Wow! March and April were two months that completely flew by! In fact each month has whizzed past me since my return from Miss America. There are so many places to be and people to meet, and I have loved every minute!
I tried to use March as a planning period for me. While promoting my platform, I have met with many organizations that I plan to work closely with in the following months. I spent March attending events for Children’s Miracle Network and meeting with officials from various Autism-based organizations, learning about their specific goals so that I can better promote their services.
I toured the Minnesota Autism Center where I met with Kathryn Marshall and Ryan Cornelius who explained how they are able to reach children with autism across the entire state. The Minnesota Autism Center is a non profit organization that offers home-based therapeutic support with the goal of reducing and eliminating the signs and symptoms of autism in the children that they help. They have a new facility opening in Eden Prairie and I can’t wait to watch their programs grow!
I also had the opportunity to tour Minnesota Life College which is a wonderful program for young adults with disabilities. At MLC, the students live on campus and are taught valuable life skills to help them in their pursuit of independence. I met with Kathryn Thomas and many students who openly informed me about their studies and how much fun they were having this year. I think I need to take one of their courses on the Minneapolis Transit System, it could be very useful!
I also kept very busy this month promoting Children’s Miracle Network as a phone operator during the KS95 Radiothon and even attended a pizza party where I met several Miracle families. Thanks to all of our local titleholders for making these events a huge success!
April began with our Miss Minnesota Contestant Workshop. It was so great to see everyone again and I hope the weekend was as fun as it was informative. As a contestant I know the week can seem very overwhelming but know that I am there to help in any way that I can.
The Miss Minnesota Talent Show was a blast, and the amount of talent in that room was astounding! Miss Minnesota week will be here before you know it, and I can’t wait to get to know each of our 15 contestants even better!
The month of April has been jam-packed with appearances including but not limited to: the Fraser Walk for Autism held at the Mall of America, the Minnesota Autism Center Walk at Lake Calhoun, the Minnesota Life College Annual Gala, an interview with Around Town television show, and being a skill shop speaker at the Minnesota Autism Society where I talked to parents about the struggles and rewards of having a sibling with autism. Whew!
Thanks to all of these amazing organizations for allowing me to be part of your events!
The month of May is here and I can’t wait to see what is in store for me!
Jenn
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April 30th
Hello! I know you have not heard from me in a while and I apologize! I should have updated my blog about two months ago, but time got away from me. I guess I am just having too much fun! Here is a quick look into some of my appearances starting with February.
Feb. 9th Miss Coon Rapids Pageant-I am back from Miss America, and back to work I go. Congrats to Stacy Mandlekow our new Miss Coon Rapids! I had a blast spending time with Chantal (Miss Mn Outstanding Teen), and Caitlin Brunell, Miss America's Outstanding Teen, backstage at the pageant. Only one more local left!
Feb. 12th International Pancake Day- This was a wonderful event which was held as a fundraiser for Children's Miracle Network. IHOPs around the country were giving out free stacks of pancakes in exchange for donations. It was great to see Miss Midwest, Kelsey Malecha, there to support the event as well. I spent a few hours that morning at the IHOP in my hometown of Apple Valley, and then came back for more pancakes later that evening. Let's just say I won't be eating pancakes anytime soon... but they sure were yummy!
Feb. 13-16 Miss Mankato Pageant- I spent these few days staying at the Bartlett house, and yes I do have my own room there, preparing to give up my local title as Miss Mankato. Believe it or not this was quite a hard process for me because I have become very attached to the city of Mankato, and those involved with the program. I know that I am still Miss Minnesota, but I also know that I would not be Miss Minnesota if it weren't for the generous Mankato community, sponsors, and volunteers. I will always be grateful! These few days were spent getting to know the contestants (all of who are beautiful, talented, and amazing young women), dancing in rehearsals and making appearances around the city. There are a few traditions associated with the Miss Mankato Pageant such as visiting a Key City Sertoma meeting, working with Paul Finochiarro (he choreographs the opening number, and has always choreographed my talent selections), and playing silly games where you win great prizes. Congrats to the new Miss Mankato, Liz Wandersee! If only Liz had known how she would be initiated into the Miss Mankato program....
Feb.17th Mankato Polar Plunge- I don't think I will ever understand why Minnesotans pay money to jump into a frozen lake in the dead of winter. I love fundraising for the Special Olympics, but I think that next year I will just hand them the money. Liz and I (dressed in my Miss America swimsuit), took the plunge together crowns and all! I ended up slipping on the rocks below and went completely under the icy water. Luckily the crown stayed on my head, but I seriously thought paramedics were going to have to rush in and save me. Wouldn't that make an interesting headline? 
Feb. 23rd An Evening in New York: Ana 149- This was a benefit held on behalf of Frasier Services and Ana's family. Ana is a little girl who was diagnosed with Autism and toxic poisoning. Her treatments each year cost approximately $100,000, and our goal was to raise enough money throughout the night to pay for one full year of treatments for Ana. We succeeded! It was such a pleasure for me to meet Ana and her family, and I wish them the best of luck in their battle against autism.
Feb 24th- Autism Society Steps of Hope Walk- This was such a huge event, and I loved every minute of it. It really helped to meet other families who are facing the same struggles as my own. It means so much to have parents come to me with tears in their eyes and say, "Thank you for all that you are doing." To me, that is the best part of being Miss Minnesota-knowing that you are making a difference. I wasn't able to walk the loop around the mall because I spent the entire time talking with children and their families. It was great to see Natalie Davis (Miss Mn Outstanding Teen 2006) there, still promoting her platform.
Feb 24th Nature's Edge Retreat Center- I traveled from the Ridgedale Mall over to the Mall of America where I hung out with volunteers from the Nature's Edge Center at their display in the Macy's Rotunda. They were so kind to tell me about their services which are very unique. They have a retreat center in Wisconsin that houses over 30 different types of animals that are used to help those with special needs during therapy sessions. My special friend for the day was Cheerio, an African grey parrot who had the vocabulary of a five year old child. It was really fun to meet some of the therapy animals! I can't wait for this summer because I will be helping the Nature's Edge Center with some of their events, and they even said they would teach me how to ride a horse! That is so cool!
And that was my long overdue review for the month of February. March and April reviews are coming within the next few days, and I mean it this time! I promise to post them soon, and I mean really soon. For real this time--- ok, you already know that I am sorry!
Much love,
Jenn
My Miss America Experience....
Sorry it took me a little longer than expected to update everyone about my trip to Miss America, but I really wanted the chance to think about the entire experience and gather all of my thoughts. Wow, I still can't believe that it is actually over! To sum it up, it was everything I could have expected and more.
I wish that I had the right words to describe what it felt like to be on that stage. I remember standing on stage one afternoon and it hit me. My eyes teared up when I thought of all the years of hard work and dedication I had invested into this organization. Then I thought of all the people who had helped me and believed in me, and it was truly overwhelming. The hardest part for me was coming to the realization that it was really here because I felt like at any moment I would wake up and someone would tell me that I was dreaming. The entire 10 days were an exhausting whirlwind of emotions for me, and I spent the whole time trying to soak it all up. To lighten things up a bit, I compiled a list of a few of my favorite and not so favorite moments.
Highlights:
-attending the show Stomp, and meeting all of the actors afterward
-filming a commercial for Planet Hollywood
-spending time with my roommate Amy(Miss New Jersey), we had so many laughs!
-staying up until 1:00am to see the replay of Reality Check, it was hilarious seeing myself get called into the top 10 because I thought I had no chance so I was daydreaming during that part of the ceremony
-the Planet Hollywood buffet, I think I was the only person who was not tired of it by the end
-seeing all of the other girls again, it was like a reunion and it was really fun to catch up with everyone
-competing in my evening gown-That is and will always be my favorite part of competition
-hearing “Minnesota” called as being a finalist for the Quality of Life Award
-seeing all of my friends and family at visitation, I am so thankful for all of your love and support
-hair and makeup sessions with Rod and David, it was so great to see both of you and you always know how to make me feel beautiful
-being able to sit on stage the final night and cheer for all of my friends who were still competing
-the crowning moment when Kirsten won, I knew that she would do a wonderful job! She is such a sweet and sincere person!
-being treated like a celebrity the whole time, and the red carpet event was just the icing on the cake
My not so favorite moments:
-waking up at the crack of dawn, we all know I am not a morning person
-filming the Planet Hollywood commercial at the crack of dawn
-the interview competition-it was much different than I had expected, lots of weird questions
-slipping on stage during the opening number one prelim night- I'm lucky I was in the back so no one noticed
-having to put on self tanner every morning
-rehearsals- The producers were great, but they did get a little long so I brought my pillow and blanket every morning
-eating too many cough drops the day of my talent competition, note to singers: do not do this! It really makes your stomach do funky things
-having to use a “portapotty” outside of our dressing room, although they were quite lavish....it still wasn't fun
-packing the last day and realizing that it was over
Honestly, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. My not so favorite moments made the experience very real and helped me to understand that not everything can go my way. I still get the question, “Were you disappointed when you weren't called into the top 16?” I would be lying if I said no. I was disappointed and my heart dropped for a split second when I knew they were finished calling out the finalists. But, I looked around the stage at the rest of the lovely ladies who were standing in the background with me and I felt proud. I had competed to the best of my ability and I wouldn't change anything. I felt proud to have represented my state. I knew that it was an honor to be there in the first place, and that we were all winners in that we were given the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss America. I could not wait to come home and continue my reign as Miss Minnesota.
I hope that I have given you an idea of what the entire experience was like and if you have any further questions, all you have to do is ask me! It is great to be home!
~Jenn~
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January 31st
I'm back! And I am proud to say that the past few days I have done nothing but rest and unpack. Who would have thought that 10 days competing for Miss America would leave you soooo exhausted! I know that many people are anxious to here the inside scoop on all of my experiences in Las Vegas, so I decided not to leave you in the dark for too long.
I brought a notebook for journaling so that I wouldn't forget anything, but that lasted all of three days. Haha I soon realized that 15 minutes of extra sleep was well worth it! Here are my first two journals (please excuse the grammar, usually my journals are kept to myself):
1/19/08
Wow! I can't believe I am actually here! It is so weird that I have dreamed of walking on the Miss America stage since the age of five, and now I finally have that opportunity. Years of hard work and dedication have come down to these 10 days! It feels unreal! With that being said, I am having a blast so far! I have been able to control my nerves while maintaining my self confidence, which is a feat in itself.
We arrived at the hotel mid morning and after a limo ride we were rushed into fittings. The whirlwind has already begun. Next I met my new roomie, Amy Polumbo Miss New Jersey, and we headed down to our very first red carpet event. We were welcomed to Las Vegas by an introduction and flower presented by the president of Planet Hollywood accompanied by lots of camera flashes. During this ceremony I was excited and surprised to learn that I am a Quality of Life Award finalist. I can't wait for the interview because I truly live my platform every single day. The day ended with dinner and a meeting. We were all quick to go to bed because we were so exhausted from traveling.
Friday morning we awoke to an IHOP pancake breakfast where they taught us how to properly flip pancakes, Yum! (Even though I only ate 1/2 of one, I gotta keep that swimsuit figure!) Rehearsals, rehearsals, rehearsals- that pretty much sums up the morning and early afternoon, oh and we taped interviews that we were told will air if we make the top 16. We then headed to the Venetian hotel for gondola rides. It was very relaxing and I had the opportunity to speak with Lauren Nelson which really made my night. She was so sweet for answering all our crazy questions about what it is really like to be Miss America. Maybe I will have the chance to find out for myself...
1/20/07
Yesterday we rehearsed for most of the day and re-taped parts of our on camera interviews. That night we went to KOI restaurant where we signed autographs and visited with patrons. We had an early night off and were given the chance to go out shopping in the Miracle Mile. I decided to stay in, relax, go over my interview notes, and catch up on my Newsweek reading. I am having a blast so far, it feels like I am in a sorority with 51 other sisters.
That is as far as I got with my journaling, but I promise to update you on all of our other activities. It is my goal to give you the contestants’ perspective of the entire experience. There will be more to come later this week!
Jenn
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Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Years; I know I did! It was a unique family Christmas but I was extremely happy to spend it with my immediate family members. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life it is hard to spend “quality family time” together, and I am glad that we were able to slow down our busy schedules in order to do so.
I picked up my mom, who is a flight attendant, at 4 o’clock in the afternoon and we had a nice Christmas dinner. I extremely nervous because for the first time I was in charge of cooking the dinner and if you know me, let us just say that I can burn water. Regardless, with a little help it turned out just fine (and I am thankful that our kitchen it still in one piece).
New Years was really exciting… in that I made no plans and was able to relax long enough to have a movie night! I know I am a party-pooper, but at least I stayed awake late enough to see the ball drop. New Years day, we had a quiet family lunch, and I was relieved that I wasn’t in charge of the cooking! We have a family tradition that on New Years day- it is imperative that you eat pork and black-eyed peas. I bet you didn’t know that it will make you Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise for the new year (or at least that is how the story goes, I don’t think the wealthy part really works though). We also have a tradition that involves running around the outside of your house in bare feet while screaming “Happy New Year,” but with the amount of snow we’ve had lately we decided it would be best to save that one for next year. I hope that the rest of you enjoyed your holiday season as much as I did!
With Miss America just around the corner, I have been adamant about my preparation, but I have had time to make a few appearances. I sang the National Anthem at several University of Minnesota men and women’s basketball games, and was even a celebrity bell-ringer at the Mall of America for the Salvation Army. At the Mall of America I was ecstatic when I was presented an autographed photo from Victor the Minnesota Viking! It was a blast!
So, what else have I been up to? If you are ever up late you can usually catch me on a local television station from 9-11pm on Atomic Deals. Atomic Deals is a home shopping show featuring the world’s only reverse auction. The great part is that all of the products shown have been donated so that the proceeds can go to different charities. My brother Caleb came with me once and they made him “Executive Producer” for the night. We had so much fun, but I will admit that it was a little weird taking orders from my little brother. You can catch Atomic Deals every Tuesday and Thursday night and they have a live stream broadcasting over the internet at www.atomicdeals.com. Be sure to watch on January 8th where I will be making another guest appearance hosting with Tiffany Ogle (Miss Minnesota 2004).
Coming up:
January 4th- I will be on WCCO Radio (830AM) with Don Shebly at 4:00
January 4th- WCCO Channel 4 News is broadcasting a story about my trip to the Miss America pageant, and I will also be able to speak about my platform (The Missing Piece: Understanding Autism) because the story will feature my brothers Caleb and Shain. I think it will air that Friday night but it is possible that it may air over the weekend.
January 4th- Don’t forget to watch the first episode of the Miss America reality show, Reality Check! It will air on the TLC Channel at 9:00 central time. Trust me; you won’t want to miss it!
January 7th- I will be traveling to Harmony, Minnesota where I will be educating students about the importance of Autism Awareness. I may also have the opportunity to speak with teachers and other community members, introducing them to my 6 point curriculum; “The Autism Model,” an acronym to help educators introduce a student with autism into a mainstream classroom/community with efficiency and understanding.
I am proud to say that I have become a weekly volunteer at our own Gillette Children’s Hospital (a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital). I am the waiting room specialist; therefore I coordinate crafts and other activities for children and their families who are waiting to see their doctors. What a fun experience for me!
I forgot to mention that I have a surprise for you! This year the Miss America Pageant will announce 16 top finalists. I have been at countless appearances where organizations have said that they wish they could vote for me to do well at Miss America. Now you have the chance! Starting on January 4th after Reality Check, America will have the opportunity to vote for who they would like to see as Miss America at www.tlc/missamerica.com. The polls will close at 2:00 am Central time on January 26th. The 16th finalist will be announced as America’s Choice for the title of Miss America. Don’t forget to cast your votes!
Lastly, I would like to invite all of you to my Miss America Send Off Party! It will be held on January 12th at the Holiday Inn Select in Bloomington, Minnesota. At 4:00 I will showcasing my entire wardrobe and talent for Miss America. Be sure you don’t miss out on all the festivities, and I heard a rumor there will be cake! See all of you there!
Jennifer
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December 4th
Lights, Camera, Action!
That's right, I am back from LA! I am sure you all want to know the juicy details, so here they are... Haha just kidding I have to keep everything a secret! I had a wonderful time getting to know all of the 51 other contestants. They are amazing! We had so much fun together, and shared many laughs (we joked that there was a ghost in our room). I am thoroughly enjoying my makeover which consists of a somewhat dramatic haircut, 4 inches to be exact, and much less makeup than I am used to. I am sooooo excited about the changes that will be occurring in the Miss America Pageant this year. The Organization is moving in a new direction, and I like it! The whole concept; less is more. The program is going toward a more modern, red carpet look this year which is great! I hope I haven't spilled too many beans! For the rest, you will just have to wait and see! Trust me, Minnesota will be proud!
Congratulations to our new Miss Moorhead, Kayla Brown, and Miss Twin Cities Angie McDermott! Miss Minnesota week is going to be so much fun!
After almost a 3 week leave of absence, everything is finally getting back to normal. Some of my recent appearances include, The American Cancer Society Gala, CVS Pharmacy promotions, and singing the National Anthem at a University of Minnesota Men's Basketball game (this appearance is accompanied by a really funny story that maybe I will share next time).
Upcoming Events:
Dec. 8th- National Anthem at U of M Women's Basketball Game
Dec. 14th- Salvation Army Celebrity Bell Ringing at the Mall of America
Dec./Jan.- LOTS of Miss America Prep
Now that the holiday season is upon us, enjoy time with your families, eat lots of great food, and travel safely! I will continue to keep you updated!
Jenn
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November 5th
Hello Hello Hello!
The busyness continues! The past few weeks have absolutely flown by, but I guess time flies when you are having fun! Appearances, cruise ships, or the reality show, where do I begin?
My travels are never ending as I have made stops in White Bear Lake, Farmington, Comfrey, and St. Cloud. I have been to the grand openings of two CVS Pharmacies to celebrate and greet customers, while promoting the Miss America Program.
I recently drove to Comfrey, Minnesota where I had the opportunity to educate an entire school (K-12), as well as teachers and fellow community members about autism. I have even developed a six point autism model/curriculum to help teachers when mainstreaming autistic students into their classrooms and communities.
I was invited to St. Cloud to be a guest speaker at the Reason for Hope Retreat, a weekend workshop for parents of children with disabilities. This was a wonderful experience for me because the majority of parents at the workshop have children on the autism spectrum. I love speaking about my platform because I want everyone to see what I see in children with autism. They are extremely unique, and have amazing talents!
Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me! I had a blast on the cruise! Everyone was so nice and friendly! I feel less apprehensive about filming the reality show knowing that I will be spending 10 days with my new friends. This was my first cruise so I was a little nervous about getting seasick, but I survived. We were rerouted due to tropical storm Noel but still were able to enjoy Key West, while stopping later in Cozumel. My favorite part of the trip was the Halloween party. There were so many cute costumes! I went as a monarch butterfly and wore huge red and yellow wings. They were so big that I kept hitting people with them so I eventually had to take them off. I arrived home on Friday (a little sun burnt, and yes I used sunscreen), packed on Saturday following an appearance, and guess where I am now???!!!!!!
LA!!!!!!! I am just getting settled into our hotel room with my roommates Miss Missouri and Miss Texas, and we are so excited. We will be staying here for the night, and in the morning we will be taken to a top secret location to stay for the remainder of the taping. I wish I could say more, but we honestly don't have a clue where we are going or what we will be doing! I love surprises so I guess I am ok with that. Guess we will just have to wait and see. Well, I have to go~ we are planning a Desperate Housewives pajama party!
Jennifer
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Busy, Busy Busy!
Can you guess that the past few weeks have been busy? I love every minute and am meeting so many wonderful people! Here is a list of some of my appearances and how they went:
Sept. 18th- I was interviewed by The Patriot Radio Station and had the opportunity to speak on my platform and the Miss America Program. My brother Caleb accompanied me and even had the chance to talk on the air as well! I love to hear him talk about all of his chess accomplishments. Who knows I may be back to the station to co-host in the near future. :)
Sept. 24th- The Contestant Lottery! My directors, committee members, and I had so much fun! To explain, every contestant logs onto the website and you wait for your state to pop up on the screen. When that happens you have five minutes to choose where you would like to be placed in the competition lineup. I am happy to announce that I am in the MU group and will be competing third. I have my interview early Monday morning, on-stage question Tuesday night, swimsuit and evening gown on Wednesday night, and talent on Thursday night. Let me know if you are planning to come to Vegas!
Oct. 6th- I traveled down to Mankato to celebrate MSU's homecoming. It was great to ride in the parade as an alumna, and spend the rest of the day with my friends from KDOG radio station. Who could resist the Taste of Mankato where we sampled different foods from local businesses?
Oct. 8th- I was invited to speak to the entire Little Canada Elementary School. Thank you to Scott, Amy, and Tatum Anderson for allowing me to educate all of the students about autism in hopes that they will learn to be more tolerant and accepting of their peers. My message brought a positive understanding about autism, and all of the students really enjoyed it. They even wanted my mom's autograph!
Oct. 12th- My director as Miss Mankato, Shelly Barlett, allowed me to be the "key" speaker at her Key City Sertoma meeting. During lunch we were entertained by a special magic show, and I was presented a white rose. It was fun to see so many familiar faces sitting around the table.
Oct. 13th- The Women's Expo in Willmar Minnesota was a blast! It was great to have a day out with the girls! I spoke in an auditorium about my platform further educating the public about the signs and symptoms of autism, and also helped with the drawing of the raffle prizes. It was hard because the prizes were so nice that I wanted to take all of them home with me!
Oct.14th- This morning I modeled in a fashion show on behalf of Macy's Bridal Registry and Macy's By Appointment. Haha it was funny because I had to pretend to be a newly wed, and my "husband" was one of my managers! Later during the day I helped with Macy's Shop for a Cause, where all of the proceeds went to "Go Red for Women" and the American Heart Association. I am proud to announce that Macy's is a new sponsor of the Miss Minnesota Program! They will be outfitting me with a brand new I-N-C wardrobe! How awesome is that? I can't wait to go shopping!
Oct. 14th- Tonight I attended a Breast Cancer Benefit to honor Dawn Lewis-Rau who was recently diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer. She and her family were extremely kind and inspirational. I wish Dawn and her family the best!
*Keep your eyes open for the upcoming Apple Valley Magazine! I was ask to be the cover story for the November issue, so be prepared to see me in my gown and bowling shoes!
Coming soon:
Oct. 20th- CVS Pharmacy Grand Opening
Oct. 23rd- Speaker at Comfrey schools
Oct. 25th- Shopping at Macy's
Oct. 26th- Salvation Army Coat Drive
Oct. 27th- Reason for Hope Retreat Speaker
Oct.29th- Nov. 2nd- Miss America Cruise
Until next time,
Jennifer
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September 24
The past few weeks have been so much fun! I have continued to travel the state and have begun my preparations for Miss America. It is hard to believe it is only months away! Here is some information about some of my adventures thus far....
August 25th- Macy's Back to School Bash- I was asked by Macy's to be a fashion coordinator for this event, teaching shoppers about the new trends for this fall. It was great to help customers add some new exciting pieces to their wardrobes. I couldn't help but leave with a new outfit!
August 26th- Norwood Young America/Stifgunfest- This was a day filled with events. I began by singing the National Anthem and throwing the first pitch at the men's amateur state baseball tournament. I was really nervous about throwing the first pitch (I wish I had played softball in high school), but in the end it went pretty well. Next I headed to the actual Stifgunfest festival to help with the coronation of their new queen. I was able to perform my talent and asked each contestant an on-stage question. I was really surprised when the host of the pageant played a joke on us and we had to do the chicken dance on stage! My brother Caleb came with me and we couldn't leave until we sampled the famous seasoned hamburgers and bratwurst. What a fun experience!
August 27th and 29th- The Minnesota State Fair!- Caleb and I had a blast! We had two days full of media interviews, and of course food. A big thanks to Channel 9 news, Channel 5 news, WCCO Radio, KDWB, KFAN, 107.1(the Andrew Zimmern Show) and KTIS, for allowing me to share information about my platform and the Miss America program. While we were there Caleb made me try the alligator along with some other types of exotic food. I wonder what I was really eating?!
September 8th- Mankato Police Training- I am an official spokesperson for Autism Risk Management, a program that teaches police officers the correct responses if they are involved in a situation concerning someone with autism. It was founded by Dennis Debbaudt; a 30 year police veteran with an autistic son; who recognized the importance of autism education, especially when people with developmental disabilities are seven times more likely to have encounters with law enforcement officials. My first training session was with the Mankato part-time police unit, and the positive reception was wonderful. I can't wait to continue to educate police officers across the state of Minnesota.
September 12th- My Birthday! Ha ha I had to mention it! Thanks to everyone for the great birthday wishes! My favorite present was going to the Humane Society to adopt the newest member of our family, Harley! He is a gray and white cat who loves to snuggle. I will post pictures of him soon. I am thinking he may have to be the new Miss Minnesota mascot, let me know what you think!
September 15th- Kid's Day, Rochester, MN- This was a huge event that I am so thankful to be a part of. I had the opportunity to judge the Rochester Kid Idol contest, featuring singers ranging from ages 4-13. They were all so talented and fun to watch! It ended up in a 17 way tie so that everyone was able to go home a winner. Later that day I went to La Crosse, Wisconsin to meet Miss Wisconsin and watch the Miss La Crosse pageant. I was really excited because Jennifer Berry, Miss America 2006, was the emcee! She was a doll, and quite funny as well. Kristina, I can't wait for our trip to Miss America!
September 18th- Today I taped a segment for The Patriot radio station with host Carla Jean (a former MAO contestant). We had lots of stories to exchange, and she asked if I would be able to come back and be a co-host with her one afternoon. Once again Caleb was my bodyguard and he was able to talk on the air about his love of chess.
I will continue to keep all of you posted! Be sure to check out the new Miss Minnesota website! www.missminnesota.org
~Jenn
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Another few weeks of fun!
First I want to start by congratulating my Outstanding Teen Chantal Wilson. She recently competed in Orlando for the National title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen and Minnesota is very proud of her! She is a beautiful and talented young lady who really knows how to light up a room! She will always be a winner to me!
August 7th National Night Out- This event was scheduled while I was Miss Mankato and I was very proud to return to Mankato as Miss Minnesota. We were supposed to stop by four of the neighborhood parties and we were able to make it to eight. Liberty Limousines were nice enough to donate their time and services to chauffeur us around for the night. I had so much fun spending time with my former director Shelly Bartlett! To top off the night, the last party had smores- Yum!
August 9th Autism Society Kids Camp- I stopped in to say hello and was immediately greeted with smiles and even some hugs. I visited two classrooms and let everyone who was willing try on my crown, even though there was one little boy who wasn't sure if he wanted to give it back. In one of the classes there was a little boy named Cameron who astounded me with his knowledge of pageant statistics. I had to correct him on a few about the Miss America pageant and I am sure he will be quoting them for weeks!
August 9th- Dairy Queen Treat Day- I will admit that I did eat a blizzard, but trust me it was for a good cause. If you bought a blizzard, the proceeds benefited the Children's Miracle Network. I visited the Dairy Queen in Woodbury and Apple Valley and was able to meet several of the Miracle Families who were there to promote the cause. This day ended up being a treat for me! Later the same day I had coffee with Miss North Dakota, Ashley Young. We immediately became friends and can't wait to go to Miss America together!
August 10th Mankato Moondogs Game- I was back in Mankato to sing the National Anthem at the Moondogs game (Mankato's semi-professional baseball team). I love baseball so it was great to be there and I was even able to catch up with some old friends!
August 11th Miss Waseca/Miss South Central Pageant- Congrats to Megan Ehlert, Miss South Central, and to Collett Moorhouse, Miss Waseca! They both looked beautiful and I can't wait to see them progress as the year continues!
August 16th Camp Hand in Hand- I ventured up to Cross Lake Minnesota to be an honorary camp counselor for the day. This camp is a week long and offers autistic children the chance to have a vacation during the summer. Wendy, the camp director, makes sure that the camp is centered on "Having Fun"! We had a blast! It was great to be a kid again, wading in the lake and building sand castles.
August 17th Golf Tournament- This golf tournament was extraordinary in that all of the proceeds go to support our troops. I was at this event with former Miss Minnesota Tiffany Ogle. We were able to spend some time with soldiers who had just come home from Iraq.
August 20th Nicklow's Golf Tournament- I am learning a lot about golf these days! This tournament is run by brothers who own the restaurant Santorini. We have become good friends and they ask if I would attend as an ambassador for the Children's Miracle Network. All the proceeds go to Gillette Children’s Hospital to support the CMN organization. Although it was raining, the turnout was still outstanding!
I will be very busy in the weeks ahead. Come to the Rosedale Macy's Saturday the 25th from 1:00-3:00pm. I will be giving fashion tips and helping shoppers. On the 26th I will be at Stifgunfest to sing the national anthem and help with the coronation of their new queen. On the 27th and the 29th I will be at the Minnesota State Fair, so let me know if you plan to attend!
Until next time,
Jennifer
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Hi Everyone! It has been a busy past few weeks and I am enjoying every minute of it!
Pageant season is definitely upon us and we have many new local winners. Congradulations to Bethany Tickle Miss Morris, Kelsey Malecha Miss Midwest, Tara Greiman Miss Heart of the Lakes, Katie Dretsch Miss Frazee, and Haley Skow Miss Perham. All of these girls are beautiful, talented, and extremely intelligent. We are going to have so much fun Miss Mn week! Thanks so much to Gina and Hazel for letting me stay with you. Your genourosity is very appreciated!
Some of my other recent adventures include:
*The Riverboat Arts Festival in Aitkin, Mn - During Riverboat Days artists from all over the state travel to Aitkin to paint scenes of the town for the entire week. They are then judged in different categories and I was invited to attend the awards ceremony. I admire all of the artists because all of the art work was beautiful. I couldn't even begin to pick a favorite!
*Hay Days Pageant- Next I traveled to Hayfield, Minnesota for the Hay Days Festival. I love going to all of the fairs and festivals during Minnesota summers! They were crowning the new Miss Hayfield and asked me to be involved. I was escorted by the town mayor to the stage where I was able to speak on my platform and perform as well. All of the ladies completed a community service project before they competed for the title, and their volunteerism was very impressive.
*Uptowm Art Fair- This past weekend I was a guest reader at the Literacy Booth. The booth was run and organized by a group of six teenagers who continued to impress me. They are actively involved in many organizations that promote literacy to youth. I chose two of my favorite books(Angry Pie, and The Sneetchs) to read to children in Calhoun Square. Earlier in the week I met with St. Paul artist Marni Tobin so together we could produce a painting to be sold at the silent auction during the art fair. She was extremely nice and patient with me as I tried to add to the painting she had started. She is an amazing artist and I am still in awe of her work. Needless to say the painting was a unique cafe scene, and my strokes were still visible in the end product! Haha
*Autism Society Golf Tournament- My brother Caleb was my chaparone (he likes to call himself my bouncer) to the Autism Society of Minnesota Golf Tournament. We had fun selling mulligans and making sure that all of the golfers had plenty of water. At the awards ceremony I was asked to speak about my brothers and their experiences and help with the raffle drawing. Luckily no one was too mad at me when I didn't call their name. It was great to see so much support for a cause that I feel so passionately about. I'm glad that I can continue to be a part of this organization which offers many services to children with autism and their families.
Finally I want to offer my condolences to everyone who was affected by the collapse of the 35W bridge. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I am glad that Minnesotans stick by each other and unite during a time of crisis. God Bless!
Jennifer
Autism Society of Minnesota Golf Tournament.
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July 20th
The past few weeks have been very exciting!
Sat. July 7th I was back in Mankato for the Mankato Fun Days parade, and I now understand why they call it Fun Days because I had a ton of fun! It was great to see my friends again at KTOE and KDOG, they are great! Thanks Red for being a great driver(they had a PT Cruiser convertible ready and waiting for me)! I loved being back in Mankato, they are such a supportive community. The only downfall of the day was that it was 90 degrees, but we were supplied with plenty of water, and candy ! :) 
Next I traveled up to Detroit Lakes for the Miss Northwest Pageant. It was nice to be reunited with Kassandra Meehl and to welcome Mackenzie Ross as the new Miss Northwest! Congrats to all of the ladies for doing a great job and for giving us a great show!
A day later I traveled down to Minnesota Lake for the famous Festag Days. I had a blast! Over 10,000 people were expected to attend the parade in a town of only 650 people. After the parade, the Miss Festag Queen contestants and myself were escorted through town to a stage set up in the middle of the fairgrounds where they announced the new queen and her court. I was able to speak on my platform and perform my talent. It was an amazing experience, and I hope that I am able to go back to Minnesota Lake sometime throughout my year. I love that community!
After a late night of driving, I was back in the Twin Cities because the next morning I was invited to KSTP Channel 5 news. We shot a short segment that will either be an in or out to their morning news broadcast. Keep watching channel 5 news in the morning because one of these days you will see a clip of me talking about my ipod! Keep me posted if you see it!
Well, I have another busy week ahead! I'll be sure to fill you in on my next adventures!
Jenn
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Hi Everyone!
Wow, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind, and yes I am still in shock! I have been very busy, but I am having a blast! I will try to write and post pictures as often as I can, but bare with me as I have realized that my next investment will be a digital camera(I know I am the only person who doesn't have one yet) so the pictures will come, I just have to get them all developed.
I had the entire week after Miss Minnesota to rest and catch up on sleep, but did I - of course not! I was soooo excited that I spent most of my time talking to relatives over the phone, and brainstorming ideas for my platform. I overheard a contestant once say "You have 365 days as a titleholder to serve to the best of your ability," and that is something I really took to heart... I can't wait for the endless possibilities this year will have to offer!
Before I knew it my first official appearance as Miss Minnesota was here. After a 6 hour drive north I arrived in Marshall County Minnesota (really, it is about 30 miles from Canada). It was great to visit with Meghan Kuznia Miss Marshall County 2006 and to congratulate Katie Hamness, the new Miss Marshall County. Thanks to everyone for their hospitality; it was great to see a community so supportive of the Miss America program. 
Megan Kuznia and the 2007 Miss Marshall County contestants.
The week following was extremely hectic, but really fun. I was invited to the Santorini Tent Event where I had a great time. There was live music, dancing, karaokee, and of course great food! They proudly sponsor the Miss Minnesota program every year, and trust me-there is no way you would ever leave that restaurant hungary! Thanks Santorini's for having me and introducing me to the entire family~Opah!
The next day I was down in Mankato at my favorite radio stations KDOG and KTOE for interviews. They were nice enough to invite me to come on the air before I left for Miss Minnesota, and I promised them that if I won I would be back. They sure held me to it! I didn't stop laughing the entire time I was there, and was even presented flowers from the infamous "Stunt Monkey" (they make him do crazy things around Mankato). Thanks guys for a great time! I always have fun with you and I can't wait to ride with you in the Mankato Fun Days Parade!
Saturday the 30th I was on the road again to the Miss Brainerd Pageant. I was able to really spend some time with all of the contestants and I was very impressed! Mackenzie, you are a beautiful queen inside and out, and congratulations to Liz Neaton! My Outstanding Teen Chantal Wilson has been at both local pageants with me and she is amazing! I can't wait to get to know her even better as the year progresses!
Mackenzie Ross and I at the Miss Brainerd Lakes Pageant
Mackenzie Ross and the new Miss Brainerd Lakes Liz Neaton.
Lastly, I'd like to thank everyone for their love and support as I continue on this new and exciting journey. (And thanks Grandma for being my body guard at all of my appearances thus far!) Stay tuned for next weeks update!
Jennifer