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 :)