Kappa Delta at Colorado State University

While attending the Founder's Day event for the Denver Kappa Delta Alumnae Chapter, I was invited to visit the KD house at Colorado State University. It was wonderful to meet the amazing young women who are today's Kappa Deltas.  I ate dinner with them and they shared their hopes and dreams with me. I will treasure this time with them.

 

My sorority sister and tour guide is the lovely Dana. She was a terrific tour guide and took so much pride in showing me the newly remodeled house. I am sure it helped this chapter reach max capacity for the first time in it's history at CSU.

BSA 100 Anniversary Tour

As part of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th anniversary, 14 teams are touring around the country visiting every District Council. This motor home was donated to this endeavor. When the tour is finished, it will be donated to the Smithsonian. How cool is that!

I tried to get a picture of the beautiful mural that was being donated to each District. I love that in the center of all these images of Boy Scouts is a picture of the man who is best know for capturing the true heart of Scouting, Norman Rockwell.

These two young men were awarded, along with two other Boy Scouts, for their efforts that helped save a young woman's life while camping. Last year alone, over 500 life saving awards were given to Boy Scouts!

Miss Boo'tiful Pageant

 I was honored to judge the Miss Boo'tiful Pageant. The judging panel was made up of top Pageant people in the Colorado area. It really opened my eyes to see a pageant from a judges perspective. It really is true that a different contestant could win on a different day with a different set of judges.

It was great to have my picture taken with some of the new queens along with the Colorado Coed Queens.

Red Ribbon Week

Although Red Ribbon Week is officially October 4th-10th, the message is so important that the festivities continued over a three week period. I attended two events with Chaplain Rourk of the Civil Air Patrol. It was started to honor an undercover DEA agent who was brutally murdered when it was discovered what he really was. It is in his memory that we encourage students across Colorado to just say "no" to drugs. If people didn't do drugs, we wouldn't need or loose fine men and women to drug cartels and dealers. 

Here we are "High Fiving" the students at a local elementary school. Yes, that is a real helicopter that was flown in at the beginning of the assembly.

They actually let me sit in the helicopter. I promise I did not touch or break anything.

This is the wonderful group I was able to work with at this school. (L-R) Chaplain Rourk, Yazzy Alonzo-Miss Colorado Jr Miss NAM, me, Erin Feltes, Mrs. Colorado Galaxy and Josh of the Civil Air Patrol.

A big thank you to the vice principal of the school. We are invited by the schools to make these very important presentations.

 

I attended another Red Ribbon Week event at the Wings Over the Rockies Museum. This time it was for the Colorado Cyber Schools. Again, they brought in a helicopter for the event.

 I couldn't resist another picture with Edison Eagle of the Colorado Rapids Soccer Team. They support so many events. They really reach out to their community!

This lovely group of young ladies asked to have their picture taken with some of the queens. They were a good reminder of why I am a role model.

This young man was displaying a poster with signatures of students that had agreed to never do drugs. After all, isn't that what Red Ribbon Week is all about?

When the event was over, I was escorted by Chaplain Rourk through the Air Museum. I know I am such a Nerd to have my picture with a "real" X-wing fighter. I love Star Wars!

Childrens Hospital Pumpkin Patch

I attended the Childrens Hospital pumpkin patch fundraiser held on the hospital's front lawn. This is the third year for this event. All proceeds benefit the cardiac unit. I am pictured with Mr. and Mrs. May, as they prefer to be called, of May Farms. They donated all the pumpkins. They were fresh picked the night before by local students who are members of the Future Business Leaders of America.

Miss Colorado, Katie Layman, along with both police and firefighters from Aurora were on hand to help the children choose pumpkins. The gentleman to my left was also featured in the firefighters calendar to benefit the burn unit at Children's. What a great way to help the kids.

 

Some of the firefighters volunteered their time. These gentlemen were on duty. We snapped this picture as they were receiving a call from dispatch. Seconds later they were off. What an honor to have worked with this fine group.

Race for the Cure

 Sunday morning, bright, early and cold, found Emily and I at the Fuse booth supporting the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This picture was taken in the aftermath of the booth. We started the morning giving out free samples and by mid morning were handing out full size bottles of Fuse. A very popular drink based on the long lines of people waiting to get their free bottle.

Fuze also handed out free pink capes to anyone who would get their picture in the Fuze picture booth. After the event, the pictures were made available online. For every download of a picture, $1 was additionally donated to Susan G. Komen. Fuze is a national sponsor.

This little girl walked the entire course with her family. What a great roll model she is already becoming. Her generation is blessed to have her.

These ladies may look familiar to you. They are from the Childrens Hospital and were at the Baskin Robbins fund raiser. As though these women don't already have enough to do, they were out supporting another great cause on an early Sunday morning.

I love when sister queens stop by to say "hi!" This is Amanda Palmer, Miss Colorado Galaxy 2008. I guess a queens work is never done even after we have passed the title to someone else.

Grand Opening Bra Art

I attended the grand opening for the Bra Art exhibit that included my piece of art called "Hero Support". I decided to do this piece because as a queen I support many causes beyond my own platform of Boy Scouts. I wanted to show "support" for Susan G. Komen and the brave and inspirational women and men who battle this disease everyday. Through out the month of October, you can go to Bra Art and bid on these creations to support the fight against breast cancer.

Emily Schlehuber, Miss Teen Colorado International 2009, was on hand to celebrate with me. She does so many appearances in her own right that it is always a joy to have her support me. We are pictured with Basil, a robot that is being developed to help the elderly and those needing a little extra help at home. It actully learns about its environment. This is an exciting technological advance.

Joni is the founder of this event. It is inspired by three of her nieces who all are under 20 and all are battling breast cancer. It is based on the Mask fundraiser. Her artwork was my favorite called twin peaks. You can see it just to my left. It was a very clever use of a bra to represent two snowy mountains. Very appropriate for Colorado. Loved it!

Childrens Hospital Visit 9/29/09

I returned to visit children at the Children's Hospital in Denver. This time it was with my dear friend and Mrs. Colorado Galaxy 2009, Erin Feltes. Our wonderful volunteer escort was Andrea.  She has an amazing attitude for one who works in a potentially depressing atmosphere.

It is always greatl to see families supporting each other. Although she claims her little brother is a pain, it is so evident that she loves him and he cares for her.

It is always wonderful news when a child gets to go home. We arrived just in time to join in a farewell party for this young man. He said he was looking forward to sleeping in his own bed again. I don't blame him!

I love visiting the children. It never ceases to amazing me how willing they are to smile no matter what their circumstances are. I am sure I take away much more than I give when I visit. Leaving these children with a smile in their hearts is always time well spent.

Baskin Robbins Ice Cream for Children's Hospital

Baskin Robbins sponsored a Children's Hospital fundraiser. 31% of all purchases made that night went directly to Children's Hospital and 100% of all donations did, too. They even had a sign out front to welcome us.

Here is my first attempt at scooping ice cream. Emily was so pleased with me! I love her laugh. She didn't laugh so much when it was her turn.

It was tougher than I thought to scoop ice cream. I have a new found respect for those who do this every day. This will surely build up those arm muscles.

Some of my family came out to support Children's Hospital. (L-R) Josh, My mom-Sarah, her cousins-Paula and Mike, Matt and myself. Thanks so much!

This wonderful crew taught us everything we needed to know about ice cream, from scooping cones to making sundaes! They were so nice and patient.

 

Katie Layman, Miss Colorado America 2010 was on hand to help out. She is an amazing young woman with a genuine interest in other people. Good luck in January, Katie!

A big THANK YOU goes to these wonderful ladies from the Children's Hospital. Every cone on the wall represents a donation made to Children's. We almost filled the wall that night. It was a great time for a great cause.

Way FM Fall Pledge Drive

I had so much fun at the Way Fm Fall Pledge Drive. Way FM is a local and national Christian Contemporary Radio Station. I love this station for its uplifting message and great music! Emily joined me in answering phones and taking pledges.

Emily always has a bright smile, even when she is working. She has such a great work ethic. She was so excited to talk to people and take their pledges.

 I would get so excited when my phone would ring. I was working station number 4, so I had to wait for the other three stations to fill up before my phone would ring. I took several pledge drives. I was so proud of myself, I only hung up on one person by accident.  Ooops!

Michelle Bowers is the morning show producer. I had met her before when I helped with the Books for Gaza book drive. She is so funny and I absolutely love her laugh. She is demonstrating the proper use of a cowbell. This along with a small bell were used frequently to signify some important pledge or for no reason at all. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!

BSA 100 Anniversary Float

I was honored to ride on the Boy Scouts of America 100th Anniversary Float that was entered in the Broomfield Days Parade.

Jamie and Emily came to cheer me on.They are such good sports! I enjoy spending any time I can get with my sister queens.

The Cub Scout Float featured cool things that Cub Scouts get to do including a real Pinewood Derby track with actual cars on it.

We had a really long wait for our turn since we were the last float in the parade.Because we all shared the Boy Scout experience, it was easy for us to talk to each other. The Boy Scout float showed about camping which is a huge part of the Boy Scout experience.

Several Boys rode with me on the float. I was allowed to stand and wave to the crowd. I am sure there were many perplexed people at the thought of a beauty queen in a uniform. I love to explain that Boy Scouts is my platform and to tell them all the wonderful things Scouting does for our country.

After the parade, there was a huge street fair. I had to continue my support of Boy Scouts by purchasing a Hot Dog from this Troop. Just around the corner, another troop had a Funnel Cake booth. Of course, I had to have one too. I couldn't show favoritism, could I?

Childrens Hospital Visit

I had the privilege of visiting the children at the Denver Childrens Hospital. Emily, Jamie and myself dressed up for this special occasion. We wanted to look like princess for the little girls we would visit.

This little boy was so excited to see us, he jumped out of bed to have his picture taken with us. He was one of the  children who was in quarantine. If they are in quarantine, we can't enter the room for the safety of the child but he was allowed to come to us.

This little girl had the brightest smile. It never ceases to amaze me how a simple visit could make someone's day. She was so excited to have visitors.

Allen is a very generous young man with a bright future. He was learning to be a volunteer the day we visited. He did such a great job introducing us to the children.

Many thanks to Lynn for being our official escort. She really took care of us as well as making us feel welcome. Visiting so many sick children could be depressing, but she kept reminding us what a difference we were making. I am looking forward to visiting the children again.