome in their educational and employment path and who have made extreme progress, worthy of receiving an award.  My talk emphasized the tools for success, and commended the attendees for their efforts.

Headed home for the first time in days!  Thought I would get to rest, but then began the arduous task of unpacking, laundry, paying bills, and again, replying to messages.  Good to sleep in my bed tonight!

News story & video from the Parkersburg News Channel WTAP - http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/48934547.html

Camp Muffely Autistic Camp

Woke up to the phone ringing off the hook with interviews, e-mails to check and txt messages to send back.  Had 78 txt messages of congratulations and more than on Facebook.  Spent a little time trying to respond and thanking everyone for their support.  Chose the photograph to go on my autograph pad and worked on getting those ordered.  Set up meetings with the DHHR Cabinet Secretary Martha Walker and Mission WV to begin my platform awareness and our partnerships.

Wrote a speech to give the next day in Parkersburg, my first speaking appearance.

Went to Cheddar's for a late lunch (yes, more food!) and mom tried to put her hair on my face in the reflection of the door as we were going on to see how auburn would look on me - little did we realize that the hostesses and waiters had recognized me and were laughing their heads off, wondering what we were up to.

Went to TJ Maxx to buy mom underwear and some clothes, as she was unprepared to stay with me as long as she was going to, and I had my first request for an autograph!  A lady approached me and said, "Aren't you the new Miss WV?  I watched you  - congratulations!  Could I please get your autograph for my niece?"  I, of course, said, "Sure," in my usual loud voice, and she says, "Shhhh, don't let everyone in the store know who you are, they'll bombard you!"  I just laughed and wrote a note to her niece on a receipt we found in her purse.

Went to Superior Ford to pick up the car they provide for the year - Jarod Hartshorn is absolutely the most generous and friendly guy around!  What a blessing they are!  I was overwhelmed by their generosity and tickled to see that the car they provided (Ford Focus) gets great gas mileage!

Off from the dealership to my first appearance at Camp Muffley, autistic camp run by Rick Romino of the Clarksburg Elks Club.  I was met by Rick Romino, the camp organizer, who introduced me to the campers and the staff.  What a great evening that was!  My favorite part was the talent show, where campers and staff showed their many unique gifts for music, theater and dance.  The talent show included me and another camper who promised me we were going to be "ballroom dancers."  Turns out he liked to slow dance, and that was okay, as I wasn't coordinated enough to ballroom dance anyway.

Left Camp Muffley and drove to Parkersburg, arriving in the hotel at 10:30 p.m. - BIG DAY!

1st Board Meeting and Judges Critique

I woke up this morning with the realization that as exhausted as I was, I was also more excited than I've ever been about living this next year. The first item of business as Miss WV is to meet with the Board of Directors (who gave up their Father's Day to invest in me) to ensure that I accomplished everything I envisioned throughout my year and to begin the preparations to successfully represent our state at Miss America.

In the Judge's critique, I was somewhat surprised to learn that their suggestions for me were the following:

1. Dye your hair the auburn color of your mother's (mom says they must have been paying more attention to her than to me - haha!)

2. Pick a different song, possibly with more range

3. Wear eight-inch heels in swimsuit, "Let those legs go on and on"

After our meeting with the Board, mom and I and Misty McMinn (my great friend who happens to be my Director) went out to eat and blew that diet out at Eat-N-Park. I had eggs, bacon, french toast, two bowls of soup, salad and cake! Whoohoo!!

Went to bed at 8:00 p.m., and did well to stay up that long!

PICTURE: My pageant director and one of my best friends, Misty Quick McMinn. She has been one of the biggest reason why I ever became Miss West Virginia.

The Crowning Moment

Overwhelmed with tears and excitement...

So cool that the year I win Miss West Virginia, Miss America is there to help crown.

Wow - it is finally me! All these years of pageants, with that ultimate goal to SOMEDAY be MISS WEST VIRGINIA! First, thanks to my Lord and Savior, who promised me five years ago on that very stage (while Julia Burton was doing her final walk) that one day my mom and I would have a year to travel together all over this great state, just like Julia described. God is my rock, my shelter in the time of storm, and my joy that overflows!

This year, my platform is "Child Abuse and Neglect - Breaking the Cycle" and with it, I hope to impact the lives of children through my school tour, increase awareness of the Child Protective Services needs legislatively and do my best to recruit more foster families and adoptive homes for those children looking for that "forever family."

http://www.boomboxradio.net/boombox/PlayerSetup/Players/STATEJOURNALPlayer.aspx?FileId=189163_state

J.E. Robins Elementary

Weeks before leaving for Miss America, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit J.E. Robins Elementary school in Kanawha County. The students at this school were particularly well behaved and now I understand why.

Each month the children have an assembly to recognize those who have had excellent behavior. All month you have the opportunity to keep all of your “points” because of good behavior and at the end of the month your classroom, lunchroom, and recess behavior is tallied up. The students were having their monthly “Excellence Assembly” and I was able to serve as their assembly speaker.

Each and every one of the students who had maintained all of their monthly points, lost only one, two, or three, were rewarded at the assembly. The principal there told me that he started this Excellence program when the school behavior was proving to be a distraction from the classroom. “The students respond very well to receiving praise for their behavior at an assembly, in front of their other classmates. This provides an incentive and push to be a good student not only in the classroom, but also exhibit good behavior. The Excellence Awards provide a sense of rivalry between the students in the classroom and pushes everyone to be the best behaved student. It has been a very positive tool and one we will continue to use.”

After the assembly, I visited some of the classrooms and was even serenaded to by a group of three girls. They sang “Halo” by Beyonce and a 2^nd grade classroom sang their class version of Jingle Bells. One of the teacher was a friend of mine when growing up. It was great to see her again and in here 'element.' Pictured below: