Hi All!
My journey continues this month as I travel the great state of Iowa working to promote the Children’s Miracle Network and Character Counts! Not to mention, making a few other fun appearances along the way…
My favorite appearances in the last month have been meeting Hawk fans and attending different Iowa Hawkeye events. Before the first home football game in September, I helped at the North Scott I-Club Kids Night where I perfected the art of putting on temporary Tigerhawk tattoos on kids of all ages. I also had the opportunity to perform the Iowa Fight Song for fans. During the home opener, on September 8th, I did a meet and greet tailgate around Kinnick Stadium and I also helped pump up Hawkeye fans at the Hawkeye Huddle before the Iowa vs. Iowa State game.
After being the Golden Girl for the past five years, I must admit it has been unusual not getting ready to take the field on the weekends, which is why it was fun to go back as an alumni for the University of Iowa Homecoming game. Here, I proudly took part in the Homecoming parade and led the Alumni Band on the field for one more pregame – I love that adrenaline rush! It was really great to be back. The fifty yard line of Kinnick Stadium is one of my favorite places in the world. Hopefully, I will make it back for more Homecoming games in the future.
Yesterday, I had the distinct privilege of introducing Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz at the Johnson County I-club breakfast. While I have been to over 40 of these breakfasts over the years, this one was a little extra special. I have met many accomplished individuals as Miss Iowa, but few have captured my respect and admiration like Coach. It was great to see so many familiar faces at the I-Club and a true honor to have had this opportunity to speak of my experiences as a Hawk. I would also like to think that I brought the team a little luck today as they beat the Fighting Illini, but really I must give the credit to the coach. It was a great game for Iowa! Go HAWKS!!
Other fun appearances during the last month have included the Iowa Trappers Association Convention where I participated in my first skillet toss competition (and of which I was not very good), the Iowa Speedway where I met country superstar Craig Morgan and followed the race car drivers in a pre-race lap around the track, and the USO show where I met Miss Illinois, Ashley Hatfield, and performed for our military men and women. At all of these events I continue to meet great people that encourage and inspire me as I prepare for Miss America.
While I have enjoyed an array of entertaining appearances, I have also been working hard to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network and promote Character Education. This month I attended the Credit Union Convention in Des Moines to raise money for the kids at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Later this month, I will also be helping with the Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Superstars Luncheon at Kinnick Stadium – an event that acknowledges the efforts of workers who continue to raise more money for the kids in our local hospitals than any other business in Iowa.
I also have plans to help out on National Make a Difference Day (Saturday, October 27) by helping the Dance Marathon booth sell bratwursts for CMN. Here, I plan to twirl fire at the Hawkeye Tailgate to raise money and after the tailgate I hope to walk across the street to the hospital and visit the kids in their rooms. Bratwursts, Dance Marathon, Miss Iowa, Hawkeye football, fire batons and helping the kids in the hospital – sounds like a fun way to make a difference to me! If you are at the game, you should stop by and support this great cause!
Ultimately, I have been busy traveling to various Iowa schools to talk to students about the importance of making good decisions with the Six Pillars of Character. Within the last month I have been to countless schools including Independence, Tipton, Charles City, Sumner and Fredericksburg and in the next few months I will be visiting many more! National Character Counts! Week is the third week of October, which is just around the corner, so I will soon be visiting schools in Dewitt, Thornton, Solon, and North Liberty, Iowa.
While I’m very excited to speak at all of these schools, I’m especially looking forward to visiting Penn Elementary in North Liberty. For the past three years, I have been working with the students at Penn and have gotten to know the students very well. Last year, we implemented CC! into the school system and it has taken off. I can’t wait to see what the students have done with the pillars this year. It’s bound to be a fun day for me.
The next few weeks look to be as busy as the last. Before I know it I will be heading to Florida for my Miss America cruise and honestly, I can’t wait for that trip! It will be a nice change in pace from the hundreds of miles I have spent on I-80; it will be nice for someone else to take the wheel while at sea ;)
Fondly,
Diana
My journey continues this month as I travel the great state of Iowa working to promote the Children’s Miracle Network and Character Counts! Not to mention, making a few other fun appearances along the way…
My favorite appearances in the last month have been meeting Hawk fans and attending different Iowa Hawkeye events. Before the first home football game in September, I helped at the North Scott I-Club Kids Night where I perfected the art of putting on temporary Tigerhawk tattoos on kids of all ages. I also had the opportunity to perform the Iowa Fight Song for fans. During the home opener, on September 8th, I did a meet and greet tailgate around Kinnick Stadium and I also helped pump up Hawkeye fans at the Hawkeye Huddle before the Iowa vs. Iowa State game.
After being the Golden Girl for the past five years, I must admit it has been unusual not getting ready to take the field on the weekends, which is why it was fun to go back as an alumni for the University of Iowa Homecoming game. Here, I proudly took part in the Homecoming parade and led the Alumni Band on the field for one more pregame – I love that adrenaline rush! It was really great to be back. The fifty yard line of Kinnick Stadium is one of my favorite places in the world. Hopefully, I will make it back for more Homecoming games in the future.
Yesterday, I had the distinct privilege of introducing Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz at the Johnson County I-club breakfast. While I have been to over 40 of these breakfasts over the years, this one was a little extra special. I have met many accomplished individuals as Miss Iowa, but few have captured my respect and admiration like Coach. It was great to see so many familiar faces at the I-Club and a true honor to have had this opportunity to speak of my experiences as a Hawk. I would also like to think that I brought the team a little luck today as they beat the Fighting Illini, but really I must give the credit to the coach. It was a great game for Iowa! Go HAWKS!!
Other fun appearances during the last month have included the Iowa Trappers Association Convention where I participated in my first skillet toss competition (and of which I was not very good), the Iowa Speedway where I met country superstar Craig Morgan and followed the race car drivers in a pre-race lap around the track, and the USO show where I met Miss Illinois, Ashley Hatfield, and performed for our military men and women. At all of these events I continue to meet great people that encourage and inspire me as I prepare for Miss America.
While I have enjoyed an array of entertaining appearances, I have also been working hard to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network and promote Character Education. This month I attended the Credit Union Convention in Des Moines to raise money for the kids at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Later this month, I will also be helping with the Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club Superstars Luncheon at Kinnick Stadium – an event that acknowledges the efforts of workers who continue to raise more money for the kids in our local hospitals than any other business in Iowa.
I also have plans to help out on National Make a Difference Day (Saturday, October 27) by helping the Dance Marathon booth sell bratwursts for CMN. Here, I plan to twirl fire at the Hawkeye Tailgate to raise money and after the tailgate I hope to walk across the street to the hospital and visit the kids in their rooms. Bratwursts, Dance Marathon, Miss Iowa, Hawkeye football, fire batons and helping the kids in the hospital – sounds like a fun way to make a difference to me! If you are at the game, you should stop by and support this great cause!
Ultimately, I have been busy traveling to various Iowa schools to talk to students about the importance of making good decisions with the Six Pillars of Character. Within the last month I have been to countless schools including Independence, Tipton, Charles City, Sumner and Fredericksburg and in the next few months I will be visiting many more! National Character Counts! Week is the third week of October, which is just around the corner, so I will soon be visiting schools in Dewitt, Thornton, Solon, and North Liberty, Iowa.
While I’m very excited to speak at all of these schools, I’m especially looking forward to visiting Penn Elementary in North Liberty. For the past three years, I have been working with the students at Penn and have gotten to know the students very well. Last year, we implemented CC! into the school system and it has taken off. I can’t wait to see what the students have done with the pillars this year. It’s bound to be a fun day for me.
The next few weeks look to be as busy as the last. Before I know it I will be heading to Florida for my Miss America cruise and honestly, I can’t wait for that trip! It will be a nice change in pace from the hundreds of miles I have spent on I-80; it will be nice for someone else to take the wheel while at sea ;)
Fondly,
Diana
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