May Madness!

Hi everyone!

It has been a while since I have updated so I have a TON of appearances to fill you in on! I last left off after my adventure up the coast of California and after my wonderful weekend in Fresno at Miss California 2010 orientation.

The following week I had another wish interview for the Make-A-Wish Foundation where I was able to interview a little boy and find out what he loved to do. Another great kid! On Friday April 30th, I visited West Hills College in Lemoore, CA and had the pleasure of speaking with the Human Physiology Class and several invited guests. I talked about my experiences as Miss California and ended with talking about dreams and goals. It was a great day and they were so very welcoming and receptive! I then had the chance to eat lunch with several administrators and professors and enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by the culinary department at the school! Thank you again for inviting me to West Hills College!

Signing autographs afterwards

With Joel (the Human Physiology Professor) and his wife

The next night, I sat in the audience of the production of "Annie Warbucks" at my former high school and watched the students whom I choreographed for.b They are phenomenal. I am constantly blown away by their talent and abilities and I was thoroughly impressed at what a professional show it was! Great job to the entire cast and crew! I absolutely loved being able to choreograph again!

With the cast and crew of "Annie Warbucks" after a late night at dress rehearsal

During the first week of May, I traveled to Bakersfield for a Got Milk? appearance. After a great drive up the 99, I went to bed early with the hopes of getting enough sleep to be able to wake up at 3am! Yes, I really did say 3am, that was not a typo :) I woke up at 3 and was on the morning news for several hours in Bakersfield with KBAK and FOX. I am the new spokesperson for Got Milk? and their new "Mootopia" campaign which demonstrates how milk promotes healthy shiny hair, a glowing complexion and strong nails. We made a smoothie, face masks and hair masks all using milk products and did several interviews each hour. The time flew by and I had so much fun! I was joined by several girls from Noriega house who started an organization called "Give Love Get Joy" where they collect used prom and bridesmaid dresses and give them to girls who don't have anything to wear to prom. It is a wonderful organization and they have collected several hundred dresses to give out to those who cannot afford to purchase a dress for prom.

With the reporter and camera man from KBAK

With the girls from the Noriega House

The following evening, I was privileged to attend an event at my Alma Mater, USC to introduce Ambassador Edward Perkins for a special event. It was such an honor to meet him and be able to speak with him about his experiences as both the Ambassador to South Africa and also as the Ambassador to the United Nations. He has served the United States on every single continent! An incredible man! The event was put on in conjunction with Sports Scholarships of America, another great scholarship organization that is very rooted in community service.

The following week I had a photo shoot with Cheryl Walsh from Alt-Senior.com who does AMAZING photography!! She specializes in alternative senior photography for graduating high school seniors but also does many other types of photography. We had so much fun shooting at several different locations in my gowns and dresses and she was a blast to work with. Thank you SO much for these wonderful photos! Pictures are coming soon to a blog near you! :)

Please check out her website:

http://www.alt-senior.com/

At the end of the week I was so thankful that I was able to participate in several "senior" events with my sorority, Delta Gamma before the official graduation ceremony. I did complete my education in December but because USC has no formal graduation in the fall, I was able to participate in the main graduation ceremony with all of my friends and fellow classmates. I walked in the cap and gown and complete graduation garb and was able to spend some time with my friends from college which was wonderful. I also got to spend time with family, friends, teachers and some of my most favorite people in the world that evening as we celebrated graduation.

The Delta Gamma Seniors

My mom, me, my dad and brother at graduation!

Two of my friends and sorority sisters, Austen and Kate before graduation

I spent this past weekend in Palm Springs basking in the sun and working on my tan.... just kidding! I was invited to attend the Rite Aid Golf Tournament to benefit Children's Miracle Network. It was truly an incredible event complete with casino night, live bands, a large golf tournament and raffle prizes that ranged from SeaDoos to giant flat screen TVs and even a brand new car! The event was extremely successful and raised over $515,000 for Children's Miracle Network!!!! All of that money will go to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Children's Hospital Orange County and Rady's Children's Hospital in San Diego. Kudos to everyone who helped put on the event, it was great!

Speaking to the golfers before the headed out to the course

I was home for just about 24 hours then turned around and hopped on an airplane to Sacramento! I am now in Orland, California to speak at a middle school and attend the Glenn County Fair! More about this on my next post!

Two months left and time continually speeds up! I cannot believe how fast a year goes by when you are wearing a crown on your head!

Quote of the week which came from a little girl who spoke at the golf tournament this weekend who was absolutely incredible:

"One hundred years from now
It won't matter
What kind of car I drove
What kind of house I lived in
How much money I had in the bank
Nor what my cloths looked like
BUT
The world may be a little better
Because, I was important
In the life of a child."

- excerpt from "Within My Power" by Forest Witcraft

Days until Miss California 2010: 41 days