Saturday, August 25, 2007
Just Keep On Traveling
Hello Everyone!
As my ventures as Miss Iowa continue to get better and better, I have much more to share with you about my experiences and appearances as Miss Iowa. First, I want to tell you all about my great trip to the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition in Orlando, Florida. On Tuesday, August 7th, I flew down to Orlando to catch Taylar Swartz, Miss Iowa’s Outstanding Teen, compete in her first round of preliminary competition. The Iowa section cheered loud as Taylar performed her contemporary clogging routine to “Great Balls of Fire.” What a fun, energetic talent number! I also went to the preliminary competitions on Wednesday and Thursday, and the finals on Saturday, August 11th.
All week, Taylar did a wonderful job on and off the stage. With her great attitude and fun personality, I’m sure Taylar was a hit with the staff and contestants. She was definitely my favorite! There were many great performances by all the contestants, but the number that got me out of my seat was the large group production number to “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” As one of my favorite Broadway songs, I was on my feet by the end of the show. Watching the girls perform this number got me jazzed about performing at Miss America.
In addition to cheering on our Teen pageant sisters, the Miss contestants were also treated to several days of fun, food, and amusing activities while in Orlando. Thursday, August 9th was Miracle Treat Day for the Children’s Miracle Network. As a result, all the Miss contestants took a tour of the Arnold Palmer Hospital and even had a chance to hang out and play with the kids. With a Disney inspired hallway and playground for kids to play on along with a state-of-the-art NICU and pediatric emergency room, I was very impressed with the facilities and care provided by Palmer Hospital. Plus, the kids were incredible! They have so much courage and strength at such a young age. It is amazing to see firsthand the life changing things CMN is doing for children across the country. It makes me very proud to be an ambassador of this well-deserving organization.
On Friday, August 10th, the Miss contestants were treated to a fun-filled day at Walt Disney World and it was the best trip to the Magic Kingdom that I have experienced to date. As soon as we walked in the park, we received our own set of ears and had a special photo shoot with the man of the hour, Mickey Mouse, in front of Cinderella’s castle. With the VIP treatment we received, we were also able to ride every ride in the park including Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and of course, It’s A Small World. We even got to ride my favorite ride in the Magic Kingdom, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. It was a day of laughter and thrills for all 26 contestants that were able to make the trip to Orlando. For me, it was the perfect vacation from the non-stop, busy schedule that I have had for the past two months!
Along with Disney, we were also treated to a delicious dinner provided by the Florida State Board at Maggiano’s, an exquisite Italian restaurant, a night of hors d'oeuvres and dancing at the Millenia Fine Arts Gallery, and a Luncheon at Planet Hollywood. I want to thank all of the sponsors who made these events and memories possible for the 2008 Miss contestants! I’m so glad I was able to go to Orlando where I got to meet and hang out with many well-rounded, talented, and beautiful young women from across the country. After my trip to Orlando, I’m confident that my journey to Miss America will be a very inspiring and rewarding experience.
Furthermore, I want to thank Nancy Lee and Becky Lee Hinton for treating Taylar and I to a day at Universal Studios and Blue Man Group. Taylar and I had a blast together! We rode Jaws, E.T., Shrek 4-D, and the best ride in this park, Revenge of the Mummy. If you have never been on that ride, you must go! It is amazing – Taylar and I rode it twice. In addition, I was picked as a stunt double on Earthquake and Taylar and I were assistants in the Fear Factor Live show. Although I didn’t have the stomach to watch the contestants drink blended grasshoppers, worms, and sour milk, it was fun to watch live the show that I have seen so many times on TV. There were some pretty intense stunts, but I think Taylar and I could have held our own as contestants. That same night we saw Blue Man Group, another must see show, and it was exceptional and hilarious as usual. Thanks again Nancy and Becky; I couldn’t imagine a better way to end our week in Orlando!
While I had many great experiences in Orlando, the most exciting moment of this trip was when they announced the date for Miss America 2008! I’m thrilled to inform you that on January 26th, 2008, I will be competing live from the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Los Vegas, Nevada for the Miss America crown. In addition, the show will be aired live on TLC (The Learning Channel), so you can watch right from the comfort of your living room couch. I know many of my friends and family are already planning on coming to Vegas, which means so much to me! Although there is a lot to do between now and then, I can already see the bright lights of the strip. ;)
Along with preparing for the national pageant, I have been also making numerous appearances across Iowa during the month of August. In returning from Orlando, I headed straight to the greatest state fair in America, the Iowa State Fair! I have been attending the state fair every year since I was five and I couldn’t wait to enjoy the food, shows, and fun. I was also able to stop by the Bill Riley Talent Show and meet some of the 2007 contestants and fairgoers. As the 2004 Senior Talent Search Champion, it was an honor to once again be a part of this Iowa State Fair tradition. Thank you Bill Riley Jr. for inviting me back to the Bill Riley Stage. My visit to the fair wouldn’t have been complete without seeing the baby pigs, getting a Hawkeye tattoo at the Iowa booth in the Varied Industries Building, and eating infamous Iowa State Corn Dog. You’ve gotta love the Iowa State Fair!
Other appearances I have made in the last two weeks include the Rocking on the River Fundraiser in Iowa City for the Children’s Miracle Network. Here, I helped serve food and performed a twirling routine for the attendees. On the same day I also attended my first ever Corn Boil, which was a Democratic fundraiser in Clinton, IA. Along with enjoying some great sweet corn, I also had the opportunity to meet and hear four of the democratic presidential hopefuls speak: Hilary Clinton, John Edwards, Joe Biden, and Chris Dodd.
This past week I had the opportunity to walk the halls of Norwalk High School for the first time since I graduated in 2002. I was honored to have been recognized by the entire staff and administration of the Norwalk Community School District at their annual back to school staff meeting. I greatly enjoyed my visit back to NHS as it was nice to talk many of the teachers and coaches that helped mold me into the person I am today. Thanks to all of these great teachers for your support, guidance, and encouragement over the years!
With school starting up, I’m sure I will be busy in the next few months visiting schools across the state of Iowa. On Thursday, I had my first Character Counts! school presentation as Miss Iowa at Atlantic Middle School and Atlantic High School. I spoke to the students about the importance of character and making good choices. I’m hoping to spread this message to many more schools throughout the year, progressively making a positive impact on the youth of Iowa with each presentation I give.
I’m sorry this update was so long; I just had so much to say!
Until next time,
Diana
As my ventures as Miss Iowa continue to get better and better, I have much more to share with you about my experiences and appearances as Miss Iowa. First, I want to tell you all about my great trip to the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition in Orlando, Florida. On Tuesday, August 7th, I flew down to Orlando to catch Taylar Swartz, Miss Iowa’s Outstanding Teen, compete in her first round of preliminary competition. The Iowa section cheered loud as Taylar performed her contemporary clogging routine to “Great Balls of Fire.” What a fun, energetic talent number! I also went to the preliminary competitions on Wednesday and Thursday, and the finals on Saturday, August 11th.
All week, Taylar did a wonderful job on and off the stage. With her great attitude and fun personality, I’m sure Taylar was a hit with the staff and contestants. She was definitely my favorite! There were many great performances by all the contestants, but the number that got me out of my seat was the large group production number to “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” As one of my favorite Broadway songs, I was on my feet by the end of the show. Watching the girls perform this number got me jazzed about performing at Miss America.
In addition to cheering on our Teen pageant sisters, the Miss contestants were also treated to several days of fun, food, and amusing activities while in Orlando. Thursday, August 9th was Miracle Treat Day for the Children’s Miracle Network. As a result, all the Miss contestants took a tour of the Arnold Palmer Hospital and even had a chance to hang out and play with the kids. With a Disney inspired hallway and playground for kids to play on along with a state-of-the-art NICU and pediatric emergency room, I was very impressed with the facilities and care provided by Palmer Hospital. Plus, the kids were incredible! They have so much courage and strength at such a young age. It is amazing to see firsthand the life changing things CMN is doing for children across the country. It makes me very proud to be an ambassador of this well-deserving organization.
On Friday, August 10th, the Miss contestants were treated to a fun-filled day at Walt Disney World and it was the best trip to the Magic Kingdom that I have experienced to date. As soon as we walked in the park, we received our own set of ears and had a special photo shoot with the man of the hour, Mickey Mouse, in front of Cinderella’s castle. With the VIP treatment we received, we were also able to ride every ride in the park including Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, and of course, It’s A Small World. We even got to ride my favorite ride in the Magic Kingdom, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. It was a day of laughter and thrills for all 26 contestants that were able to make the trip to Orlando. For me, it was the perfect vacation from the non-stop, busy schedule that I have had for the past two months!
Along with Disney, we were also treated to a delicious dinner provided by the Florida State Board at Maggiano’s, an exquisite Italian restaurant, a night of hors d'oeuvres and dancing at the Millenia Fine Arts Gallery, and a Luncheon at Planet Hollywood. I want to thank all of the sponsors who made these events and memories possible for the 2008 Miss contestants! I’m so glad I was able to go to Orlando where I got to meet and hang out with many well-rounded, talented, and beautiful young women from across the country. After my trip to Orlando, I’m confident that my journey to Miss America will be a very inspiring and rewarding experience.
Furthermore, I want to thank Nancy Lee and Becky Lee Hinton for treating Taylar and I to a day at Universal Studios and Blue Man Group. Taylar and I had a blast together! We rode Jaws, E.T., Shrek 4-D, and the best ride in this park, Revenge of the Mummy. If you have never been on that ride, you must go! It is amazing – Taylar and I rode it twice. In addition, I was picked as a stunt double on Earthquake and Taylar and I were assistants in the Fear Factor Live show. Although I didn’t have the stomach to watch the contestants drink blended grasshoppers, worms, and sour milk, it was fun to watch live the show that I have seen so many times on TV. There were some pretty intense stunts, but I think Taylar and I could have held our own as contestants. That same night we saw Blue Man Group, another must see show, and it was exceptional and hilarious as usual. Thanks again Nancy and Becky; I couldn’t imagine a better way to end our week in Orlando!
While I had many great experiences in Orlando, the most exciting moment of this trip was when they announced the date for Miss America 2008! I’m thrilled to inform you that on January 26th, 2008, I will be competing live from the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Los Vegas, Nevada for the Miss America crown. In addition, the show will be aired live on TLC (The Learning Channel), so you can watch right from the comfort of your living room couch. I know many of my friends and family are already planning on coming to Vegas, which means so much to me! Although there is a lot to do between now and then, I can already see the bright lights of the strip. ;)
Along with preparing for the national pageant, I have been also making numerous appearances across Iowa during the month of August. In returning from Orlando, I headed straight to the greatest state fair in America, the Iowa State Fair! I have been attending the state fair every year since I was five and I couldn’t wait to enjoy the food, shows, and fun. I was also able to stop by the Bill Riley Talent Show and meet some of the 2007 contestants and fairgoers. As the 2004 Senior Talent Search Champion, it was an honor to once again be a part of this Iowa State Fair tradition. Thank you Bill Riley Jr. for inviting me back to the Bill Riley Stage. My visit to the fair wouldn’t have been complete without seeing the baby pigs, getting a Hawkeye tattoo at the Iowa booth in the Varied Industries Building, and eating infamous Iowa State Corn Dog. You’ve gotta love the Iowa State Fair!
Other appearances I have made in the last two weeks include the Rocking on the River Fundraiser in Iowa City for the Children’s Miracle Network. Here, I helped serve food and performed a twirling routine for the attendees. On the same day I also attended my first ever Corn Boil, which was a Democratic fundraiser in Clinton, IA. Along with enjoying some great sweet corn, I also had the opportunity to meet and hear four of the democratic presidential hopefuls speak: Hilary Clinton, John Edwards, Joe Biden, and Chris Dodd.
This past week I had the opportunity to walk the halls of Norwalk High School for the first time since I graduated in 2002. I was honored to have been recognized by the entire staff and administration of the Norwalk Community School District at their annual back to school staff meeting. I greatly enjoyed my visit back to NHS as it was nice to talk many of the teachers and coaches that helped mold me into the person I am today. Thanks to all of these great teachers for your support, guidance, and encouragement over the years!
With school starting up, I’m sure I will be busy in the next few months visiting schools across the state of Iowa. On Thursday, I had my first Character Counts! school presentation as Miss Iowa at Atlantic Middle School and Atlantic High School. I spoke to the students about the importance of character and making good choices. I’m hoping to spread this message to many more schools throughout the year, progressively making a positive impact on the youth of Iowa with each presentation I give.
I’m sorry this update was so long; I just had so much to say!
Until next time,
Diana
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, Florida
Taylar and I take a quick picture after the second night of Preliminary CompetitionYou did such a great job Taylar!!
Miss Contestants take the Children's Miracle Network Tour of Arnold Palmer Hospital
Miss America contestants visit Walt Disney World
Me with Taylar Swartz, Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen at Blue Man GroupSunday, August 5, 2007
Making My Summer Count!
Dear Friends,
The past month has continued to be a time of travel, opportunity, and excitement for me as Miss Iowa. I have taken part in a number of fun and remarkable experiences occurring both in and out of the state of Iowa. From emceeing the 2007 Washington County Queen Pageant to being a guest speaker at the National Character Counts! Conference in Anaheim, California, my memories as Miss Iowa continue to multiply as I meet extraordinary people and take part in so many once in a lifetime experiences.
When I last left you, I was preparing for the 2007 National Baton Twirling Championships in South Bend, Indiana. My week at AYOP was very rewarding for me! AYOP always brings together the best of the best twirlers in the country and it was great to see so many of my twirling friends and colleagues from across the nation. I enjoyed competing and performing each day and felt a great sense of support from the twirling community as twirlers and coaches wished me well on my year as Miss Iowa. Although an exhausting week, I was pleased with my performances and was a finalist in both the National Collegiate Strutting and Twirling Championships, placed second in the open two baton competition, and I won my twelfth National Show Twirl title. I also had the opportunity to twirl with a number of exceptional collegiate twirlers in the College Football Hall of Fame Parade in downtown South Bend. I am so grateful that I was able to take part in AYOP for one final year and I will miss seeing the many twirling friends and mentors that I have gotten to know over the years. Thank you to every judge, teacher and twirler who has enhanced me as a twirler and person. My memories through NBTA will remain with me always!
In returning to Iowa, I began traveling the state for several appearances. On July 22, I emceed and performed at the Fabulous 50s Send Off Party for Miss Iowa’s Outstanding Teen, Taylar Swartz, in Fremont, Iowa. With all of us dressed up in poodle skirts or “Pink Ladies” jackets, I think all of my pageant sisters had a good time supporting Taylar as she prepares to leave for the national pageant. Taylar looked gorgeous as she modeled all of her cocktail dresses and competition apparel for the national competition that will take place this coming week in Orlando, Florida. I’m sure Taylar is having a blast right now with the other contestants of the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition. I’m greatly looking forward to traveling to Orlando this week to support her for all three nights of preliminaries and the final competition. It will definitely be an exciting week. Good luck Taylar! You are going to be amazing!!
Sunday, July 22, also kicked off the week of RAGBRAI, The Des Moines Register’s Annul Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. This seven day bike ride has been a 35 year tradition of the state of Iowa and this year we were excited to have Lance Armstrong join the other 20,000 riders as they made their way from the Missouri River to the eastern border of the Mississippi River. I was able to catch up with the riders halfway through RAGBRAI on the University of Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls. Here, I performed at the RAGBRAI kick off celebration, spoke with many volunteers and riders, and even had the opportunity to talk with Lance Armstrong and his team. I commend all the riders who persevered to the finish line and thank Lance for being such an inspiration to the riders and me. It was quite a memorable year for RAGBRAI!
Today, I will be flying home from California where I just took part in the 2007 National Character Count! Conference in Anaheim. What a great opportunity this was for me! I heard many accomplished athletes, educators, and national directors speak about character education and the many ethical issues that face our country today. In addition, I met and spoke with Michael Josephson, the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the Character Counts! program. Mr. Josephson is a true inspiration; he developed Character Counts! from the ground up and has been advocating the development of character in our country for over fifteen years. I look forward to working with him in the future on several character education initiatives.
While at the conference I also had the pleasure of meeting Miss Ohio 2007, Roberta Camp. Roberta and I were able to get to know each other during meals and between the breakout sessions. It didn’t take long to see that we had many things in common. It was nice to share ideas and experiences with someone else who is personally committed to advocating character across the country. Between the two of us, I think we will see many positive things happening with character across the Midwest.
In addition to being a participant of the conference, I also served as a guest speaker, sharing my personal experiences with Character Counts! and what I plan to do with my platform during my year as Miss Iowa. I talked about how I helped successfully implement a CC! program at Penn Elementary in North Liberty, IA, and even gave a mini demonstration of baton twirling – in my heels and crown! This was a great opportunity for me to speak out on my personal platform and encourage other educators to be creative while teaching the six pillars in their own states. I’m glad I did not miss out on this week! I met so many individuals from around the country that are also working to elevate character in our kids and I absorbed so many new ideas for implementing character education. The week reiterated the need for character education in our society, further motivating me to make a difference in the state of Iowa.
While the conference was the highlight of my trip to California, I also had some free time to take in the sights of the Los Angeles area. Thanks to the hospitality of a good friend of mine, Pres Maxson (former drum major of the Hawkeye Marching Band), I enjoyed a tour of the Warner Brothers Studios, did a little shopping on Rodeo Drive, and attended a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live. To see some of the highlights from my trip to Anaheim, you can check out my pictures on the Miss Iowa website!
The next few weeks are bound to be as exciting and busy as the last. This coming week I will fly to Orlando for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition and meet many of the other Miss contestants from across the United States. When I get back, I plan to spend some time at the Iowa State Fair and on August 30th take part in the Crown For Kids Golf Tournament in Marion, Iowa. If you are a golfer or know a golfer, you should sign up to play and join us for a fun day of golf. All the proceeds help benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, so sign up now! I would love to meet you at Hunters Ridge!
Until next time, feel free to send me a message or email. I will continue to keep you updated on my many upcoming events and appearances!
Yours Truly,
Diana
The past month has continued to be a time of travel, opportunity, and excitement for me as Miss Iowa. I have taken part in a number of fun and remarkable experiences occurring both in and out of the state of Iowa. From emceeing the 2007 Washington County Queen Pageant to being a guest speaker at the National Character Counts! Conference in Anaheim, California, my memories as Miss Iowa continue to multiply as I meet extraordinary people and take part in so many once in a lifetime experiences.
When I last left you, I was preparing for the 2007 National Baton Twirling Championships in South Bend, Indiana. My week at AYOP was very rewarding for me! AYOP always brings together the best of the best twirlers in the country and it was great to see so many of my twirling friends and colleagues from across the nation. I enjoyed competing and performing each day and felt a great sense of support from the twirling community as twirlers and coaches wished me well on my year as Miss Iowa. Although an exhausting week, I was pleased with my performances and was a finalist in both the National Collegiate Strutting and Twirling Championships, placed second in the open two baton competition, and I won my twelfth National Show Twirl title. I also had the opportunity to twirl with a number of exceptional collegiate twirlers in the College Football Hall of Fame Parade in downtown South Bend. I am so grateful that I was able to take part in AYOP for one final year and I will miss seeing the many twirling friends and mentors that I have gotten to know over the years. Thank you to every judge, teacher and twirler who has enhanced me as a twirler and person. My memories through NBTA will remain with me always!
In returning to Iowa, I began traveling the state for several appearances. On July 22, I emceed and performed at the Fabulous 50s Send Off Party for Miss Iowa’s Outstanding Teen, Taylar Swartz, in Fremont, Iowa. With all of us dressed up in poodle skirts or “Pink Ladies” jackets, I think all of my pageant sisters had a good time supporting Taylar as she prepares to leave for the national pageant. Taylar looked gorgeous as she modeled all of her cocktail dresses and competition apparel for the national competition that will take place this coming week in Orlando, Florida. I’m sure Taylar is having a blast right now with the other contestants of the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition. I’m greatly looking forward to traveling to Orlando this week to support her for all three nights of preliminaries and the final competition. It will definitely be an exciting week. Good luck Taylar! You are going to be amazing!!
Sunday, July 22, also kicked off the week of RAGBRAI, The Des Moines Register’s Annul Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. This seven day bike ride has been a 35 year tradition of the state of Iowa and this year we were excited to have Lance Armstrong join the other 20,000 riders as they made their way from the Missouri River to the eastern border of the Mississippi River. I was able to catch up with the riders halfway through RAGBRAI on the University of Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls. Here, I performed at the RAGBRAI kick off celebration, spoke with many volunteers and riders, and even had the opportunity to talk with Lance Armstrong and his team. I commend all the riders who persevered to the finish line and thank Lance for being such an inspiration to the riders and me. It was quite a memorable year for RAGBRAI!
Today, I will be flying home from California where I just took part in the 2007 National Character Count! Conference in Anaheim. What a great opportunity this was for me! I heard many accomplished athletes, educators, and national directors speak about character education and the many ethical issues that face our country today. In addition, I met and spoke with Michael Josephson, the founder of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and the Character Counts! program. Mr. Josephson is a true inspiration; he developed Character Counts! from the ground up and has been advocating the development of character in our country for over fifteen years. I look forward to working with him in the future on several character education initiatives.
While at the conference I also had the pleasure of meeting Miss Ohio 2007, Roberta Camp. Roberta and I were able to get to know each other during meals and between the breakout sessions. It didn’t take long to see that we had many things in common. It was nice to share ideas and experiences with someone else who is personally committed to advocating character across the country. Between the two of us, I think we will see many positive things happening with character across the Midwest.
In addition to being a participant of the conference, I also served as a guest speaker, sharing my personal experiences with Character Counts! and what I plan to do with my platform during my year as Miss Iowa. I talked about how I helped successfully implement a CC! program at Penn Elementary in North Liberty, IA, and even gave a mini demonstration of baton twirling – in my heels and crown! This was a great opportunity for me to speak out on my personal platform and encourage other educators to be creative while teaching the six pillars in their own states. I’m glad I did not miss out on this week! I met so many individuals from around the country that are also working to elevate character in our kids and I absorbed so many new ideas for implementing character education. The week reiterated the need for character education in our society, further motivating me to make a difference in the state of Iowa.
While the conference was the highlight of my trip to California, I also had some free time to take in the sights of the Los Angeles area. Thanks to the hospitality of a good friend of mine, Pres Maxson (former drum major of the Hawkeye Marching Band), I enjoyed a tour of the Warner Brothers Studios, did a little shopping on Rodeo Drive, and attended a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live. To see some of the highlights from my trip to Anaheim, you can check out my pictures on the Miss Iowa website!
The next few weeks are bound to be as exciting and busy as the last. This coming week I will fly to Orlando for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition and meet many of the other Miss contestants from across the United States. When I get back, I plan to spend some time at the Iowa State Fair and on August 30th take part in the Crown For Kids Golf Tournament in Marion, Iowa. If you are a golfer or know a golfer, you should sign up to play and join us for a fun day of golf. All the proceeds help benefit the Children’s Miracle Network at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, so sign up now! I would love to meet you at Hunters Ridge!
Until next time, feel free to send me a message or email. I will continue to keep you updated on my many upcoming events and appearances!
Yours Truly,
Diana
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