Lady Gaga tweets to promote Jonah Mowry's anti-bullying video on YouTube

As of this writing Jonah Mowry's viral YouTube video has nearly 8,000,000 views, and even Lady Gaga has come forward in support of Jonah and his emotional anti-bullying message.  Lady Gaga has been a strong supporter of programs that prevent bullying, through her Born This Way Foundation and even a recent visit to the White House to talk about the national anti-bullying campaign.

Jonah, who used flashcards in a simple video to announce that he is gay, appeared on Good Morning America to talk about how he been bullied and the effect it had on his life.  In Jonah's video he talks about things he is not proud of and shows his own scars.  He says since posting the video his school principal has offered support and he has even received apologies from some of his peers.  This is good, but I can't help but wonder why things have to go this far before a teenager can get help.  Jonah is in middle school, and the issues he faces with bullying are the same issues facing millions of kids in America.

I believe every child deserves to be happy and safe at school which is why I launched my Happy Kids Safe Schools initiative.  I am proud to support programs that prevent bullying as my personal platform as a local titleholder in the Miss America Organization, so keep reading this blog to find out what you can do to take a stand and help kids be happy and safe in your community.

Why is bullying such a big problem for kids today?

Why is bullying such a big issue for kids today?  Isn't bullying really just an issue of kids being kids?  Our parents tell stories about being pushed around in school, it even happened to me, but we didn't call it bullying.  Why is today so different that we need a state law to protect kids from bullying?

Bullying effects approximately five million kids in the United States, impacting about 1 in 7 school children and making bullying a serious problem in every classroom in America.  Still, my interviews and presentations are often filled with sincere questions from adults wanting to know why bullying is a real problem.

I couldn't help but think about the questions I've been getting about my Happy Kids Safe Schools initiative while reading a new series in the LA Times called Discovering Autism.  The article starts with this question: "Autism boom: an epidemic of disease or of discovery?"

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 1% of children across the country have some form of autism - 20 times the prevailing figure in the 1980s.  Two decades into the boom however, the balance of evidence suggests that is is more a surge in diagnoses that in disease.  Factors that have nothing to do with biology can explain much of the steep increase in cases around the world: an expanded definition of autism, spreading awareness of the disorder and an improved ability to distinguish it from other conditions."

I think many of these statements about autism apply to the dramatic rise we are seeing in bullying and peer to peer violence in our schools.  The fact is that bullying may not be a bigger problem today than it was for our grandparents, but our ability to record and track teen bullying on a national and international level has increased significantly.  Cyberbullying has the ability to impact far more kids in a shorter amount of time than one on one bullying on the schoolyard.  And social networking creates 24-7 peer pressure for teenagers, so the bullying doesn't stop when they leave the playground.  Now bullying follows our children home and gets through walls and locked doors through text messaging and social networking.  Twenty or thirty years ago it was easy to pull two kids apart during recess and send them home to their parents.  Today the victim goes home and turns on their phone or computer to find that the humiliation and name-calling has followed them home, and they aren't even safe in their own bedrooms.

Just like taking care of kids with autism, education and awareness about the seriousness about bullying is a key to keeping kids safe.  Some forms of bullying haven't changed for decades, but cyberbullying is a new serious twist.   The outcomes of bullying can also be far more serious today than it was 20 years ago, with social networking spreading news and ideas about teen suicide.  So why is bullying so much different today than it was when our grandparents where in school?  Because we live in such a different world now, with such different technology and different expectations about human behavior.  We can't solve all these problems but together we can take a stand.

Measuring my year by the number of kids I make smile

Someone once told me that I could measure the success of my year by counting the number of children I make smile.  I think that is some pretty good advice, and I've spent the last few weeks making appearances and meeting kids in my home community in Southern Indiana.

My mom always used to read stories to me before I would go to bed, so when I had a chance to visit a group at Head Start in Vincennes I read some of my favorite books to the little kids.  Head Start is the nation's leading program in childhood education and care.  Each year over a million people volunteer their time with Head Start and I was proud to bring them some of the magic of Miss America Organization.  The children got really involved in the activities and really enjoyed the stories.  When I asked them to make the sounds of the animals or the sound a train makes, the kids lit up with excitement.  After story time I let them touch my crown and ask questions about what I do as Miss Northwest Territory.  They loved my crown.  There were a few kids who would merely tap it, but others were more confident and would grab it with both hands and practically pull it off my head!  I thought it was really cute how fascinated they were with my crown, but I have to always remember "My crown is in my heart, not upon my head."

Trunk or Treat on Hart Street was lots of fun!  I was in front of Dr. Snider's office for this halloween tradition in Vincennes.  There were so many kids, and lots of adults, too.  I got asked if I was a real princess or if I was the girl from Tangled.  As it turns out, a girl with long hair and a crown can only be the real Miss Northwest Territory, and I had lots of fun handing out pretzels and vitamin B gummies.  It was freezing cold, even for a princess with super powers, but it was totally worth it to see some adorable little kids.  I think my costume awards would have to go to the twin babies in sock monkey outfits.  So cute!

With my outstanding teens Brianna Barnes and Audrey Furgeson by my side, I was thrilled to be in the annual Vincennes Christmas Parade on historic Main Street.  Not only were my outstanding teens at the parade, but I got to ride with Princess Gia.  At the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant, Gia Baracani-Thomas was my princess, and now we get to ride in parades together and make appearances.  I'm so glad my teens and princess were there - I love them to death!  We had a dancing snow man and a dancing polar bear helping us pass out candy along the parade route, and my 2012 Nissan Murano was sponsored by my good friends at Memering's Motorplex.

You don't have to be a princess or a titleholder to make a difference in the life of a child.  Make a child's day by supporting the work of the Children's Miracle Network.  Look for the balloons wherever you shop or make a donation today by searching for my name at missamerica4kids.org

Ashlynn Conner and Coming Together to Help Kids

As I've been reading the reports about Ashlynn Conner, it is difficult not to cry when you think about the death of a 10-year-old fifth-grader who appears to have taken her own life.  Ashlynn's death is a tragedy.

Suicide is a leading cause of death among teenagers and adolescents in America.  That needs to sink in.  There is a lot of discussion and finger-pointing about bullying, and at what point kids being kids cross the line into something far worse than schoolyard taunting.  Many states have considered bullying laws.  While those laws have passed in many states, such as in Kentucky were a new law sailed through after just a short period of testimony, there are states like Indiana were the laws don't even make it out of committee.  It is easy not to let those laws out of committee for full debate on the floor, and it is easy to point at the individual schools and claim principals and schools boards can effectively write their own polices.  But when 300 people line the streets in tiny Ridge Farm, Illinois, just across the Indiana state line, all of the excuses in the world won't bring Ashlynn back.  And make no mistake, when a child dies in a tragic suicide, anything we say that doesn't bring her back is just an excuse.  We need to do more. We have to do more.  We need to take a stand.

Preventing bullying isn't just about ridding our schools and communities of the peer-to-peer verbal harassment and physical abuse that happens in hallways, locker rooms and playgrounds.  It is about stopping behavior that can start a young person down a path that sometimes has a tragic end.  The Vermillion County Sheriff, Patrick Hartshorn, was quoted in the Chicago Tribune saying "We haven't uncovered something so severe that it would result in someone taking their own life."  The trouble is, we have no way of knowing, and we may never know, how hurtful certain things may have been to Ashlynn.  What we do know, what is absolute fact, is that Ashlynn is gone.  Ashlynn was found by her own sister, unresponsive in their own home.  I can't even begin to imagine the heartbreak that family is experiencing.

I hope Ashlynn's death helps bring people together and helps us undertand that we need to work together if we are going to prevent suicides of young people in our communities.  Please keep reading my blog to learn more about bullying, teen suicide, and what you can do to take a stand and make a difference in the life of a child.

What Penn State should teach us about keeping kids safe

During the height of college football season, Penn State should be making news for the cool things their student athletes are doing on the field.  Instead, Penn State is fighting to find a way to move forward in the midst of a scandal that has severely damaged the reputation of the institution, and the trust parents put in school officials when they send their children miles and miles away to earn a college degree.

This past June I was lucky enough to be a finalist at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant and I remember how one of the judges really pushed me to explain the importance of my Happy Kids Safe Schools platform.  We only got to talk about my platform for a few minutes, mostly because state interviews are limited to ten minutes and the other judges had their own questions, so I hope that judge remembers me and Happy Kids Safe Schools as he reads about what is happening at Penn State.  Happy Kids Safe Schools is focused mainly on how to rid our schools and community and bullying, but a big part of my Happy Kids Safe Schools message is about encouraging kids and parents to report bad behavior to police and school officials.  I call this taking as stand, and I want everyone to take a stand against behavior that hurts our kids, no matter if it is bullying or the unspeakable abuse that is said to have occurred at Penn State.

"To protect our children from violence and abuse, anyone who sees or knows about a crime against a child must report it to local authorities.  Right now, the federal government and 32 states have no such requirement in law."

Senator Barbara Boxer of California said that while talking about the Child Protection Act legislation that she introduced this week.  Barbara Boxer's statement really drives home the point: we have a long way to go when it comes to taking care of our kids.  Take a stand in your community today be getting involved in your child's school, contacting your representatives and taking steps to fill our neighborhoods with Happy Kids and Safe Schools.

Tyra Banks and Modelland, and what Dr. Oz has to say about adult bullies

Being a local titleholder is a big blessing, and I don't take for granted that being a titleholder gives me an opportunity to talk about my personal platform of Happy Kids Safe Schools, which is my mission to help students, parents and schools understand how important it is to rid our communities of bullying.

Recent results from a study called "Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites" seems to confirm what we already know about teenagers and the internet: many teens and children are having terrible experiences online, leaving them depressed, isolated and hurting when they show up at school to face their peers in real life.  Most studies show that the majority of teenagers have had a least one experience with bullying online.

Along with fighting to change the way we try to prevent bullying, I also work hard to change common perceptions about pageant girls.  The fact is, pageants put a big spotlight on physical appearance - there is really no way to say that is doesn't.  The important thing to realize, though, is that physical appearance isn't the only thing that matters.  Interview and talent make up a huge part of our scores, and those things have a lot more to with substance than just looking good in a swimsuit.  Don't get me wrong, I like feeling good when I put on a swimsuit, on the pageant stage or on the beach.

The new book Modelland by Tyra Banks takes on some of the issues about stereotypes and body image, and I think the best part is that these types of books really help open the dialogue between teens and their parents, which is so important.  I heard on the View that some parents and teens are even reading Modelland together, and it is these types of strong family relationships that keep everyone safe and healthy.

But bullying doesn't stop when we graduate from high school.  Today I heard an interview with Dr. Oz and he mentioned Tyra's book.  He went on to say that adult bullying is also a problem, and that adults can be just a mean when it comes to tearing down a colleagues self image and self confidence.

Kids don't live in Modelland, and I don't live in pageantland, so it is most important to stay focused on what we can do in real life, in our schools and communities to make a difference in the lives of child.  For me, I love being a titleholder, and I love the way my four-pointed crown lets me have the power of a personal platform and a year-long focus on community service.  Many of you will find those volunteer opportunities in other places, and I love that, too.  Just keep pushing forward, keep looking for ways to keep kids happy and safe in their schools, and stand up for the people you love by taking a stand against bullying.

Look for me on missamerica4kids.org to to be part of my fundraising efforts for the Children's Miracle Network, and learn more about my efforts to stomp out bullying by clicking the Happy Kids Safe Schools tab at the top of the blog.

Talking up Miss Indiana on WVUB Blazer 91.1

Last week I had the chance to go on WVUB Blazer 91.1 and talk with Tanner about my experience at the state and local level in the Miss America Organization.  For those of you who may be new to the PresBlog, I've been active in the Miss America Organization since I was a young teenager, and I am proud to have been very successful in their teen program.  That success as a teen was my springboard into the miss division, and this past June I was a finalist in the Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant held in Zionsville.  Search the PresBlog for my series of updates about my experience at the Miss Indiana Pageant in June.

I am the reigning Miss Northwest Territory, which means I get to spend the year promoting and supporting opportunities at the local level in the Miss America Organization.  I was really happy to get to go on the radio on WVUB Blazer 91.1 and talk about my job as Miss Northwest Territory and my experiences in the Miss Indiana system.  WVUB is your #1 Hit Music Station of Vincennes University, where I am currently a freshman working toward my degree in criminal justice and homeland security.

Keep reading the PresBlog to be part of my year as Miss Northwest Territory, and help me get a head start on my fundraising for the Miss Indiana Pageant by searching for my at missamerica4kids.org.

Miss Northwest Territory 2012

I am honored to be Miss Northwest Territory!  Yesterday I competed at a local program in the Miss America Organization, and I am thrilled to be Miss Northwest Territory 2012!

As Miss Northwest Territory 2012 I will spend my year promoting Happy Kids Safe Schools and supporting the Children's Miracle Network, the national platform of the Miss America Organization.  As a local titleholder I get the chance to be a spokesperson for my platform and spend an entire year promoting the opportunities at the local, state and national level.

At the Northwest Territory Pageant I worked really hard and put on one of my best performances.  I am thrilled to have won the talent award, and I know I delivered one of my best ever interviews before modeling evening gown and swimsuit exactly the way I had practiced so many times.  Dreams really do come true, and hard work really does pay off.

And a big congratulations to Princess Gia on her own pageant success this weekend!  Come along on my journey by reading my blog, and we will look forward to seeing you in June at the 2012 Miss Indiana Pageant!

Is Facebook the world's largest unsupervised elementary school?

In a survey this year, Consumer Reports revealed that approximately 7.5 million Facebook users are under the age of 13 and should be be using the popular social network.  Those 7.5 million kids under the age of 13 account for about a third of the 20 million minors currently using Facebook.

The Consumer Reports survey showed that 1 million children were bullied, harassed or threatened on Facebook during the past year.  So lets do the quick math: if there are 20 million kids using Facebook and 1 million of them are subjected to some for of cyberbullying, that means approximately 1 out of every 20 kids of Facebook are being bullied on the site.  1 in 20 - that means this is a problem in every neighborhood in America.

According to the survey, the parents of these kids being bullied on Facebook are not worried.  Of parents of kids who are 10 years old or younger, less than 20% made their kids friend them on Facebook, which Consumer Reports says is one of the best ways to monitor their kid's online activity.  Only about 10% of parents of the 10 year olds have had talks with their kids about online safety.

Federal Trade Commission chair Jon Leibowitz told Consumer Reports "We are very concerned about kids eliding around COPPA's restrictions."  COPPA is the Children's Online Protection Act, which was designed to protect a child's personal information from being disclosed online.  But a nine-year-old who goes on Facebook with parent approval and lies about their age to use the site is defeating the federal protection.

Online bullying is a serious problem in America and its time for serious people to demand a serious solution.  Earlier this week I wrote about a school superintendent who said "Keeping kids safe is common ground."  The number of kids being bullied on Facebook is staggering.  Bullying causes depression that can be serious enough to lead to suicide, and suicide is a leading cause of death for teenagers in America.

Take a stand today and keep kids safe in your community!

"Keeping kids safe is common ground"

"Keeping kids safe is common ground," said Dennis Carlson, superintendent of Anoka-Hennepin Schools in Minnesota in an article that ran recently in the New York Times.  Carlson went on to say "I think the adults are much more interested in making us into a political battlefield than the kids are.  We have people o the left and the right, and we're trying to find common ground on these issues."

Anoka-Hennepin Schools, located just north of Minneapolis, is Minnesota's largest school district with 38,000 students.  The New York Times reported that the school district has suffered eight student suicides in the last two years, a tragedy that prompted state officials to declare a "suicide contagion."  According to the article, even the U.S. Department of Justice is said to be investigating complaints of harassment of gay students in the district.

"Keeping kids safe is common ground."  These might be the most powerful, most insightful words I've seen lately when talking about how to keep kids safe from bullying, especially when the bullying is at a level where teen suicides are occurring at a rate of about one death every 90 days in a Anoka-Hennepin Schools.  This is an absolute tragedy, and it is absolutely preventable.

Take a stand today and get involved in your community and see what you can do to make your schools safer.  Bullying is a problem in every single classroom in America, and we can stomp out bullying by getting involved and demanding safe schools for a our kids.  Get in touch with your lawmakers and school officials.  Solving this problem will lead to some heated debates, but remember, "Keeping kids safe is common ground."

[delete] digital drama at Charlotte Russe and support Stomp Out Bullying

Cyberbullying is a serious problem in the United States, and Seventeen magazine tackled the issue head-on in their August issue.  Deleting digital drama is the focus of the August edition of Seventeen.  ABC Family teamed up with Seventeen on a national campaign to raise awareness about cyberbullying, or as they call it, digital drama.

Look for special [delete] digital drama t-shirts at Charlotte Russe stores.  Proceeds from the [delete] shirts will go to the national Stomp Out Bullying campaign.

Whether you pick up a [delete] shirt or not, remember that it only takes one person to take a stand and help someone who is being bullied.  If you see bullying happening in your school or community, take a stand and find the courage to talk to an adult about your concerns.  Unfortunately, bullying might look like simple kid stuff on the surface, but it can have very serious consequences.  Bullying can lead to depression and suicide, and suicide is a leading cause of death for teenagers in America.

Get involved and learn more about the bullying laws at your school or community.  Send a letter or email to your representative urging them to consider legislation that will protect children at school, online and anywhere in their community.  Take a stand and stomp out bullying today!

New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights takes effect September 1st

Bullying is a serious problem in the United States many school districts and state legislatures across the country have been taking action by creating new policies and passing new laws.  On September 1st, New Jersey's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights goes into effect.

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights in New Jersey comes almost a year after the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi.  The sad reality is that suicide is a leading cause of death for teenagers.  In Indiana, the suicide of 15-year-old Billy Lucas was a tragic wake up call to teachers and parents.  Still, the death of Billy Lucas wasn't enough to get a bullying law passed in Indiana.  I'm hoping a bullying law proposal in the next Indiana legislative session will at least make it out of committee.

The new law in New Jersey is being called the toughest anti-bullying law in the country.  Lots of states have taken different approaches when it comes to using laws to protect school children, so your representatives need to hear from you.  Go to your state's legislative website, find your representative and send them a message.  Some states have websites that allow you to send quick messages, while others connect you by email.  And don't forget, you can always send a real letter.  The point is to let your representatives know how you feel so they can pass laws that protect kids from bullying.

The anti-bullying law in New Jersey may help create a philosophy that their are no innocent bystanders: if you see bullying you have a responsibility to report it.  I think this is important.  Dealing with bullying is very difficult and someone experiencing bullying at school may be too uncomfortable to seek out help on their own.  If you see someone being bullied, mention it to a teacher, counselor or parent.  You don't have to point fingers.  Simply let an adult know that you saw something that made you uncomfortable and ask them to check and make sure everything is okay.  For many of us taking a stand against bullying is a really hard thing to do. Just remember, your help may save a life.

My first week as a college student at Vincennes University!

So for those of you that have been following my journey you know there are two things I was really looking forward to this summer.  Back in June, I was super excited to compete in the state pageant in the miss division which had been a dream of mine for years.  Even more important, I was so excited to finally, finally, graduate from high school and start my career as a college student.  Now that it is August, I can proudly check that second one of my list.

I am officially a student at Vincennes University!  Classes started on Monday and I couldn't be more excited.  All of my classes went really well and I am looking forward to a great semester with my new classmates and instructors.  Although I will be in class five days a week, I have a good schedule with lots of flexibility, and I secretly like that my five day schedule will probably help keep me focused on academics.  I know lots of students who schedule themselves for three or four day weekends and then find themselves overloaded and frantic trying to keep up.  Bottom line, know your strengths and work with your advisor to find classes and schedule that works for you.

Since this is my first year of college I will spend most of my time focusing on fundamental coursework that will be the foundation of my degree.  Over the summer I was investigating career paths, and I have to say I got really excited when I took a close look at Homeland Security and Law Enforcement.  Now this might sound odd for a beauty-queen-monster-truck-driving-crown-wearing-country-singer, but the options in the law enforcement field are really cool.  I have some short-term goals and I am just starting to think about the specifics of my career path, so its exciting to get started in the classroom at Vincennes University.

Miracle Treat Day is August 11th and a big congrats to Princess Gia!

Join me for Miracle Treat Day on Thursday, August 11th at your favorite Dairy Queen!  Get your favorite treat and help support the Children's Miracle Network.  For my friends in Southern Indiana, I will be at the Dairy Queen in Loogootee.  The Children's Miracle Network is the national platform of the Miss America Organization, so you will see lots of local and state titleholders volunteering on Miracle Treat Day.

The summer is going by fast but there are still lots of summer festivals and fairs to visit. This past Saturday I went to the Vincennes Watermelon Pageant to cheer on my Miss Indiaan Princess Gia compete. I was so proud to see Gia take the stage in the pre-teen division and I know she will keep working hard and chasing her dreams.

See you at Dairy Queen for Miracle Treat Day!

Amy Hestir's law bans Facebook friendships between teachers and students in Missouri

Everyone loves Facebook and most people are starting to think that technology, specifically social media, will be what my generation is remembered for the most.  In an effort to protect school children from inappropriate relationships with teachers, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed a new state law that specifically prohibits Facebook friendships between teachers and students.

The law is called the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act and it still allows teachers to set up public pages for their classes, but it prohibits friendships between teachers and students on social media websites.  Unfortunately, students sometimes find themselves in bad relationships with teachers.  Obviously lawmakers in Missouri decided they needed to address the increasing issues with Facebook.

Protecting students from inappropriate relationships, negative peer pressure and bullying is really important, and it is why I use my Happy Kids Safe Schools platform to promote education and programming that prevents bullying in our schools.  Indiana needs a state law to make sure our kids have greater protection from bullying, especially cyberbullying and text-message bullying, so get in touch with your local lawmakers to make your voice heard.  The Amy Hestir Student Protection Act is a step in the right direction because it shows that when lawmakers take a close look at the serious issues facing our children they will take action.

Keep reading the PresBlog to learn more about my Happy Kids Safe Schools platform and take a stand today against bullying in our schools and communities!

Miss Knox County Fair and singing the National Anthem

On Monday I was so excited to be at the Knox County fair to perform the National Anthem and visit the fair queen pageant.  Knox county is actually the oldest fair in Indiana and was established in 1809.  This also means it is one of the oldest fairs in America so it is quite an honor to be able to sing the National Anthem at the Knox County Fair.

I performed the National Anthem for one of the biggest grandstand events - the tractor pull.  Truth be told, I really love tractor pulls and mud slings.  I think sitting out in a fairgrounds grandstand under the summer sun watching a tractor pull is a lot of fun.  And trust me, this week it is plenty hot to be at the fair.  I love performing the National Anthem.  A lot of my friends from high school are serving in the military, and singing the Anthem reminds me of their service and sacrifice.

While I was at the fair I also got a chance to visit the queen pageant.  If you are regular PresBlog reader you might remember that Knox County had more young women in the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant than any other place in Indiana, so you can bet the Knox County Queen Pageant is filled with beautiful, talented ladies eager to represent their county at the state fair queen pageant in August.  The 2011 Knox County Fair Queen is Cassandra Brocksmith.  I had a chance to talk with Cassandra for a minute after she one, and I know she will have a great time and the fair.

I will be cheering for Cassandra to have good luck at the Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant.  If she wins in August, she would actually represent the state fair in 2012.  The Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant is actually one of the largest single-day pageants in the state with approximately 90 contestants.

So if you are in Knox County, drop by the oldest fair in the state and look for me - maybe I will be performing the National Anthem at the grandstand or just enjoying a cold drink in the shade!

Talking up Miss Indiana on WAOV Knox County Today

This week I had a chance to go on Knox County Today on WAOV Vincennes with Ed Ballinger to talk up the Miss Indiana program and share some highlights from my trip to the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant in Zionsville.  Knox County Today is a regular radio program and I've been lucky enough to go on the air a few times with Ed to talk about Miss Indiana.

If you haven't already, take a look at my Memories from Miss Indiana series and the Countdown to Miss Indiana postings to see for yourself how much fun the 31 contestants had a the week long 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.  I didn't get to talk about everything on the radio, but one really important thing to point out is that every one of the 31 contestants at the Miss Indiana pageant are local titleholders in the Miss America Organization.  This means they have one a local preliminary pageant and earned a local title.  Local titleholders get a crown and sash and make appearances throughout their year of service promoting the personal platforms and the Miss America program.

I had a blast at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant, so going on WAOV with Ed on Knox County Today was really the icing on the cake.  I hope that by sharing my experiences from Miss Indiana week more young women will enter the program at the local level.  Each year hundreds of young women compete for local titles in Indiana and we are always looking for new people to get involved.  If you want to get started as a contestant, or even as a volunteer, go to the Miss Indiana website for more information.

A day with the kids of Artventures in Vincennes

I was really excited to spend a couple days getting to know the kids at the Artventures program in Vincennes.  Artventures is a really great program put on by Psi Iota Xi, which is a local organization that supports speech and hearing impaired children in the Vincennes Area.  Each workshop takes about 75 kids and gives them a chance to learn and few things in a fun and supportive environment.

I got a chance to visit Artventures when they were doing plaster hands and clay work.  I had a lot of fun doing the plaster hands, but I had even more fun getting to know the kids.  I especially remember having lots of fun with Emilee, a happy-go-lucky girl who was in the workshop.  Emilee has the most beautiful red hair, and I know one day she would make a beautiful Miss America.  She has the heart of a titleholder so I know she will do great things.  I believe "my crown is in my heart, not upon my head."

During my visit I got a chance to talk about my experience at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant and being a top ten finalist.  If you are new to the PresBlog, I just posted a series with my favorite memories from Miss Indiana week.  Having these opportunities to connect with children in my community are some of the best parts of my job as a local titleholder, and I can't wait to see who I meet next during my year of service!

Celebrating July 4th with a parade in Vincennes

I was so excited to be in a Fourth of July Parade!  July 4th was on a Monday this year, so everyone got to enjoy a perfect summer weekend with friends and family.  After spending a week at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant, I am really glad to be back home in Knox County.  Its funny how a week in Zionsville made me miss things I see everyday and might be tempted to take for granted, like cornfields and long country roads that lead home.

For the Fourth of July parade in Vincennes I came prepared with lots of goodies and we decorated my float - a Ford F-150 truck - with several magnetic signs.  We even had a sign for my Miss Indiana Princess Gia! One of my signs noted my top ten finish, which is still something I think might have been a dream.  But it actually happened, and there I was in the parade as a local titleholder in the Miss America Organization and a top ten finalist in the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.

This parade was a lot longer than the Miss Indiana Parade in Zionsville, but that didn't keep me from walking the entire parade route.  I love sitting on the back of a convertible doing my best Miss America wave because it makes me feel like such a celebrity, but this time I wanted to walk so I could talk to people and hand out treats to the kids instead of tossing them from the car.  There is something really nice about those brief meetings along the sidewalks of a parade route, and I like to think somewhere along the parade was a future titleholder who saw how I do my job and got inspired.  With the help of Princess Gia, we gave out about 350 popsicles, plus we had some beads, pink flamingos and even a few stuffed animals.  The July 4th parade was a great start to my summer!

Memories of Miss Indiana Week: Day Seven

After an entire week spent with the 31 contestants at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant in Zionsville, it was finally Saturday.  There is so much going on Saturday of pageant week: the morning brunch sponsored by the local directors, the main parade in downtown Zionsville, my autograph session at Earth Explorer Toys, lunch at the Cobblestone Grill, and the final night of the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.

Each year the local directors association puts on a Saturday morning brunch for the contestants and parents at the Miss Indiana Pageant.  Every contestant gets a chance to get up and reflect on their week at Miss Indiana.  I talked about how grateful I was to have the support of Zionsville, the Lions, and all the merchants and volunteers who make pageant week possible.  I wish more people could hear all the local titleholders talk about their experiences because I really think it would draw more volunteers and supporters to the program.  It is very powerful to hear these young women talk so passionately about the program in their own words in an event that is not scripted or rehearsed in any way.

Over the years titleholders have really poured their hearts out at the Saturday brunch.  It is hard to forget Megan Meadors and her emotional address in 2009, and how she secretly had colored stones put in her crown to represent each of the local titleholders competing that year in the Miss Indiana Pageant.  Megan dreamed of becoming Miss Indiana so long, and when her dream finally came true, she packed an entire year into six months.  Erica Eisenhut packed an entire year into six months as Miss Collegiate South 2010, and Erica is from Knox County just like me.  These women have been incredible role models, and I'm working hard to leave a legacy like Erica did as Miss Collegiate South.

After the brunch its back on the little busses to head to downtown Zionsville where we are meeting at the staging area for the 2011 Miss Indiana Parade on Main Street.  This year there we several new twists on the Main Street Parade.  All the contestants brought their own signs and had a special sign carrier to walk in front fo their cars.  Team Presley put together a really special sign for me.  It is a poster-size sign with my name and title, plus it has my blog address and my platform logo.  The most special touch on my sign was the "Thank You Zionsville" that is at the top.  The merchants of Zionsville do so much to support Miss Indiana and you can never stop thanking these supporters for their generous contributions.

In the Parade I rode with Princess Giavanna.  Giavanna was my princess for Miss Indiana Week and we had lots of fun together.  The Miss Indiana Princess Camp is a really fun program that pairs princesses with titleholders.  We do a princess luncheon and the princesses get to do a special production number during the pageant.  Plus they get to ride in the parade and practice their queen wave!

After the parade I did autographs in downtown Zionsville at Earth Explorer Toys.  You really have to see this place to believe it!  They have so many great toys and gift ideas, so this is the place to go for a special gift.  It is never too early to start gift shopping for that special child in your life, so drop by Earth Explorer Toys in downtown Zionsville.  My new friends at Earth Explorer Toys had a table set up for my autograph session, and they let me hang signs in their window all week promoting the Miss Indiana Pageant.  I had lots of future titleholders come by for autographs and pictures.

From Earth Explorer Toys I went to Cobblestone Grill for a late lunch with the 31 contestants.  This is our last meal together during pageant week so it is really special, and the Cobblestone Grill is a fabulous place to eat in Zionsville.  I couldn't think of a better place to enjoy a great meal and think about all the great memories we have from pageant week.  After lunch we got a little bit of time to rest and relax, and then it was on to the Zionsville Performing Arts Center for the final night of the Miss Indiana Pageant.

I was named a top ten finalist at the Miss Indiana Pageant!  Making the finals was an amazing experience, and it represented accomplishing my last goal for Miss Indiana this year.  I had been prepping pretty much every week for six months to get ready for Miss Indiana, and I did constant mock interviews.  And when Brad Brown read my name as a finalist, lets just say the sounds of my family and friends cheering and yelling my name was the biggest reward.

My trip to the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant was an incredible journey, and I am very grateful to all my family, friends and supporters who helped make my top ten finish possible.  I won't try to name everyone because I don't want to risk leaving someone out, but please know I thank every single one of you from the bottom of my heart.  The Miss America Organization is a network of people who support young women in their communities, and I am honored and humbled to have represented the program with pride and success.

Memories of Miss Indiana Week: Day Six

Friday of Miss Indiana week is always a very special day, and the 31 contestants have a lot to do! For Indiana's local outstanding teen titleholders, it is even a bigger day - Friday is the day of the 2011 Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen Pageant, which brings together the most beautiful and talented young women ages 13-17 to see who will advance to the national Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant.

For the 31 Miss contestants, Friday was a day filled with princess power. Giavanna Marie was may princess for the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant and we had lots of fun rehearsing the big princess production number. We also went to the princess luncheon which was lots of fun. Meanwhile, the teeen contestants were busy in the PAC getting ready for the pageant.

Last year I was lucky enough to be in the top five at in the Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen Pageant, and I could not be more proud of Katie Marark, Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen 2010. She represented herself and her title with pride, and she was a top ten finisher at the national pageant. I know this year's winner will have good luck since Katie put the state crown on her head.

For the first time at the Miss Indiana Pageant, the 31 contestants were released to their parents for dinner on Friday night before the Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen Pageant. I was really excited to get to spend some time with my friends and family, and I am especially grateful that my dad was able to spend the entire week in Zionsville so he could see me every night in prelims. My mom said my dad was really moved when he heard one of my intros: "From Knox County I am actually a coal miner's daughter." We went to the Texas Roadhouse at the pyramids so we could get back to the Zionsville Performing Arts Center in plenty of time before the MIOT Pageant. Dinner out with my family was really special, so I hope it is something the Miss Indiana Board of Directors consider doing again during pageant week.

Miss Indiana week sure was an adventure, so keep reading all about my favorite moments in my Memories of Miss Indiana week series of blog entries!

Memories of Miss Indiana Week: Day Five

Day five of Miss Indiana was absolutely, hands down the best part of the week.  On Thursday the 31 contestants competing in the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant visiting Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, the only Children's Miracle Network hospital in Indiana.  The Children's Miracle Network is the national platform of the Miss America Organization.

I had really been looking forward to Miss Indiana week, and I was so excited to be competing in the Miss division for the first time, but the visit to Riley Hospital was equally important to me as competing in the actual pageant.  I am a Riley kid, which means I was treated at Riley Hospital when I was a young child.  Riley has always been in my heart and the chance to visit the hospital as a titleholder and maybe use my crown to make a fews kids smile was a big part of my week.

I bought a special dress to wear to Riley.  It was a red and white dress with a big flower garden print, and I got a special pair of red heels that were my ruby slippers.  I really wanted a dress that the kids would love, and the ruby slippers were an idea that I got from a state titleholder in another state.  I wanted to be approachable and I wanted the kids to be able to connect with me.  I wanted them to see that dreams really do come true.

The visit to Riley was incredible and I met a lot of amazing Riley kids.  One of the Riley kids I met was a four-year-old named Faith who was the best part of my week.  Faith has been spending a lot of time at Riley lately, and she has had dozens of surgeries in just three months.  Faith has a heart condition that her doctors are fighting to cure, so remember that your contributions to the Riley Foundation make a big difference in the life of a child.

While I was talking to Faith she was holding my hand and playing with one of my rings.  Earlier in the week a was given a pink rhinestone crown ring.  I loved this ring - it was adorable.  Faith kept playing with my ring, so I gave it to her.  Her mom hugged me and was tearing up.

It is my job as a titleholder and a role model to make kids and others happy.  If that means I leave without, then it means I did my job right.

So even though Faith was with me when I took the stage at the Thursday night preliminary competition at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant, she was on my mind and in my heart when I performed my talent.  I sang Kate Voegele's arrangement of Hallelujah and I had been practicing for months.  Singing Kate Voegele was a big step for me - it was really a departure from the music I had performed as a teen titleholder.  Hallelujah is a song that moves me personally and I think it really let the judges see a not only my ability to sing, but a dimension of my personality.

During the Thursday night prelim I also got to compete in on-stage question.  I got a question about my platform so I had a chance to talk about Happy Kids and Safe Schools.  You can read more about Happy Kids and Safe Schools and recent developments to prevent bullying in schools on my blog.

Miss Indiana week was an adventure, so keep reading about my journey as I post my memories from the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant!

Memories of Miss Indiana Week: Day Four

After days of practice, rehearsals, and waiting, it was finally time to officially start the competition to find the next Miss Indiana!  The fourth day of the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant started bright and early with the private interview competition.  The 31 contestants finished their day in front of a screaming crowd at the first night of preliminary competition at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center.

Private interview is about a quarter of a contestant's total score in the Miss America system, and most titleholders, including me, spend more time prepping for interview than any other area of competition.  In the months and weeks leading up to the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant, and read the news constantly to stay current on politics and pop culture.  Then I would take that knowledge into my practice interviews so I would be ready for just about any question my mock judges would throw at me.  I love, love, love my interview dress, and the story behind it, and I truly felt like a Miss America when I walked into the official interview room at the Miss Indiana Pageant.

Private interview is the only chance I get to actually interact with the judges, so I try to make the most of that opportunity and really let the judges get to know me and see how I would be a good fit for the position of Miss Indiana.  I've always viewed being a titleholder as a job, so that is something I try to convey to the the judges.  I also love singing, and I am passionate about my beliefs, so I have a lot of things I want to tell the judges during the 10 minute private interview.  For the first nine and a half minutes of the interview, the judges just fire away with their questions in no particular order.  The judges get to ask anything they may want to know, and some of these questions might come from the contestant's paperwork or current events.  With only 10 minutes total, I work hard to stay on track so the judges have time to ask enough questions to get to know me well and see how I can do the job of a state titleholder.  I felt really good when I left the interview room and I couldn't think of a single answer I would change.

I was in Alpha Group at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant, so that means I compete in evening gown and swimsuit during the first night of preliminary competition.  In swimsuit contestants are only on stage for a few seconds and I really wanted the judges to see I am physically fit.  Every titleholder wants to be a good role model for healthy lifestyles and that is something we hope to showcase in the swimsuit competition.  Evening gown is about poise and presence, and I spent a lot of time practicing how I would find my own pace no matter what the music would be at the state pageant.  I had been waiting so long to compete at the Miss Indiana Pageant, and taking the stage in my evening gown was such an amazing moment.  I love my evening gown so much, and I felt like a queen on the Miss Indiana stage.  For all you princesses out there, dreams really do come true if you work hard and always keep chasing your goals.

It was really good to have my friends and family in the audience cheering for me.  The energy at the PAC is really incredible when it is filled with Miss Indiana fans.  And the crowd only gets bigger as the week goes on.  I was really proud to see my parents and friends in the audience with their Team Presley buttons and badges and signs.  Having such an incredible support system really makes it fun to compete for the title of Miss Indiana.

Keep reading all week as I post my favorite memories from the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant!

Memories of Miss Indiana Week: Day Three

On day three at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant things really picked up, and all of our practicing came together just in time for dress rehearsal at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center, which most of us in the Miss Indiana system have taken to calling "the PAC."  Tuesday we also attended the Joy of Life Luncheon in honor of Joy Robbins, who was a longtime friend, supporter and interview consultant for Miss Indiana.

The Tuesday night dress rehearsal is a full dress rehearsal of both the Wednesday and Thursday night prelims, so it is a long night but a fun night.  We practice so much on Monday and Tuesday to make sure everything is just perfect for the first public show on Wednesday, so the Tuesday night dress rehearsal is our chance to run through everything - and I do mean everything - and make sure we are all on the same page and ready to go for the rest of the week.  Dress rehearsals are closed to the public, so only directors and board members get to see this special sneak peek.

Doing both shows for dress rehearsals is an incredible moment.  Even though the PAC is pretty much empty, when the opening number music comes on and the spotlight hits you its hard not to get excited.  There are moments when it is easy to forget it is just a practice run, because the contestants are so focused on doing their best, making sure they shine in front of the judges, and knowing that on Wednesday night they will hear their family and friends cheering for them as they compete for the title of Miss Indiana.

The Joy of Life Luncheon was a really special event, and all 31 of the Miss Indiana contestants wore "cute casual in pink."  Special thanks to Barbara Helm, Miss Indiana field director and judges hostess, who did so much work making the Joy of Life Luncheon a super special event for all the contestants.  The Joy of Life Award is announced on the final night of the Miss Indiana Pageant and is a tremendous honor.

In Zionsville at the Miss Indiana pageant we are contestants, but win or lose, everyone one of the contestants are local titleholders in the Miss America Organization.  All of us want to be Miss Indiana, many of us dreaming of going on to become a contestant in the Miss America pageant, but no matter what, we are local titleholders.  At the end of the week one lucky young woman begins her journey as a state titleholder, but we are all Miss America's in our community.

Memories of Miss Indiana Week: Day Two

The 31 contestants at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant got started on rehearsals at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center on their second day of pageant week.  The 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant had two nights of preliminaries and a final night with the top ten on Saturday, so the contestants have to do a lot of rehearsing to put on the shows.  We practice the big opening dance number and the walking patterns for evening gown and swimsuit.  We practice it over and over to make sure everything is perfect when the curtain goes up on Wednesday night.

A big thank you to the team at the Holiday Inn Express Northwest at Park 100 for being the official host hotel of the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant!  We spent a full week at the hotel - I remember a few years ago Miss Indiana emcee Brad Brown said pageant week was kind of like summer camp.

One of the best parts of Monday was the cookout with the Zionsville Lions.  The Zionsville Lions have been good friends of the Miss Indiana program for many years so it was really a pleasure to meet them.  The cookout with the Zionsville Lions was one of the events I was looking forward to most during the week because it is a chance to thank one of our biggest supporters in person.  The Zionsville Lions put on lots of great community events in Zionsville where Miss Indiana makes appearances.  Miss Indiana is in Zionsville for the Fourth of July festival and the fall festival just to name a few.

When I got back to the hotel I had a great gift basket waiting for me filled with my favorite snacks and treats!  Miss Indiana week is lots of fun, but it is also really exhausting because of the non-stop schedule. Sometimes it can be hard to find time to grab a snack, and eating regularly is really important to my diet, so I was super grateful to get my favorite snacks.  If you are a contestant at a week long pageant, or traveling for a few days, don't be afraid to pack some snacks and bottled water.  I know a lot of young women struggle to make healthy menu choices when staying at hotels, so having some healthy snacks is a really good idea.

The week really takes off as we move toward opening night and interview day, so keep reading as I post my favorite memories from Miss Indiana Week 2011.

Memories of Miss Indiana Week: Day One

The first day of the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant week was Sunday, and it was a busy start for all of the 31 contestants.  We started out the day at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center where we had only a limited time window to move in to the dressing rooms.  Let me tell you, organization is key to a successful move in on the first day of pageant week.  Moving in at the PAC was a good feeling - hanging up my gowns in the dressing room made me really feel like a real Miss Indiana contestant, and it was a signal that I was ready to show the judges everything I had been practicing for months.

The Pet Parade in downtown Zionsville was even more fun that I expected!  After we left the PAC we headed to Earth Explorer Toys where I would be doing autographs after the big main parade on Saturday.  I had a couple signs I wanted to hang in the window at Earth Explorer Toys promoting the Miss Indiana program, so I wanted to get them up early.  My signs had the complete schedule of the prelims and finals so I hope maybe this got a few more people to come see the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.  I really hope this is an idea that takes off, because it would be great to see pictures and promotions for Miss Indiana filling storefront windows during pageant week.

It was raining at the time of the pet parade, but armed with my black polka dot umbrella and my favorite pink heels I was excited to meet the Zionsville residents and their pets.  I had put together little bags of dog treats to hand out during the parade, and let me tell you, the treats were a big hit.  I was also giving out photo buttons which were very popular and I quickly ran out, so I will have more next year.  Handing out buttons and treat bags with my picture really made me feel like a celebrity.  Special thanks to the person who lent me their dog for the parade!

After the parade we had a quick welcome reception in downtown Zionsville and then it was on to the host hotel to get checked in and settled for the week.  One of the best parts of Miss Indiana is spending the entire week with such an amazing group of young women.  Every one of them are so beautiful and talented.  The hotel rooms were cozy to say the least, and my room had a wardrobe but no closet.  This is where it pays to be prepared with your own clothes rack.

I loved my door decorations!  Special thanks to Team Presley for putting together the amazing letters that spelled out my name on my hotel room door, plus I had more promotional signs for my door like the ones I put up at Earth Explorer Toys.  Seeing the door decorations at the hotel is really cool, and if you are not familiar with Miss Indiana it is a tradition you might not know, but it is something that really makes the girls feel special.

Day one at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant was a blast, and the rest of my week was even better.  Keep reading all week as I post my Memories of Miss Indiana Week!

Countdown to Miss Indiana: 1 day to check-in!

With only one full day remaining before the 31 contestants check in for the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant in Zionsville, I want to take a moment to thank all of my friends and supporters who have helped make this journey possible.

An ancient Chinese proverb says the journey is the reward - I believe that is true.  I've learned so much in the past few months - about our state, about Miss America, about my platform, and most importantly, about myself.

When you see the 31 contestants in the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant take the stage next week, you will see an amazing show.  The work for that show started months ago, if not years ago, for most of the contestants.  I know I have been working so hard to get ready and make sure I can really shine, and I know all of the contestants are so excited about the pageant this year.

To my Miss Indiana princesses - I will be there to see you soon!

Countdown to Miss Indiana: 3 days to check-in!

In just a few days the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant will kick off in Zionsville for a week of excitement!

The biggest day of Miss Indiana Pageant Week is on Saturday, June 25th.  On Saturday at noon the Miss Indiana Parade will head down Main Street in beautiful downtown Zionsville featuring all 31 of the 2011 Miss Indiana contestants, teen pageant contestants and princesses.

Come meet me at Earth Explorer Toys after the parade in downtown Zionsville!  Earth Explorer Toys is an independent toy store and is full of wonderful gift ideas for your favorite Miss Indiana princess.  Earth Explorer Toys is at the corner of Main and Pine in downtown Zionsville, and I will be there immediately following the Miss Indiana Parade giving out free autographed pictures and other special promo items from Team Presley.  Come meet me at Earth Explorer Toys in Zionsville on Saturday, June 25th after the parade!

Countdown to Miss Indiana: 5 days to check-in!

In only five days, the 31 contestants competing for the title of Miss Indiana will arrive in Zionsville for the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant - I can't wait!

A part of the week I am most excited about is our visit to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.  Riley is the only Children's Miracle Network Hospital in Indiana, and all 31 of the Miss Indiana contestants will visit Riley during pageant week.  I am a Riley kid, so I am excited to go on the hospital tour and hear about all the cool things they are doing at Riley, like the new tower that will significantly increase the hospital's ability to keep children healthy in Indiana.

In addition to our visit to Riley, the Miss Indiana contestants get to spend time at the local boys and girls club and go to a cookout with the Zionsville Lions Club.  The Zionsville Lions are great friends of the Miss Indiana program and I can't wait to thank them for their support.

I've been really busy working on my interview prep and making sure I have everything perfect for my talent performance.  In the Miss America Organization, each Miss Indiana contestant gets a ten minute private interview with the judges.  Each contestant works hard to use those ten minutes for the judges to really get to know them, their personalities, passions and platforms.

Miss America is the face, the voice and the talent of the national organization, so the judges are looking for a talented Miss Indiana.  I will be singing this year at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant on the second night of prelims, so I hope you will all be there to cheer for me.  While Miss Indiana doesn't need to be a professional entertainer, she needs to have a strong talent and be ready to share her talent at appearances.  I once sang the National Anthem at an arm wrestling contest, so believe me when I say I am always ready at a moments notice.

Miss Indiana week kicks off on Sunday with a pet parade in downtown Zoinsville.  You can get the complete schedule by clicking on my Road to Miss Indiana tab, including the times and dates of each pageant night.  If you don't already have tickets, plan to get them during pageant week at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center ticket office before each show.

Countdown to Miss Indiana: 9 days to check-in at Zionsville

Calling all Miss Indiana Fans!  We are now less than ten days away from check-in for the 31 contestants competing at the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant in Zionsville, and I couldn't be more excited!

With only a little more than a week to go, I am busy making all the final last-minute arrangements.  I've been waiting for so long to compete in the Miss Indiana Pageant, and all those years in the teen program made me even more excited.  The teen pageant was a one-night event, but with Miss Indiana, I get to spend the entire week in Zionsville with the 31 contestants competing for the title fo Miss Indiana.

As I count down to Miss Indiana, I am also getting ready to start school at Vincennes University in the fall. I am taking a big step forward with Miss Indiana in June and in my school career later this year, and I am thrilled to have all of my PresBloggers along for the ride.  It has been an incredible journey.

Miss Indiana kicks off the first night of preliminary competition on Wednesday, June 22nd at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center.  See you there!

Countdown to Miss Indiana: 12 days to check-in day

Operation Miss Indiana is in full swing, and with only 12 days remaining until the 31 contestants check in for the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant in Zionsville, I am more and more excited everyday.

I am incredibly grateful for Team Presley - all my family and friends who are working so hard to help me get ready for the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.  Because of Team Presley, we have buttons, badges, signs, autograph pictures, and everything else a titleholder might need to promote her platform and make kids smile during Miss Indiana week.  I am so excited to take the stage at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant, and I can't wait to perform my talent, but I am reminded that my trip to Miss Indiana really is a team effort.

Don't forget, the big Miss Indiana parade is on June 25th at noon in downtown Zionsville.  This is a great family event.  It is free to watch the parade on main street, and immediately following the parade all 31 of the Miss Indiana contestants will be doing autographs and pictures in the downtown merchants.  A big thank you to all the Zionsville merchants for their continued support of Miss Indiana.

2011 Miss Indiana Pageant Week Schedule

The 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant Week is coming up fast, and before you know it June 25th will be here and we will have crowned the next Miss Indiana!

Miss Indiana pageant fans have lots of great chances to come out and meet their favorite contestants and cheer them on during the multi-night competition at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center.

Families have two great chances to come out and meet the 31 contestants competing for the title of Miss Indiana 2011.  There is a pet parade on Sunday, June 19 and the big Miss Indiana Pageant Parade on Saturday, June 25th.  Immediately following the Saturday parade, all of the 31 Miss Indiana contestants will be doing free autographs.

The pet parade and main parade on Saturday are totally free to watch, so come out and bring your entire family!  This is a great chance to talk to your favorite contestant, and autographs and pictures are free will all of the 31 contestants.

Click on my Road to Miss Indiana tab to find a complete 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant Week Schedule of Events!

Doctor helps Ohio boy overcome bullying that caused him to refuse kidney transplant

There are some pretty serious stories about there about bullying and the terrible effects it can have on children and teenagers.  Recently the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that the bullying Josh Frey of Ohio was experiencing was so bad that Josh turned down a kidney transplant he needed to survive.  After some hard work by his doctor at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Josh changed his mind and hopes to get the transplant in June or even earlier if possible.

In a drastic move to try and help Josh deal with the bullying he was experiencing at school, Dr. Van De Voorde from Cincinnati Children's made a visit to Josh's school.  During the visit, the doctor never directly confronted the bullies.  Instead, he talked about Josh's condition and explained what Josh went through on a daily basis for treatment to keep him alive.  After finding out how sick Josh was, the doctor said one of the bullies left the presentation.  The doctor took the step of doing the school visit because Josh was so depressed from the bullying that he had last his will to fight and survive.

Certainly the story with Josh is an extreme situation, but it clearly shows how bullying can have severe consequences.  Josh's doctor said during the school presentation that sick children can easily become targets of bullying because of their special needs and frequent school absences.

Bullying impacts about 1 in 7 children in the United States, and in some cases that number can be much higher.  Some states report numbers as high as 1 in 2, while other groups estimate the number of children impacted by bullying to be between 15% and 25%.  No matter what, these numbers clearly showt that bullying is a real problem in our schools and communities and it is time for everyone to take a stand.

You can learn more about anti-bullying programs by visiting the Happy Kids Safe Schools section of my blog.

Maryland's First Lady Katie O'Malley takes a stand against bullying during state's second annual bullying awareness week

As the First Lady of Maryland, Katie O'Malley is trying to make an important point about bullying awareness, and this week she talked about how to rid our schools and communities of bullying.

Mrs. O'Malley said "The effects of bullying last a lifetime, and our goal is to keep our children safe and our families aware."  This statement really sums up what I am working to achieve with my Happy Kids Safe Schools initiative.  Many states including Maryland have passed antibullying laws, but Mrs. Omalley acknowledges there is still work to be done.

Recently in Minnesota, we saw in an MPR special report that as many as 1 in 2 children could be impacted by bullying.  In Maryland, Mrs. O'Malley mentioned that over 3,000 instances of bullying were reported during the 2009-2010 school year alone  - which is about 10 instances of reported bullying every single week in Maryland.  We are making progress, and I'm glad to see the First Lady of Maryland take a stand against bullying and stand up for the kids in her state by promoting Maryland's bullying awareness week.

We have a lot of work to do in Indiana, and a big step forward will be getting a anitbullying law proposal that makes it to the floor for a hearing so we can hear testimony from kids, teachers and parents.  Remember, you don't have to be a first lady to take a stand against bullying - try declaring this week bullying awareness week in your home, and use it as a motivator to talk to your school principal or school board member.  Let them know you want safe schools and happy kids.

June is almost here and in less than a month the 31 contestants competing for the title of Miss Indiana will take the stage in Zionsville for the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.  I can't wait to see you there cheering us on!  Don't forget you can still make a contribution to my fundraising goal for Children's Miracle Networking by searching for my name under Indiana online at the CMN Miss America fundraising page at www.missamerica4kids.org.

Louisiana anti-bullying bill dies in House of Representatives

Louisiana House Bill 112, billed as the "Safe Schools Act," failed this week and was defeated in the Louisiana legislature.  The current anti-bullying law in Louisiana seeks to prevent harassment, intimidation and bullying, but Representative Austin Badon proposed changes to the law that would increase protection from non-physical forms of intimidation.

Watching House Bill 112 fail in Louisiana was really disappointing - clearly there is a need in the United States to protect our children from bullying.  Unfortunately, protecting kids from bullying often becomes a political issue.  We need to focus on Happy Kids and Safe Schools.

In Louisiana, supporters of HB 112 proposed specific protection for GLBT students, and in the process of making that suggestion, the focus on safe schools seemed to have gotten lost in the political debate.  No matter where you stand on many of these issues, we need to agree on a simple point: all students deserve to be happy and safe and school, and all students should expect to be treated with dignity and respect.  If this proposal would have saved a single life it would have been worth putting on the books in Louisiana.

I am hopeful that parents and students in Louisiana continue to take a stand and push their representatives to create improvements in the laws that protect kids at school.  Contacting your representative is normally as easy as going to the state government website and following the links for contact info.  If you need help finding contact info for your rep in Indiana you can get in touch with me for help.

I will be a contestant at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant in June, and while I'm there I hope I get a chance to tell the judges about my Happy Kids Safe Schools platform.  No matter what happens in the interview room or during pageant week, I will continue to push for better laws to protect kids from bullying.

Meet the 2011 Miss Indiana contestants by visiting www.missindianapageant.com and don't forget to make a contribution to my fundraising goal for Children's Miracle Network by the end of May by searching for me at www.missamerica4kids.org

Lady Gaga talks about being bullied when she was a teenager in MTV special

We know that bullying is a serious problem in the United States, and this week we find out that even big celebrities have been bullied as teenagers.

In the MTV special "Lady Gaga: Inside the Outside," Gaga tells about how she was bullied as a teenager.  The example she gives is a story about how she went out for pizza and encountered a group of girls who bullied her, and she ended up being put in a trash can.

I know some people have trouble understanding the seriousness of bullying and the harm it does in our everyday lives.  It is easy to believe that things like kids being stuffed into school lockers and tossed in trash cans happens only in the movies.

The truth is that bullying does happen, and physical bullying is very real and a common occurrence in many kid's lives.  In Kentucky, the state legislature recently passed a stronger bullying law after hearing testimony from a teenager who described an escalating pattern of bullying that included physical bullying.

Lady Gaga's honesty and courage to talk about her own experience with bullying is important.  I think celebrities have an obligation to be strong role models, and here we see Gaga telling her story in the hope that it might help a kid avoid a similar experience.  I want everyone to take a stand against bullying - and everyone can take a stand in a different way to make a difference in their community.  Gaga spoke openly about her personal experience during an interview.  Parents can take a stand by getting involved in school policy.

Mark your calendars for the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant to be held in June in Zionsville.  Come out and see 31 of Indiana's most talented and beautiful young women as they compete for the title of Miss Indiana!  Be a part of my journey to the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant by contributing to my fundraising goal for the Children's Miracle network by searching for me and making a donation online at www.missamerica4kids.org

Minnesota Public Radio's series on bullying gets more attention

Minnesota Public Radio has done a great job of reporting on the Minnesota state laws on bullying and the actual situation in their state's schools, and the reports have really got people talking.  I touched on the MPR report yesterday in a blog entry, but what I read today is worth mentioning.  The MPR reports on bullying are a week-long series, so there is likely lots more good information to come from this series.

From the Learning Curve by Beth Hawkins, Beth Hawkins writes "Turns out Minnesota's anti-bullying law is just 37 words long.  Nationwide, a whopping four states have weaker laws."

Beth went on to say that "Never mind that half of all Minnesota students have bullied or been a victim, and up to 100,000 are believed to experience bullying on at least a weekly basis."

I know many of you hear me talk about bullying a lot, and you may be getting used to me tossing out statistics to try and drive home the point of how important this issue is to every family in America.  If you've been around me long, you know I say that bullying is a problem in every single classroom in America.  And here it is again - half of all students in Minnesota.

What does that mean?  Half of all students means that if you go into any classroom in Minnesota, odds are if you grab two kids and talk to them, one of them will tell you a story about bullying.  This is 1 out of every 2 kids you talk to about bullying.  Half.  Still, as Beth Hawkins wrote, even with the likelihood of 100,000 kids in Minnesota experiencing bullying each week, they still might have one of the weakest anti-bullying laws in the country.

There is no magic bullet for solving this problem.  Bullying is a complicated problem, and while bullying may never completely go away, we can use laws and school policies to limit the serious negative effects, and put an end to the needless deaths of teenagers because of bullying.

Take a stand today!  No matter where you might live, get in touch with your legislature and ask them about your state's anti-bullying laws.  Ask your legislature to sponsor a proposal that increases protection for children being bullied at school.  Call your school principal and school board members and ask them to tell you about the school's policy on bullying, and them ask them what you can do to make it better.

I will keep following the news from Minnesota, and I look forward to seeing you all at the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant in June.  Don't forget to contribute to my CMN fundraising at www.missamerica4kids.org

Minnesota Public Radio discovers Minnesota schools may be "Weak on Bullying"

In a May 16th report by Minnesota Public Radio, MPR News found out that the state doesn't have the repository of individual bullying policies as required by the state law.  So MPR News contact nearly 500 schools in Minnesota and asked for a copy of each school's bullying policy.  The result: even with a clear state law requiring policies, there are still lots of inconsistencies.

So right away, let's talk about what Minnesota got right: they have a law requiring each school board to adopt a written policy prohibiting bullying and intimidation of any student, and the law requires that the policies address bullying and intimidation of all types, and even includes cyberbullying, which is really important given the recent rise in internet intimidation and bullying that can have tragic results.

Unfortunately, most schools in Minnesota relied on a state template to create their individual policies.  While this did accomplish the goal of getting a policy on the books in most schools, the template missed a key component recommended by federal education officials which requires tracking of bullying incidents.

Bullying laws are really important to protecting children and teens, and given the rise in serious injuries and even deaths, it is time we take a hard look at our schools and our policies to see what we can do better to protect our students.

Take a stand today and get in touch with your representative - tell them that you want them to investigate this issue and create some dialogue in the legislature.  In Indiana, our next big step is to put together a bullying law proposal that can get out of committee and into hearing.

You can learn more about programs to prevent bullying by clicking on the Happy Kids Safe Schools tab at the top of my blog.

And don't forget the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant is coming up in June in Zionsville.  Get in touch with me right away if you need tickets to sit in my cheering section, and please contribute to my fundraising goal for the Children's Miracle Network by May 30th by searching for my name at www.missmerica4kids.org

A big congrats to Emilee Kottkamp who will compete as Miss Collegiate North 2011 at the Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant in June!

Congratulations to Emilee Kottkamp, Miss Collegiate North 2011!

The Miss Collegiate North local program recently announced Emilee as their 2011 titleholder on their Facebook page, and while I love Facebook, I can't wait to meet Emilee in person when we all check in at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant in Zionsville.

I am so excited about the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant and I want all of you to come out and cheer for me, Emilee and all of the 31 young women competing for Miss Indiana.  I'd love to have you sitting in my cheering section, so get in touch with me right away if you need tickets.

Tickets are available through the Miss Indiana contestants and can also be ordered online on the official Miss Indiana website.  Don't worry if you don't get tickets in advance - the ticket office will be open at the PAC the week of the pageant.  For those of you who might be new to this Miss Indiana stuff, the PAC is the Performing Arts Center at Zionsville High School in Zionsville, Indiana.  Zionsville is on the north side of Indianapolis, so I hope many of you will come out and enjoy the week with us.

Keep watching my blog for updates about the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant, and to support my Miss Indiana fundraising for the Children's Miracle Network, search for me on the Miss America CMN website at missamerica4kids.org

Indiana Senate approves bill for increased training on suicide prevention for school personnel

Earlier in the Indiana legislative session, many of us were surprised when Indiana House Bill 534 that proposed changes to Indiana's bullying laws got defeated at the committee level.  I am happy to see that Indiana Senate Bill 4 on suicide prevention has been approved and is headed to the governor for his final approval and signature.

While I think it is critically important that Indiana have strong laws to protect children and prevent bullying in our schools and communities, Senate Bill 4, a bill that supports increased training for school teachers and staff members on suicide prevention, is a big, big step in the right direction.

The sad fact is that suicide among America teens is a real problem, and Indiana needs this law to increase education at the community level.  I remember how sad everyone was when we learned about Billy Lucas.  Now this law lets us take all that sadness and go in a positive direction, a direction that helps parents and teachers learn more about teen suicide and what we all can do to prevent it from happening.

Learn more about what you can do to stomp out bullying in your school by clicking on the Happy Kids Safe Schools section on my blog.  Take a stand today!

Congratulations to Erica Eisenhut for running her first 500 Mini Marathon

Congratulations to Erica Eisenhut for running in the 500 Festival Mini Marathon in Indianapolis on Saturday, May 7th!  May has been a big month for Erica because she graduates this month with a masters degree from the IU School of Education.

Erica held several local titles in the Miss America Organization and competed at the Miss Indiana Pageant.  She was Miss Indiana State University and Miss Crossroads.  In 2010 she served as the first and only Miss Collegiate South, which I think is really special.  Erica left quite a legacy as Miss Collegiate South 2010 and she spent a lot of time making appearances.  One of the best parts of being Miss Collegiate South is that her local program did a holiday card drive for Riley Hospital every year, and Erica set a card collection record.  As a local titleholder I will be following in Erica's footsteps and doing good work in Southern Indiana.

So congratulations to Erica on running the 500 Mini, and for all the other wonderful things she is doing to reach her dreams.

Don't forget the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant is coming up soon, and you can contribute to my fundraising goal for Children's Miracle Network online by searching for me at www.missamerica4kids.org.

Texas House passes bill to help kids from being bullied at school

Good news from Texas as the Texas House approved a bill to help kids from being bullied at school, and creating new requirements for schools to help prevent bullying.  The Texas House Public Education Committee worked hard to get this important bill passed, and I am hopeful we might see something similar happen in Indiana soon.

Texas Representative Diane Patrick was quoted in the Star-Telegram newspaper saying that "Parents deserve to know that their children are within safe walls at school."

I couldn't agree more, and what Representative Patrick said this week is really why I work so hard to promote my Happy Kids Safe Schools platform.  The prevention of bullying in Indiana schools really does start with safe schools, and I am eager to see the Texas Senate approve the measure that the House approved in a 94-41 vote.

I think this 94-41 vote is really telling, and it shows us that everyone really cares about Happy Kids and Safe Schools.  Take a stand today and learn more by clicking my Happy Kids Safe Schools tab at the top of the blog.

Don't forget, the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant is coming up in June.  You still have a chance to support my journey and contribute toward my fundraising goal for the Children's Miracle Network.  Make a contribution today online by searching for me on missamerica4kids.org.

Miss Indiana Kick Off, my spring choir show and one big month

I am so excited!  Sunday, May 1st was the official kick-off day for the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant, to be held the last full week in June in Zionsville.

I had been to kick-off for the Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen Pageant, but this was my very first time being there as a Miss titleholder.  I had been waiting for this moment for a long time.  Being a local titleholder in the Miss America Organization at the Miss level has always been my dream, and I am very blessed to have held several Outstanding Teen titles while I was finishing high school and waiting to qualify at the Miss level.

For all you potential contestants out there, you have to be at least 17 and graduating from high school to be eligible at the Miss level.  Younger teens can compete in the teen division, which is what I did for many years.  And a big shout out to Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen Katie Marak who was a top ten finalist at the national pageant in Orlando.  I was lucky enough to be a runner up to Katie at the state pageant last June.

But this year I will be competing in the Miss division, and I have now been to kick off and turned in all my official paperwork so I am ready to go.  I have been working very hard in the last few months to get ready for the state pageant.  I can promise everyone who has supported me and my journey with the Miss America Organization, I will make you very proud at the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant.

Also on kick-off day was the second annual Miss Indiana Miracle Bowl for Kids.  Every one of the 31 Miss Indiana contestants each raised $250 to benefit the Children's Miracle Network and the Miss Indiana program at the state level.

The good news is that you still have time to support the Children's Miracle Network by making a donation toward my fundraising goal for Miss Indiana.  Each of the 31 contestants at the Miss Indiana pageant must raise at least $250 for CMN, and I would love to have you supporting my goal or the goal of one of the amazing young women at the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.

Please take a moment to visit the missamerica4kids.org website, search for my name under Miss Indiana and make a contribution.  Every dollar helps kids in the Children's Miracle Network, so donate early and often!

After kick-off in Indianapolis I raced back home for my big spring choir show.  I've had an amazing experience with my school choir and I am really looking forward to singing on the Miss Indiana stage!

The 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant is only about month away, so get in touch with me for tickets, and to support my CMN fundraising goal, search for me on at missamerica4kids.org!

Oregon Senate Committee to hold public hearings on bullying

This week the Oregon Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee will hold a public hearing on bullying.  The Oregon Legislature is considering a proposal that would require school employees to report acts of bullying and intimidation.

The Oregon proposal also includes one of the most unique ideas I've seen: a measure that would require schools to create an anonymous reporting system for students to report bullying, and a requirement to report cases to the police.

Public hearings are a really important step forward, and I am very hopeful that the next legislature in Indiana will at least move a proposed bullying law forward enough to allow a hearing.  In Kentucky, their state legislature quickly approved increased protection in cases of bullying after hearing testimony.  I think the Indiana legislature wants to do the right thing.  I think they want to take a stand, but maybe because they haven't had a chance to hear testimony they don't know the issue is very serious.

Everyone can take a stand today by contacting their representative and letting them know they want tougher laws in Indiana to protect our children from bullying, cyberbullying, and all forms of peer-to-peer intimidation.

What does the word Bully make you think of?

Recently while I was searching the internet looking for good resources about bullying, I came across a neat PBS website about bullying that asked a great question:

"What does the word bully make you think of?"

PBS Kids does a great It's My Life series, and they have a good page with lots of information about bullying.  This website does a good job of talking about what to look for in several types of bullying such as physical, verbal and even relationship bullying.

We can all do our part to stomp out bullying in our schools.  Get informed and take a stand today!

Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying created at University of Buffalo

I am really thrilled to see a new national research center has been created at University of Buffalo to specifically address the serious issues kids are facing with bullying in their lives.

The newly created Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying, Abuse and School Violence will work to help stop what they are calling "child abuse by children."

Janice DeLucia-Waack from U of Buffalo's School Counseling Program said "For a long time in this country it has been just kids being kids, and that this bullying did not have long-term consequences."

Bullying is such as serious issue, and depending on what numbers you look at, this is an issue that could be impacting as many as 1 in 7 school children, which is just heartbreaking.

Janice DeLucia-Waack talks about bullying and the new center in a video online here.

Bullying is getting a lot of national attention right now, which I hope helps kids and parents take a stand.  Taking a stand means kids reporting bullying to teachers, and it means parents calling their legislatures to demand tough laws on bullying to protect children in our schools.

Take a stand today!

Congrats to the winners of the Miss Indiana Sweeps Pageant!

The 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant is right around the corner, and I am happy to congratulate the winners of the Miss Indiana Sweeps Pageant: congratulations to Emily Hart and Katie Donnar.

Miss Indiana really gets things started on May 1st with the 2nd Annual Miss Indiana Miracle Bowl for Kids, an event to benefit Children's Miracle Network and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.  May 1st is also what Miss Indiana calls "kick-off," which is the day all the Miss Indiana contestants gather in Zionsville to turn in all their application paperwork and get all the information about the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.

I am really excited to get to Zionsville!  Be sure to follow me and the 31 contestants headed to the 2011 Miss Indiana Scholarship Pageant by clicking on my Road to Miss Indiana section.

Missouri considers tougher anti-bullying laws; new article defines cyberbullying

All over America people are taking as stand to create safe and happy schools for our kids, and now lawmakers in Missouri are calling for better state anti-bullying laws.

Missouri House member Sue Allen from St Louis County said school districts should have specific policies against cyberbullying, and she talked about how students sometimes send text messages, emails or web postings that can be just as hurtful as physical intimidation.

Recently Gwenn O'Keeffe wrote an article for Pediatrics discussing the impact of social media on children, adolescents and families.  O'Keeffe defined cyberbullying as "deliberately using digital media to communicate false, embarrassing, or hostile information about another person."  The article went on to say that online harassment and cyberbullying are actually different, and that cyberbullying is "the most common online risk for all teens and is a peer-to-peer risk."

I am proud to see lawmakers in Missouri take a stand for their children and propose changes to their state laws that will protect kids at school, and might even allow a victim to take legal action against the person intimidating them.

I know how Facebook has become very popular these days, and even most titleholders in the Miss America Organization are using Facebook and other social networking tools to advance their platform and promote their local programs.  I hope everyone using Facebook is careful.  I think O'Keeffe states the core concerns very well.

"Using social media becomes a risk to adolescents more often than most adults realize.  Most fall into the following categories: peer-to-peer; inappropriate contact; lack of understanding of online privacy issues; and outside influence of third-party advertising groups."

Take a stand today, tell your representatives that you want stronger anti-bullying laws, and be careful and smart when it comes to Facebook and social media.

Congratulations to Miss West Central 2011 Hannah Clingan!

Congratulations to the very first Miss West Central, Hannah Clingan!  I met Hannah earlier in the local pageant season when we both competed in Terre Haute at the Banks of the Wabash preliminary.  I am really excited Hannah kept competing this season and now she is headed to the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant as the very first Miss West Central.  Like Hannah, I had to compete a few times this season before I won a local title.  So the lesson here is to keep working hard and always chase your dreams.

I remember when Hannah competed at the Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant a few years ago.  I remember thinking how she was one of the most beautiful contestants in the pageant, and she is very talented so I can't wait to see her on the Miss Indiana stage in June.

Miss Indiana Miracle Bowl for Kids is coming up on May 1st, so be sure to go to the Miss Indiana website for all the information, and keep your eye on the Miss Indiana website for all the details about the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant in June in Zionsville.

For a list of the 2011 Miss Indiana contestants, check out my Road to Miss Indiana section.

Share your dress!

If you are a pageant contestant or titleholder like me, you probably have lots of dresses hanging in your closet.  With prom and spring dances happening right now for so many girls across the country I want to encourage everyone to share a dress.

Sharing a dress means donating one of your old gowns or dresses to an organization that gives them to girls to wear to prom or formal dances.  It is easy to forget how blessed we are to have lots of great dresses hanging in our closets.  There are young women in all of our communities who want to go to prom but can't afford to buy a dress.  Maybe you know a youth program or church group, or maybe you just mention to a few teachers that you have dresses to lend or give away to a young woman who needs a dress for prom.  Chances are you have a dress you could donate.

There are lots of ways to donate your old dresses if you do a little searching online, plus you can do things in your own community.  You might even contact your church or school to see about creating a dress closet in your community.

So look for ways to share your dresses.  Some of your dresses probably have some great memories attached them, and it would be a wonderful next step in the life of a dress to make a girl's day by helping her go to prom.

Nickelodeon public service campaign to stop bullying

This week we will start to see a new public service campaign on the Nickelodeon network aimed at the prevention of cyberbullying.  Nickelodeon says these new ads could run for up to two years, which is a huge step in the right direction.

Miranda Cosgrove from ICarly is part of the campaign, and the ads focus on telling kids it is okay to stand up for themselves and report bullying.  The ads give advice for kids to sign off of computers and block messages from bullies instead of replying.

In a recent report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, experts said Facebook and other social media websites can enrich children's lives, but the might also be hazardous to mental and physical health.  Gwenn O'Keeffe, the co-author of the report, said some children may be at particular risk, and encouraged parents to be involved in their kids when it comes to online activity and cell phone use.

The prevention of bullying and negative peer pressure is my personal platform, and I promote this through my Happy Kids Safe Schools program.  Throughout the year I will be posting news about bullying, and to learn more please check out the Happy Kids Safe Schools section on my blog.

Jessica Leedy is Miss Fort Wayne 2011!

Congratulations to Miss Fort Wayne 2011 Jessica Leedy!  Jessica competed among a field of five contestants to win this year's Miss Fort Wayne title and advances to the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant.

Miss Indiana is a week long event in historic Zionsville, located on the north side of Indianapolis.  Tickets for the pageant will be available soon, but there are lots of chances for the entire family to meet the Miss Indiana contestants.  During the week we will visit Riley Hospital for Children (I am so excited to visit Riley!) and make many appearances in the Indianapolis area.  One of the events I am looking forward to the most is the parade through downtown Zionsville which takes place on the same Saturday as the final night of the Miss Indiana competition.  The parade is absolutely free to attend, so I want everyone to come out and cheer for all the local titleholders in the Miss America Organization as we go by in our convertibles.  Right after the parade you can meet me and the other titleholders during the Miss Indiana autograph session.  Its the best way to spend the afternoon strolling and shopping in Zionsville, plus you can meet your favorite titleholders and get autographed pictures.

Visit the Miss Indiana website for all the details, and keep checking my Road to Miss Indiana section for a complete list of this year's local titleholders competing in the 2011 Miss Indiana Pageant!