Back to the Blog--With So Much Thanks to Give!

I’d like to start this post off with a story (It’s relevant, I promise): Yesterday, I visited the University Bookstore to purchase a textbook for my May Term class. The used version of the book was $64—less than many of the books I’ve had to buy over the past 3 years, but still cringe-worthy given my dwindling bank account. Unfortunately, there’s really no way around buying textbooks--if you want to pass, that is—so, I walked up to the register, thinking about how much fruit and peanut butter I could buy with that $64, and swiped my debit card.

Then, I remembered my scholarship account. Instant mood-booster! Thanks to the scholarship money I was awarded as Miss Collegiate America, that textbook is already paid for, and so are all of my textbooks for fall and spring semester.

I don’t think that many people understand how incredibly helpful scholarship pageants can be for young women who are pursuing college and postgraduate degrees. I am SO thankful to the Miss Collegiate America Organization for my $10,000 scholarship, which I’m happily putting toward my baccalaureate education at the University of Maine!

Of course, my involvement with the Miss Collegiate America & Miss High School America programs has earned me much more than just scholarship money. The experiences that I gained as Miss Collegiate America 2011 are absolutely invaluable. Throughout my year, I had the pleasure of traveling the country, performing on national stages, meeting with politicians & being a guest at the White House, Library of Congress and Capitol Building, modeling for Sherri Hill and Johnathan Kayne, shooting with well-known photographers, speaking about our anti-bullying platform, The Crown C.A.R.E.S., advocating healthy lifestyles, visiting schools and meeting many tremendous girls from across the United States. It was a whirlwind experience, and not one that I was willing to let end after crowning our new (gorgeous) Miss Collegiate America, Haley O’Brien, in March. I fully intended to remain involved with the MCA & MHSA Pageants as a mentor and a volunteer---and I’m happy to say that I’ll have the opportunity to do that and much more.

I feel so blessed to announce the fact that I have been chosen to represent our organization once again, taking on the title of Miss Collegiate International. Over the last 3 years, the High School & Collegiate Pageants have grown at an incredible rate, and we are so happy to expand the pageants to an international level, allowing young women from over 50 countries to compete for scholarship prizes and modeling opportunities. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to promote the Collegiate International Pageant as well as The Crown C.A.R.E.S. program, and I look forward to another exciting year of travels and new experiences. And pictures. Lots of pictures J

Miss Collegiate International

We're Almost There, Girls!

It’s almost time!! I hope that you’re all as excited as I am for an INCREDIBLE pageant week. I can’t wait to meet you all on Tuesday!

I just wanted to take a moment to share some last-minute advice as you’re finalizing your packing and getting yourselves into pageant mode!

First (and most importantly) be ready to have fun this week! You’re going to meet some really incredible girls down in San Antonio. Take the time to get to know your sister queens---I hope that you’ll all return home having formed new friendships.

Also, take time to appreciate all of the outings that Miss Amanda has planned for us! Listen to the guides at the Alamo tour and on the Riverwalk boat tour (you’ll learn a lot about the City of San Antonio) and have fun at the ranch, at Ripley’s, at Seaworld, etc. Don’t be fixated all week long on what’ll be happening on Friday and Saturday. You’ve worked hard to prepare yourselves. You’re ready! Enjoy all of the things that we’ll be doing in the days leading up to the pageant—I don’t want any of you to miss out!

Also, while you’re walking around San Antonio, make sure to carry autograph cards & a Sharpee and wear your sash! You never know when someone might stop you to ask for a photo or an autograph, or just ask you about the sash. It’ll give you the opportunity to talk a little bit about the pageant and hopefully draw some local residents in to cheer for you girls on the 9^th and 10^th!

Bring thank-you cards with you as well! I know that you’ve all written thank-yous for our incredible sponsors, but I promise that you will meet other individuals during the week that you’ll want to thank for their hard work and help :)

Now, rehearsals---Make sure that you’re going to be comfortable! Pack a few pairs of yoga pants and DEFINITELY bring a sweatshirt. You never know if it’ll be chilly in the rehearsal area, so it’s good to be prepared. It’s also good to have snacks, a water bottle, and some Band-aids with you at rehearsals. I’m sure that you’ve all done a good job of breaking in your heels, but you never know when a blister might appear!

And while we’re talking about foot comfort. . .PLEASE wear flats or sneakers to Sea World! We’re all going to do a lot of walking that day. You’ll be miserable if you wear heels. I promise Summer and I will be going with flats, and the dolphins and seals won’t be judging your footwear :)

One last packing tip—Bring some Ziploc baggies and separate your jewelry into the (labeled) baggies by outfit. If you’ve got your outfits separated right down to the accessories, it’ll make things SO much easier when you’re scrambling backstage!

Finally, please come to Summer and me during the week if you have any questions, or just want to talk to us about our years, our lives, our states, our favorite foods…ANYTHING! I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of you :)

Good luck with your last-minute packing and travel safely! I’ll see you all on Tuesday! Horray :)

XOXO Shannon

Washington, DC

Well, I’m back from Washington, D.C! What an incredible trip. I’m so happy that I had the chance to spend time in the nation’s capitol with my sister queen, Summer Priester. I only wish that I could have spent more time there---Luckily, Summer and I will reunite again 38 days from now in San Antonio for Miss Collegiate & High School America Pageant Week (I can’t believe it’s so close!)

Summer and I arrived in D.C. early Wednesday afternoon and hit the city right away. (Side Note: Walking around on sidewalks all day in a pair of heels takes a toll on your feet. If any of you girls are preparing for pageant week in San Antonio, make sure you put comfortable, broken-in heels on your packing list!) We fueled up with an amazing meal at Brassie Beck, a Belgian restaurant on 11^th St.. They had delicious sandwiches, salads & seafood; I DEFINITELY recommend stopping in if you’re in the city.

After lunch, Summer, Ms. Priester, Deb and I walked a few blocks over to the Lincoln Memorial, stopping for pictures in front of sculptures of Andrew Jackson and Rochambeau on the way. The Lincoln Memorial was absolutely breathtaking. We had the chance to pose in front of Abraham Lincoln’s monument and look across the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument from the very spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. made his “I Have A Dream Speech”. Just incredible. 

We also stopped for a picture with a group of students from Buenos Aires on the Lincoln Memorial steps—They were on their summer vacation! How unfair!

After leaving the Lincoln Memorial, we walked through the Korean War Memorial as well as the new MLK Jr. Memorial. Both were amazing. Here are some pictures!

Unfortunately, I had an online biology quiz to complete before midnight, so after our short memorial tour, we had to return to our hotel and call it a day. Darn schoolwork :-P

We started out bright and early on Thursday, with a trip to the White House. Of course, no pictures are allowed inside, so I don’t have any to share :( but I can tell you all that it was absolutely gorgeous--the portraits, the architecture, the furniture, the chandeliers---If you ever have the opportunity to visit, you absolutely should! I’m so thankful to Senator Susan Collins and her staff for setting up a White House tour for us!

Later that morning, Summer, Deb, Ms. Priester and I headed over to the Capitol Building for a private tour. On our way in, we met Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York and spoke to her about our national platform, The Crown C.A.R.E.S. Senator Gillibrand is currently working on the Student Non-Discrimination Act, legislation that will protect LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender) students from harassment and bullying at school. We were so lucky to have the chance to speak with Senator Gillibrand and thank her for the work that she’s doing to further bullying prevention!

Our tour of the Capitol Building was fantastic. Again, thank you to Senator Collins and her staff for making the tour possible! Also, kudos to the Senate Cafeteria, which serves a delicious lunch :)

The Capitol Police would like me on their force :)

To finish off our Thursday tour of the city, we visited the Library of Congress. It was gorgeous! Another must-see.

I wish that I could have spent more time in D.C. It was a whirlwind trip! I guess I’ll have to return to see the Smithsonian museums, visit more memorials, ride the glass elevator at The Old Post Office, and stop by Arlington National Cemetery. I’m excited to announce that the Washington D.C. trip has been added to the Miss Collegiate America and Miss High School America national award package, so the next titleholders will have the chance to travel to D.C to promote The Crown C.A.R.E.S, visit to the White House, Capitol Building and Library of Congress AND fill me in on all of the sites that I missed! Thank you Ms. Amanda for giving the national titleholders the opportunity to take this trip—It was an amazing experience.

Unfortunately, it’s now time for me to get back to work in Orono. Only a few more weeks until I fly to San Antonio, though! Ah! I’m looking forward to meeting all of the girls and taking part in an exciting pageant week :)

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Whew, what a busy semester!  It’s so nice to be home with my family, enjoying a bit of rest.  Here are a few of the highlights from the past few months of blog neglect:

Summer and I each received a pair of these custom-made heels, covered in Swarovski crystals. So amazing! We have such amazing High School and Collegiate America Sponsors!

In October, I had the opportunity to judge the 2^nd Annual Central Maine Pajama Pageant. Over 100 girls participated, and hundreds of pairs of pajamas and books were gathered for children staying in local domestic abuse shelters. It was a pleasure to be a part of such a meaningful and successful event!

The filming of the Acadia Hospital/Project AWARE mental health movie, “The Road Back”, was a tremendous success. Many young people from across the state participated in the project, both on camera and behind-the-scenes, during the two weekends of filming. I look forward to viewing the rough edit of the film soon! The film’s premiere is scheduled for mid-spring. Visit http://www.projectaware.net/ for updates on this project as well as many others.

Last month, I participated in the filming of a series of educational shorts produced by Project AWARE and the Department of Education designed to raise awareness about various health issues. I played the part of Valerie in a short about tobacco abuse and had the opportunity to sit in on the filming of three other shorts regarding proper nutrition, increased physical activity and bullying prevention. It was a fun and successful weekend of filming and the shorts will do a great job of educating youth around the State of Maine.

Annnnnnnd after 8 years of involvement with Project AWARE, I have officially been named to the board! I look forward to meeting the other new members and discussing project ideas and fundraising possibilities for the next year!

Finally, Summer Priester, Amanda Patterson, Deb Landry, Inez Freeman and I have just finalized plans for our trip to Washington, D.C. In January. We will be visiting the White House, touring the city and meeting with several representatives. It’ll be a fun trip and I’m sure we’ll take PLENTY of pictures! I can’t wait!

I hope that everyone enjoys a restful holiday with family and friends! Now that I’m home on break and recuperating from a busy busy semester, I promise to blog again soon (Not an empty promise, I assure you!)

Merry Christmas & God Bless!

Shannon

Fall break, Story Time and McDreamy

Ahhhh, fall break. It just couldn’t come soon enough. The past several weeks have been filled with studying, studying, studying and frequent late-night trips to Dysart’s Truck Stop for DELICIOUS desserts--I’ve never been an advocate of super-strict diets. If you stay active and eat balanced meals, there’s no reason why you can’t treat yourself every now and then ;)

Anyway, it’s nice to have a few days off to relax with my family and friends back in Saco, and the mini break has given me the opportunity to make a few appearances in Southern and Central Maine!

On Friday, I visited Kennebunk Elementary School to read Deb Landry’s "Yankee Go Home", and talk to the first grade classes about bullying. The kids were adorable, attentive, and so excited to tell me everything the know about standing up to bullies! 

After the presentation, a young boy walked up to me and said, "Shannon...I like you. I hope you have a GREAT day!” Later on, I was told that the boy was known to be somewhat of a mischief-maker and it wasn’t common for him to be say such kind and sincere things to others out-of-the-blue…Moments like that are the ones that will stick with me forever. I hope that my chat with the Kennebunk Elementary students will have a positive impact on both he and his classmates. I also hope that I’ll be able to return to KES in the spring to kick off Wellness Week with a presentation on 5210 Let’s Go!

Yesterday, I spent time at the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston, ME as a volunteer at the Zespri Kiwifruit booth. The Dempsey Challenge is put on annually in order to raise money for the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope & Healing at Central Maine Medical Center. There are fun runs, walk/runs and bicycle races going on all weekend, and lots of vendors and local health and wellness professionals are around, sharing health information and raising money for the cancer center. I had a chance to meet Patrick Dempsey and take a quick photo with him on Saturday, as he exited the stage following his kick-off speech. Patrick was quite a popular guy...and he had quite a security team haha.

It was a fun afternoon, and the Zespri Kiwifruit booth was a huge hit. It was run by Crossroads Youth Center, an organization that I've been involved with since elementary school. We're a part of the Zespri Kiwifruit for Kids Challenge right now and we are competing with 5 other charities from across the U.S. in the hopes of winning $10,000 from Zespri, which we will put toward the production of our film on childhood obesity. Visitors at the booth played the Kiwifruit for Kids game at www.kiwifruitforkids.com in order to earn points for the Northeast Region (Crossroads), and we gave away kiwifruit samples, t-shirts, hats, kiwifruit nutritional information, recipe cards and stickers. Hopefully the booth earned us a lot of supporters! If Crossroads earns the most points in the game, we will win the $10,000 grand prize. Right now we're almost 12,000 points ahead, but the contest runs until the end of the month. Visit the website (www.kiwifruitforkids.com) to play for Crossroads yourself! Also visit http://www.zesprikiwi.com/ for fun kiwifruit facts and yummy recipes :)

Tomorrow, I’ll be heading back to Orono to hit the books once again (boo hoo) and work on piecing together music for the Project Aware/Acadia Hospital Teen Mental Health Movie! If any artists have original music that they’d be willing to allow us to use in the film, please contact me via Facebook or email me at shannon.folsom@maine.edu :) I’m told that the first weekend of filming is going very well, and I can’t wait to spend a bit of time on the set next weekend! I was excited to see that the Bangor Daily News published an article about the project today at http://bangordailynews.com/2011/10/09/health/bangor-area-teens-write-direct-and-star-in-new-film-about-mental-health/ So exciting!

I’m off to squeeze a few more moments of relaxation out of my break!

Hopefully I won’t go another month without blogging EVER again (shame on me), but please don’t forget that you can always read about the exciting things that the Collegiate and High School girls are up to by visiting the Facebook pages or MHSA website!