Tag Archive | miss nebraska’s outstanding teen

Our Invisible Crowns

Apr17

Let me tell you about my friend, Alex..

Alex wears MANY hats.  She is a momma to sweet baby Jackson.  She is a proud wife.  She is one of the stars of the #1 rated KETV First News, drawing nearly 9,000 followers on Facebook, thousands more on Twitter.  She is also a former Miss South Dakota, record-breaking swimmer, accomplished vocalist.. the list goes on.

Alex is also the former ringer 1st basewoman for Team Paparazzi.

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Typically in slow-pitch, coed softball, when a girl gets up to bat you hear a cry from a guy somewhere on the field… ‘MOVE IN!! GIRL UP!!’

A word to the wise.. NEVER say that when you see THIS girl step into the box.  Alex grinds her hands on the bat and UNLEASHES fury.. usually catapulting the ball over the head of whichever dude yelled to move in.

Alex is STRONG. CONFIDENT. POWERFUL.  She is proof you CAN be all of those things AND be talented, beautiful and sophisticated.

Next up to bat.. Shelbe Stroh, a young lady on a mission to crush any steretypes you may have about pageant girls, and what they can or can’t do.

HEAD SHOT

Photo courtesy Jenn Cady Photography

“What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a pageant girl?” Shelbe asked me recently.  “Is it glitz and extravagant dresses? Or is it the dedication to scholarship, community service, leadership and integrity?  The Miss America Organization has shaped me to be the confident, independent and self-sufficient young woman I am today.”

Shelbe is a 17-year old who is as diverse and involved in her community as she is striking.  She’s smart, taking AP classes at Elkhorn South High School and making the Rotary Honor Roll, while also taking part in FCCLA, SADD and National Honor Society.  Shelbe earned recognition at the 2015 BBB Integrity Awards and as a Gregg Young Great Kids of Omaha award recipient.

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Outside of school, Shelbe is part of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council,  she volunteers at the Hope Center for Kids, and she models for Omaha Fashion Week.

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Photo courtesy Kathy Rae Photography

One more thing.. ever since she was a little girl in glasses, Shelbe has been kicking a soccer ball.

A few years ago, Shelbe found an organization that encompassed all of the qualities fine tuned by taking part in these activities… the Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen program.  Shelbe is currently Miss Kearney’s Outstanding Teen 2016.

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This June, she’ll compete with more than a dozen of teenagers from across Nebraska who excel in any number of activities in and out of the classroom, on the stage or on the field, in front of a crowd or with one other person.

“I have made connections with people across the state and along the way I have learned a little bit about myself,” said Shelbe.  “With each community event I attend, I witness the sparkle in a bystander’s eye as I flash a smile or spark casual conversation.  I have come to realize that the small deeds I do have a major impact on lives of others.”

Shelbe and her sister queen, Miss Tri-Citites Outstanding Teen Ashly Helfrich

Just as she is trying to change stereotypes about pageant girls, Shelbe wants to alter how girls and women view themselves through her personal platform, ‘Fit and Fabulous: Shattering The Negative Body Image of Young Women.’

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“Instead of focusing on that ‘perfect image’ by resorting to unhealthy habits, I want young girls to discover the long term effects of a healthy lifestyle and reap the benefits!’ said Shelbe.  “As a teen, I know it’s hard coming to terms with your body, but finding the satisfaction in exercise and smart eating will radiate positive vibes and inspire others.”

Part of Shelbe’s message is her own story of pain and disappointment.  In October 2014, Shelbe tore her ACL in a club soccer game, and spent the next 9 months building herself back up physically and emotionally.  When she couldn’t turn to soccer, she found yoga and other ways she could stay active.

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“I take pride in my athletic physique and want to empower young women to take pride in their own bodies as well.  Confidence is the key to success,” said Shelbe.  “Loving yourself along the way will make the journey that much more meaningful.”

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Shelbe also credits her mom for supporting her throughout her recovery and during every activity she’s taken part of, pageants included.

“I want to make a special shout out to the one who taught me to always wear my invisible crown, my beautiful momma,” said Shelbe.  “Thank you for making me the strong young woman I am today.  You are such a blessing to me!”

And THAT is what Shelbe Stroh wants to bring to the table as Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen.. the message that no matter what hat you wear, from soccer player to beauty queen, from student to star, WE ARE STRONG.

Women of the world, we can do ANYTHING we set our minds to.  Wear YOUR invisible crown.. and be darn proud of it.

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“Above all, I want to be remembered as the girl who put her heart and soul into everything she did,” said Shelbe.  “I’ve failed many times, but I am so full of life and have this dream to change other peope’s lives.”

***

CLICK EACH LINK to follow Miss Kearney’s Outstanding Teen 2016 Shelbe Stroh

on FACEBOOK, and on TWITTER

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SHELBE?

CLICK HERE * 2014 * Nebraska’s Outstanding Teens

For more information about the Miss Kearney/Miss Tri-Citites Outstanding Teen Pageant, visit THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER.  For information on becoming a contestant, contact Director Megan Goeke at hello@beautifulbridal.com.

For more information on becoming a Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen contestant, contact Director Heather Edwards at heatheraloseke@gmail.com or Director Kali Tripp at kalinicoletv@gmail.com.

***

The 2016 Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Pageant takes place June 10 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

***

PREVIOUS.. Miss Queen City of the Plains 2016 Lianna Prill!

NEXT.. Miss Nebraska State Fair 2016 Payton Merritt!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!

Wonder Woman

Apr5

I have a confession to make.. I am a JUNK FOOD JUNKIE.  Some days I run, stay focused, and feel like Superman.. and then my Kryptonite, peanut butter, takes me down. (mmm.. peanut butter..)

With the help of my friend and coworker, KETV First News Anchor John Oakey, I lost about 8 pounds this winter.  My husband and I spent a few GORGEOUS days in sunny Cancun, and I felt like a new woman!

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I came home.. and within a few weeks I not only fell off the wagon.. the wagon ran over me a few times.  Easter baskets, Girl Scout Cookies.. and NUTTY BUDDIES. (Be still my heart..) I kept saying ‘I’ll start again tomorrow.. I’ll start again Sunday..’ and before you knew it, I got on the scale and had gained several pounds back. Even THAT didn’t push me back on the wagon…

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..but Gal Gadot did!  Gal is the new Wonder Woman in the DC Comics movie franchise.. and SHE. IS. AWESOME.  I left Batman Vs. Superman (which isn’t terrible, by the way!)  DETERMINED to rediscover the self-discipline and drive to become the physically fit, healthy woman I know I can be.  Sometimes you just need a little motivation.. and sometimes change is forced upon you whether you want it or not.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Lianna Prill altered nearly every facet of her diet and lifestyle because of a debilitating medical condition.

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Photo courtesy Jenn Cady Photography

“I suffered for a decade without answers,” Lianna told me recently.  “After finding I had Celiac Disease my sophomore year of high school, a strict, gluten-free lifestyle was needed.  I was a new woman within days.”

Lianna does a GREAT job explaining what Celiac Disease is (CLICK HERE to read my interview with her in 2014).  The skinny of it is that certain foods cause Lianna INTENSE pain including migraines and abdominal issues.  She says once she eliminated those foods from her diet, namely gluten, her health was restored.  Still, Lianna was not content improving just her own life; she set out on a personal crusade to help others.

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Photo courtesy Corbey Dorsey for the North Platte Telegraph

Lianna, who also loves to sing and perform, was crowned Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen 2012, and later competed at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.  The following year, Lianna was chosen as a recipient of the prestigious DJ’s Hero Award for her work with Celiac Disease, including her time as an intern with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.  Despite double majoring in broadcast journalism and advertising/public relations, Lianna competed for and won the title of Miss Kearney Crane Festival 2014, giving her another venue to spread her message.  She’s a titleholder again this year, crowned last summer as the first Miss Queen City of the Plains.

“Competing in the [Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen and Miss Nebraska Organizations] revealed the beauty of Celiac,” said Lianna.  “It’s a blessing, a motivation to always carry out a healthy lifestyle.”

That is because not only will Lianna compete once again for the title of Miss Nebraska, she is a very public representation of her cause, ‘#EatWellBeWell’.

“I understand that not everyone has Celiac, but I want people to realize the crucial link between diet and wellness.  In other words, what you put into your body directly affects how you feel,” said Lianna.  “Some do not know what it is like to truly feel well, because it’s their ‘normal’.  I challenge everyone to evaluate his or her lifestyle.  if you are constantly sick, ill after eating a certain food, tired after you eat (you should not be, because food is your fuel!) or don’t feel as healthy as you think you could be, find the root of the problem and do not cover your symptoms up with some kind of bandage!”

Lianna not only makes appearances across the state spreading her message, she also fills her Facebook page with information and tips on how to be healthier.  With childhood obesity forever on the rise, many of the groups Lianna talks to include kids.

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For anyone doubting the power of Lianna’s story, there’s this… instead of lying on her bathroom floor in pain, this future journalist is also the Engagement Editor at UNL’s newspaper The Daily Nebraskan, she hosts a radio show on campus every week, she volunteers with her sorority, Children’s Hospital and the Miss Amazing Organization, and she works here at KETV two days a week as one of our news interns.

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Now working with Lianna, I see her drive and ENERGY.  I see the water blueberries on her desk instead of Mountain Dew and chips from the vending machine.  I see Associated Press and Daily Nebraskan articles on her computer instead of TMZ or Candy Crush.  Lianna credits much of this to her years of participitation with the Miss America system.

“The Miss Nebraska Organization also gave me the drive, poise and work ethic to fulfill my dream of becoming a news anchor,” said Lianna.

This girl is on the right track.. and she’s pulling my new wagon onto that path with her.  Gal Gadot may be my screen saver, but Lianna Prill is the Wonder Woman hoping to promote health and wellness across all of America.. as the new Miss Nebraska.

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“I am so grateful to have an opportunity to share this message,” said Lianna.  “Listen to your body, because your health and life is so worth it.  #EatWellBeWell.”

***

CLICK EACH LINK to follow Miss Queen City of the Plains 2016 Lianna Prill

on FACEBOOK, on TWITTER, on INSTAGRAM

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LIANNA?

CLICK HERE * 2014 * Fueling The Journey

For more information about the Miss Queen City of the Plains Scholarship Pageant, visit THEIR WEBSITE or  FACEBOOK PAGE.  For information on becoming a contestant, contact Director Angie Trausch at (402) 984-2690 or angie.trausch@gmail.com, or contact Director Angela Keiser at (402) 578-8621 or angelakeiser@gmail.com.

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The 2016 Miss Nebraska Scholarship Pageant takes place June 8-11 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

***

PREVIOUS.. Miss Douglas County’s Outstanding Teen 2016 Adella Smolsky!

NEXT.. Miss Kearney’s Outstanding Teen 2016 Shelbe Stroh!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!

Hello, My Name Is…

Apr3

What’s in a name?!?

As a parent, you have an awesome responsibility (among MANY others) to give your child A NAME.  It’s the title they will likely use as identification for the rest of their life.  They have the world at their fingertips to make a name for themself, but that foundation starts it all.  How much of who we become is because of OUR NAME?

Take ADELE.  The woman has become a beloved figure around the world; even those who don’t necessarily buy her albums or like her genre appreciate her incredible talent and the depth of her music.  Adele means NOBLE.  KIND.  DIGNITY.  POISE.  I’d argue all of these traits are present in Adele’s work.

They also describe an Omaha teenager.. an ‘Adella’ now representing her school, the Omaha metro area, and young women everywhere.

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Photo courtesy C41 Photography

“Making a positive impact on everyone I encounter is most important to me,” Adella told me recently.  “I know in the world today with social media and society’s standards that we feel like we have to meet, we forget what amazing, beautiful ladies we are.”

Adella is now sharing that message with schools and groups, speaking as Miss Douglas County’s Outstanding Teen 2016.  She started competing in pageants several years ago, becoming a finalist with the National American Miss organization.

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Last fall was Adella’s first try competing within Miss America’s companion system, Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.  The 15-year old sang, played piano, and won a title in Omaha on her first try.

“Being Miss Douglas County’s Outstanding Teen has given me so many opportunities to not only spread the message of my platform, but will also give me opportunities later in life such as college scholarships.”

Adella also notes the business lessons she’s learned since winning her crown, including organizing and hosting an annual boutique, selling handmade scarfs, jewelry and home decor to pay for anything she wants and needs to compete for Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen this June.  She works multiple jobs a week like babysitting, in addition to her studies at Skutt Catholic High School, where she is involved in student council and show choir.  Adella is also active in women’s prayer group and ministry council, and has modelled for Omaha Fashion Week.

“To people who criticize pageants or don’t know much about the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Organization, I would explain how this program has helped me grow in so many ways,” said Adella.  “I have learned public speaking skills, confidence in front of a crowd, the importance of being physically fit, embracing my own gifts and talents, how to budget, and most importantly, I have learned to become confident with the person that I am.”

That last part is why Adella wants to become Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen, to become an ambassador for the organization and for her platform, ‘Overcoming Insecurities: Dreaming With Confidence.’

“I chose my platform because I know from experience that everyone has insecurities.  I personally have battled acne for a few years and I know that feeling insecure in your body can bring your attitude down,” said Adella.  “I don’t want anyone to ever feel like they aren’t worth anything, because everyone has special gifts and talents that they are meant to share with the world.  My platform not only helps girls surpass their insecurities, but to also realize that they have the power to positively affect their life and the lives around them.”

How does such a young woman have such a mature attitude and optimistic outlook?  Adella points to her cousin and role model, Mary (which, by the way, means independance, initiative, friendly and good-natured.)

“She wanted to be a successful woman right from the start, so she realized what she needed to do in order to achieve her goals,” said Adella.  “She started working at the bottom of a company but always had a smile on her face and was willing to work hard.  She now is in one of the top positions in her line of work.  She inspires me and helps me understand that if you work hard and stay positive, the sky is the limit!”

Capable. Focused. Independant.  Fully prepared.  Those are the words you see when you look up ADELLA… and the qualities THIS Adella wants to showcase across the state, as Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen.

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“I am a very determined person, and I have worked very hard to get here,” said Adella.  “I see this as more than just a crown on my head, rather, it’s a job with responsibilities that I’m capable and ready to take on.”

***

To follow Miss Douglas County’s Outstanding Teen 2016 Adella Smolsky on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE, or CLICK HERE to follow her on Twitter.

For more information about the Miss Omaha/Miss Douglas County’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, visit THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE or THEIR WEBSITE.  For information on becoming a contestant, contact Director Kelsey Ellis by email at omahadouglascountyOT@gmail.com.

For more information on becoming a Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen contestant, contact Director Heather Edwards at heatheraloseke@gmail.com or Director Kali Tripp at kalinicoletv@gmail.com.

***

The 2016 Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Pageant takes place June 10 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

***

PREVIOUS.. Miss Old West Balloon Fest 2016 Claire Holsinger!

NEXT.. Miss Queen City of the Plains 2016 Lianna Prill!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!

Highlighting History

Mar22

This week, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts unveiled the state’s new license plate to be produced in 2017, just in time for Nebraska’s 150th Birthday!

CLICK HERE to see the new plate, and to read the background on the new license plate!

What an incredible time to be a Nebraskan.  We have produced gold medal winning Olympians, legendary performers, a President, an astronaut, and yes, a Miss America!  Every village, town, and city in our state has a unique and fascinating history.  For example, Chadron, Nebraska was founded in 1884 and originally named O’Linn, Nebraska.  When the railroad was built six miles away, the ENTIRE TOWN picked up and shifted to that branch site and renamed the community after Louis Chartran, a french fur trapper who built a trading post there in 1841.  To this day, Chadron’s Museum of the Fur Trade is the largest of its kind in the United States, attracting thousands of visitors. Now, the city has enlisted two young women to share their tradition statewide.

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Photo courtesy Jenn Cady Photography

Brooklyn Stack is one of them; she’s Miss Fur Trade Days Outstanding Teen 2016.

“I am in Chadron High School’s Cardinal Singers, on dance team, Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America, in the musical and in speech,” Brooklyn told me recently.  “I strive to be the best person I can be and I commit to what I saw I will do.”

Brooklyn IS Chadron, involved in just about every facet of her community as a high school sophomore can be.  She and Miss Fur Trade Days 2016 Alex O’Connor will represent the far northwest corner of the state in the upcoming Miss Nebraska and Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen pageants, along with Miss Chadron 2016 Tyler Rambali and Miss Chadron’s OT Emma Wilkinson.

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 “I have gained so many friendships and communication skills already from being in the pageant circuit,” said Brooklyn.  Those connections are one of the reasons Brooklyn decided to compete in a pageant in the first place.. she saw her older sister, Kiya, form the same bonds while competing for Miss Nebraska.

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“My role model is my sister, Kiya, because she is such a strong and amazing individual,” said Brooklyn.  “She is so kind and helps out whenever she can.  Kiya has competed before and the relationships she gained influenced me to participate.”

And just as her big sister chose a personal mission as a local titleholder, so has Brooklyn, focusing on stereotype awareness.

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“I was bullied severely when I was younger and I do not want other kids to go through what I went through,” said Brooklyn.  “My platform is U-B-U Stereotype Awareness.  This program has helped me highlight my skills and has helped me get involved in schools to talk about my platform.”

One of the ideas Brooklyn’s brought to classrooms is to join everyone in a circle, hold hands, and discuss what everyone has in common rather than leaving someone out because of their differences.  She posted on Facebook: “We are all connected by our interests, our religion, our race, our personalities. There is no reason to outcast someone because they are ‘different.’ We are all unique in our own ways. #U_BU#Classroomvisit.”

Brooklyn has also created a website, described as a medium to empower youth by stopping stereotypes.  (Click here to see it!)

It’s times like these Brooklyn isn’t just representing her hometown or the historic tradition emblazoned on her sash, she’s the face of our program and what it represents.  She hopes people remember the positive influences and active change all titleholders in the Miss Nebraska and Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen organizations are aiming for.

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“I would tell people who criticize pageants that this program helps shape young women to be strong individuals who strive to be the best they can be,” said Brooklyn.  “If they don’t care much about the program, I can’t make them change their minds, but I can explain to them that this organization helps to create women who want to change the world with their footprint through the program.”

Brooklyn Stack wants to take her message of confidence and acceptance statewide. She wants to sing to a crowd and share one of the talents she embraces.  And she wants to be Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen to add her name to Chadron’s history books, and to the list of Nebraska greats.

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“I bring something different to the table,” said Brooklyn.  “I am a strong individual who is not afraid to stand up for what I believe in.  Even though I am new to the program, I want to make a change.”

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CLICK HERE to follow Miss Fur Trade Days’ Outstanding Teen 2016 Brooklyn Stack ON FACEBOOK.  You can also CLICK HERE to learn more about her platfrom U-B-U Stereotype Awareness.

For information on becoming a contestant, CLICK HERE to visit the Miss Chadron/Northwest/Fur Trade Days Outstanding Teen Pageant on Facebook.  You can also contact Director Amanda Vogel by phone at 308-665-5595 or by email at maoteenchadron@gmail.com.

For more information on becoming a Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen contestant, contact Director Heather Edwards at heatheraloseke@gmail.com or Director Kali Tripp at kalinicoletv@gmail.com.

***

The 2016 Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Pageant takes place June 10 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

***

PREVIOUS.. Miss Heartland 2016 Tosha Skinner!

NEXT.. Miss Old West Balloon Fest 2016 Claire Holsinger!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!

Everyday America

Mar15

Omaha, Nebraska.

This isn’t just where I work, it’s the area where I grew up. I’m officially a Papillion girl.. I rode my bike to Papio Pool, sled on the ‘big hill’ at 72nd and Hwy 370 before the apartments went up, and I graduated from PLHS back when there was only one high school.. #Old.  The first home I remember was near Central Park in La Vista. I played softball as a little girl in Glenwood.  I’ve spent countless family road trips heading west to Seward and east to Atlantic.  This area is all I know–it’s HOME. (And I think these were the original lyrics to Sugarland’s Everyday America.. #TheMoreYouKnow)

North Platte, Nebraska is synonymous with the Miss Nebraska Pageant.  For more than three decades, this city has crowned the women who have gone on to compete at Miss America.  So when North Platte is YOUR home, I suppose it’s destiny that someday YOU will be competing for the historic honor.

Courtney Pelland was been immersed in the Miss Nebraska Pageant for years, and one of the key descriptors of the accompanying Teen program, ‘Outstanding’, could be her middle name.  I think they call this fate.

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Photo courtesy Jenn Cady Photography

“My mom has taken me to every state pageant since I was 5,” Courtney told me recently.  “I’m involved in dancing at the Dance Factory with Becky Smith-Wagner, Miss Nebraska 1999. I was involved in the Little Sisters Program in 2008 to Brittany Jeffers, Miss Nebraska 2009.  We are Miss Heartland 2016 Tosha Skinner’s host family.  The girls in this program are welcoming and open to who any one girl is as a person.”

While it may have taken Courtney awhile to come out of her shell and compete on her own, there was never a question as to what her platform of service would be.. she wanted to share her personal story.

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“My platform is called ‘Knowing Your Body, Taking A Step Back’.  I decided on this platform after being hospitalized in January 2015,” said Courtney.  “My hemoglobin was at 6.6 (normal is 12) and I had no iron or iron storage left in my body; I was ghost white.”

Courtney received two blood transfusions and iron that day, and had to visit North Platte’s cancer center once a week for the next two months.  In October, doctors diagnosed Courtney with Celiac Disease, an autoimmune condition preventing the body from absorbing needed nutrients (like iron).  In addition, she underwent a hip labrum repair in June, an injury that had caused Courtney pain for at least two years.

“This whole experience has taught me to pay attention to your body and know when something is wrong,” said Courtney.  “That’s the message I want to get out and tell kids about.”

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So in November, when Courtney won her first title as Miss Sugar Valley’s Outstanding Teen, she set out on a mission to spread that message to as many people as possible.

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Multiple times every week, Courtney updates both her personal and Miss Western Nebraska Facebook pages with photos and recaps of schools she’s visiting, events she’s speaking at, and where she’s volunteering.  The North Platte High School newspaper, the Bulldogger, even featured Courtney in a recent article (click here to read more!)

“I have gone around volunteering for the Salvation Army this past Christmas, volunteering at my old elementary school, Osgood, at Fun Night, {in addition to Sutherland and Stapleton}, and served at the homeless shelter here in North Platte,” said Courtney.  “My favorite thing about holding a title this year has been going out to schools and talking to them about my platform.”

Courtney is also an All-State choir member, plays the tenor saxophone, is involved with National Honor Society and volunteers at her local hospital for the JV Ambassador’s Program.  Her home away from home is the Dance Factory, where she assists with pre-school and kindergarten classes at the Dance Factory, in addition to training in dance herself.

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Photo courtesy Irish Eye Photography

“My favorite part of the competition is talent because I get to show my skills, release and express my emotions and entertain the crowd,” said Courtney.  “Through this program I have become more confident in who I am as a person and more comfortable with my body.  I have learned to love myself for who I am.  I overcame my shyness and learned more about myself.  This organization is not based on beauty.  It is based on intelligence and builds confidence in girls and women.”

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Now, with the support of her mother (who Courtney calls her role model and best friend), and the rest of her family (“I don’t know what I would do without them”), Courtney wants to become one of the women she learned from and admired all these years in North Platte, and continue the sisterhood of role models crowned in this great city and sent out across the state.

‘That’s how it goes in everyday America, A little town and a great big life.’ — Sugarland

“My parents always tease me about being the social one,” said Courtney.  “I enjoy being with people and talking to children.  I should be the next Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen because I have a passion to share my experience with others.”

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CLICK HERE to follow Miss Sugar Valley’s Outstanding Teen 2016 Courtney Pelland

ON FACEBOOK and ON INSTAGRAM.  You can also follow Courtney on the Miss Western Nebraska Pageant Facebook page.

For information on becoming a contestant, contact Director Kyla Ansley by phone at 308-631-0938 or by email at kyla_ansley@hotmail.com.

For more information on becoming a Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen contestant, contact Director Heather Edwards at heatheraloseke@gmail.com or Director Kali Tripp at kalinicoletv@gmail.com.

***

The 2016 Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Pageant takes place June 10 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

***

PREVIOUS.. Miss Harvest Moon Festival 2016 Kara Kriha!

NEXT.. Miss Chadron 2016 Tyler Rambali!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!

Just Keep Swimming

Mar6

There’s something special about swimmers..

These athletes are just wired differently than n0rmal human beings.  They’re up at 4am to put in hours at the pool.  They are SHEER musle and strength.  They don’t know failure, because when they’re not focused on the swimmer in the next lane, they are constantly racing their OWN clocks to top their personal bests.  All of these traits; dedication, health, perfection, also seem to translate to swimmers’ lives outside the pool.

Want proof? Meet Team KETV.

Before Melissa Fry was our 5pm anchor and one of our best reporters, she was the 2001 state champion in the 100m butterfly at Millard South High School (Melissa and her dad are the first father/daughter state champions in swimming!)  Melissa is still in the Patriot record books for several strokes, and went on to swim at Illinois State before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Before Alex Hoffman was our First News anchor, she was nothing short of a legendary swimmer in her home state of South Dakota.  In high school alone, she won four individual state titles.  At South Dakota State, Alex’s list of school records and career wins is TWO FULL PAGES LONG.  I’M NOT KIDDING.  She broke 9 school records her first season, was team captain her senior year and chosen as an NCAA Woman of the Year nominee.  Alex was also Miss South Dakota 2008 and a Top 10 finalist at the 2009 Miss America pageant.

Before Alexandra Stone became our First News Weekend anchor (and one of our star reporters!) she was swimming year-round for both school and club events, starting when she was a toddler.  Alexandra made the varsity swim team as a freshman, excelling in the 100M backstroke.

And finally..

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This INCREDIBLE young lady, Jojo Randby!  Jojo’s mom is Emmy-Award winning journalist Julie Cornell, and her dad is our Chief Meteorologist Bill Randby.  Jojo is making a name for herself.. representing Nebraska in the midwest regional 5-state All Star meet, where she won the 50m and 100m breast, clocking personal record times in both!

NONE of this is easy.  ALL of these ladies say they swim or swam 6+ days a week, often twice a day.  This all comes in addition to school, volunteering and other activities.

Want more proof?  Meet Hannah Miller.

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Photo courtesy Blinq Studio

“I’ve had a crazy swim season that just concluded with the state meet,” Hannah told me last month, after qualifying for two events at state as a sophomore.  (CLICK HERE to watch Hannah set a new personal record in the 100m butterfly in January!)  Hannah’s also a dancer.  And she works part time.  And she’s a student at Elkhorn High School.  And she’s Miss Omaha’s Outstanding Teen.

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Hannah spends almost three hours EVERY DAY swimming, in addition to everything else she’s got going on in her life.  How, and WHY add a crown and sash to the mix, and commit to competing for Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen in June?

“I got involved in the MNOT program because I love the values that it promotes: service, scholarship, style and success,” said Hannah.  “I have such respect for the titleholders who are volunteering in their communities and are role models for everyone around them.”

Hannah has also held the titles of Miss Nebraska Pre-Teen 2012 (ANTSO), America’s US Miss Nebraska Teen 2014, and as Miss Nebraska Junior Teen 2014 (ANTSO) she was named National Junior Teen 1st Runner-Up and National Spokesmodel winner for 2015.  Complete disclosure.. I know very little about the America’s National Teenager Scholarship Organization, but it seems Hannah knows what to prioritize as a new contestant in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen club.

For starters, her volunteer work ties right back to where she’s most at home.. in the pool.

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“My platform is ‘Safe Splashes’, combining my love for the water with my passion for working with young children,” said Hannah.  “Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children between the ages of 1 and 4.  According to the CDC, in 10% of those drownings, the adult will actually be watching the child with no idea it is happening!  While complete ‘drown-proofing’ does not exist, parental water safety education and early childhood swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning.”

Hannah is hoping to make a difference both with with her words and action; she works part-time as a swim instructor, teaching kids and parents exactly what she promotes as Miss Omaha’s Outstanding Teen.  She’s also volunteered to read for local students, to ring bells for the Salvation Army, she’s been part of the Bid Buddy/Little Buddy mentoring program and helped as a math tutor.

Hannah has also lettered in Varsity Cheer, and she’ll dance at Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen.

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“I combine my two favorite dance styles (jazz and tap) into a fun, upbeat routine that I absolutely love to perform,” said Hannah.  Hannah also loves her family (just below, she’s emceeing part of Nebraska’s Miss Amazing pageant with her dad, Jim!) and friends, and says those relationships along with school are most important to her in her life.

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“From an early age, giving back to the community and volunteering have been important to me, so I look for role models who are reaching out and making a difference in real ways each and every day,” said Hannah.

Now, this 16-year old hopes to become a role model for someone else, and notes that her pageant-background has propelled her forward.

“I tell people about the community service I have become involved in through pageantry and the self confidence it takes to walk and talk on stage,” said Hannah.  “When I applied to be a swim instructor at the age of 15 I was interviewing with candidates that were as much as 6 years older than me.  I got the job because of the confidence and poise I had in the interview.  My ability to speak honestly and confidently to parents about their child’s progress earns me respect as an instructor.  The skills of communication and confidence are directly related to my involvement in pageantry and I am proud of that.”

And now, Hannah Miller wants to take her journey one step further as Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen.  After all, she’s a self-described well-rounded over-achiever.  If you ask Melissa, Alex, or Alexandra… I’m pretty sure that’s synonymous with SWIMMER.

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Photo courtesy Blinq Studio

“I have been preparing to represent our great state for some time now and I know I am ready to step up and be the best possible representative nationally for Nebraska,” said Hannah.  “I am a genuine person who connect with people easily and I have the ability to help make a difference.”

***

To follow Miss Omaha’s Outstanding Teen Hannah Miller on FACEBOOK CLICK HERE.  To contact Hannah about appearances and events, email her at hl_miller@icloud.com or email Jim Miller at  jr_miller@cox.net.

For more information about the Miss Omaha/Miss Douglas County’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, visit THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE or THEIR WEBSITE.  For information on becoming a contestant, contact Director Kelsey Ellis by email at omahadouglascountyOT@gmail.com.

For more information on becoming a Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen contestant, contact Director Heather Edwards at heatheraloseke@gmail.com or Director Kali Tripp at kalinicoletv@gmail.com.

***

The 2016 Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Pageant takes place June 10 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

***

PREVIOUS.. Miss Alliance 2016 Kate Lynne Duncan!

NEXT.. Miss Harvest Moon Festival 2016 Kara Kriha!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!

Building A Legacy

Feb22

“Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.”

I LOVE this quote.  I first heard it from the movie The Sandlot (which is a MUST SEE if you haven’t..) and I’ve always held onto it, even naming my fledgling college video production company ‘Legend Productions’.  To me, it always meant to push harder, to do a little more, to build a legacy that will be extend long past your physical life.

This weekend on KETV Chronicle, our Rob McCartney interviewed coach, Congressman, athletic director and mentor Dr. Tom Osborne.  He is a Hall of Fame college football coach, one of the most respected in the history of the game.  He won his congressional district with an astounding 83-percent of the vote.  He stepped in to the Nebraska Athletics’ office at a time of fan unrest and turmoil and ‘righted the ship’ according to many sports experts.

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But when Rob asked  ‘T.O.’ how he would define a successful life, Osborne said he hoped to be defined by the relationships created through the Teammates mentoring program he founded, not just by what was accomplished on the football field.

” That ripple effect on down through history is your legacy,” Osborne told Rob. “Trophies tarnish, rings get thrown in the trash can and records, if you think about it, who was a great coach 90-years ago?  You hear a few names but you don’t remember those guys anymore, and that’ll be the same thing with me and other people.  But that ripple effect, the influence you had on people, that will continue on down through many generations.”

CLICK HERE to watch Rob McCartney’s exclusive interview with Dr. Tom Osborne on KETV Chronicle.

Rob has interviewed Osborne numerous times throughout the years, developing mutual respect and friendship through that relationship, and this answer stood out for Rob and many of us who watched Chronicle.  Of everything Dr. Tom Osborne has accomplished, MENTORING is one of the things he’s proudest of.

She may separated by distance, time and experience from Osborne.. but that desire to make an impact on people is mutual for 16-year old Grace Heggem.

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Photo courtesy Jenn Cady Photography

“Spending time with a child even just once a week and getting to know them can really inspire them to set and achieve goals of their own,” Grace told me recently.  She’s promoting mentoring across Scottsbluff as Miss Western Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen, after an experience with a classmate two years ago.

“One of the girls in my class had confessed to us that she had been depressed lately and the previous weekend had suicidal thoughts,” said Grace.  “She said that that week I had come up and talked to her and that simple act had made her feel like someone cared and was one of the reasons she was still here.  I immediately broke down and later realized the impact simple acts can have.  Sometimes all people need is to know that someone cares.”

And it was a mentor who led Grace to the path she is currently on to compete for Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen.  Her childhood babysitter was Miss America 2011 Teresa Scanlan, who encouraged her to try a pageant when Grace was 13.

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“I loved it!” said Grace.  “The entire process is a great confidence booster and the interview/people skills can really be beneficial in the future.  These pageants bring about personal development.  I have seen for myself the positive changes they bring about for young women.  I’ts not always about the end result, it’s about who you become in the process.”

 Grace is quick to note she’s not just a ‘pageant queen’.  She is president of the sophomore class at Scottsbluff High School, vice president of Key Club (focusing on community service), a member of National Honor Society, she plays varsity volleyball, she’s involved in her school’s upcoming musical, she’s a dancer and she plays piano.

Grace credits her work ethic, the ‘5am-6pm way of life’ as she calls it, to her parents, a quality she says would make her a great state representative.

“I am diverse and involved in a wide variety of activities which makes me personable and able to reach a greater amount of people in my state,” said Grace.  “My grandpa is a rancher so I understand and can definitely appreciate that major element of what makes Nebraska.  As my dad is the owner of a construction business, I understand the value of hard work.”

That family unit is also Grace’s top priority.

“My mom is my number one supporter no matter what, my best friend, and the person I laugh with the most,” said Grace.  “My dad has always supported me in everything I did and always encourages me.  My brothers are my best buds whether we’re watching football, laughing, or even arguing.  Growing up with three brothers, I never played with barbies or dolls because we were too busy playing with Nerf guns or wrestling. (I totally won by the way.)”

Neither pageants nor any other outside influence is likely to change those core values for Grace, who notes her biggest role model is Duck Dynasty star and devout Christian Sadie Robertson.

“I really respect her because she’s in a business where her values aren’t necessarily prevalent but she still stays true to them,” said Grace.  “She is different but she embraces it and by doing this inspires others to not be afraid to be themselves either.  That is something I definitely admire and try to do myself.”

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And whether Grace Heggem is signing autographs or volunteering for the Children’s Miracle Network, she hopes to inspire her fellow pageant contestants (the girls she now calls her friends), to join her in the mission SHE embraces.

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“If I were to become Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen I would like to create a mentoring program using our Nebraska titleholders!” said Grace.  “Pageant queens absolutely have the potential to be mentors in their communities.  It’s crazy to me how a little girl’s eyes light up when they see and talk to a ‘princess’ with a crown on her head.’

And while Grace Heggem has a lot to be proud of.. being featured in her local paper, playing piano for crowds of hundreds, being elected a leader by her fellow students and peers.. that impact through mentoring is the legacy she wants to leave behind.

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Tom Osborne’s players have gone on to do amazing things (CLICK HERE to read a few in my Throwback Thursday Husker series!).  Those young men, and the people Osborne mentored have passed on those life lessons to their children, and kids THEY’VE mentored.  If the little girl smiling above with Grace goes on to mentor someone, and SHE goes on to mentor someone, that cycle of positive influence will continue long beyond what two people remember; it becomes a legacy.  That is Grace Heggem’s goal on her way to compete for Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen.. the sparkly crown is just a bonus.

***

CLICK EACH LINK to follow Miss Western Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen 2016 Grace Heggem

on FACEBOOK, and on INSTAGRAM

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GRACE?

CLICK HERE * 2015 * Amazing Grace

CLICK HERE * 2014 * Nebraska’s Outstanding Teens

For more information about the Miss Western Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, visit THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE.  For information on becoming a contestant, contact Director Kyla Ansley at 308-631-0938 or by email at kyla_ansley@hotmail.com.  You can also email thirtyone.hayes@yahoo.com.

For more information on becoming a Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen contestant, contact Director Heather Edwards at heatheraloseke@gmail.com or Director Kali Tripp at kalinicoletv@gmail.com.

***

The 2016 Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Pageant takes place June 10 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

***

PREVIOUS.. Miss Kool-Aid Days 2016 Chelsea Arnold!

NEXT.. Miss Douglas County 2016 Savannah Rave!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!

Top Of The Class

Feb21

What do you think of when you hear the word SCHOOL?

school

This?

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This?

Maybe even this?

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(Disclaimer.. this is actually what I first thought of about the word ‘school’.. getting totally, embarassingly defeated at something.  Morpheus and the Matrix were just an added bonus that made me laugh..)

WELL.. now that I’ve hit my NERD quota for 2016, I’ll get to my point… SCHOOL.  The word, and the issue, are anything BUT simply defined these days.  College education is highly debated issue in the current presidential campaign.  School bond issues are often top stories in our newscasts.  Just within the last few weeks, charter schools again resurfaced as a hot topic in Nebraska. (Click here to learn more about the new statewide initiative in reporter Kristyna Engdahl’s story on KETV.)

However you want to define school, Miss Kool-Aid Days 2016 Chelsea Arnold is willing to listen.

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Photo courtesy Jenn Cady Photography

“Even before my involvement in the Miss America Organization, I was very vocal about how important it is for students to individualize their education plans,” Chelsea told me recently.  “I’ve been a student at many different kinds of schools (charter, online, public, home, private) and have witnessed firsthand how important it is to be an advocate for your own education.”

That message has also been Chelsea’s personal platform of service, both as a teen titleholder (click here to read more!) and now as Miss Kool-Aid Days 2016.  She says ‘The 4 Learning Languages’ focuses on the four main types of learning and teaching study habits.  Working with students of all ages is a passion for Chelsea, who also volunteers with the Children’s Miracle Network of hospitals, including Omaha’s Children’s Hospital and Medical Center.

Travelling to Omaha is no big deal for the Lincoln Southwest senior; she’s visited 48 of our 50 states (one of those trips–an Alaskan cruise right before Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen two years ago, click here to read more!).  In addition to being a student and MAO titleholder, Chelsea also models for clients like the Omaha Bridal Fair and Oriental Trading Company.

Still, Nebraska is where the Crete native wants to be, planning to attend the University of Nebraska – Lincoln next fall to double major in broadcasting and communications, inspired and humbled by her own family.

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Her grandfather, Wayne Drummond, is the Emeritus Dean and a Professor of Architecture at UNL with nearly 40 years of professional and academic experience.

“My role model is my grandfather, ‘Poppy’,” said Chelsea.  “I have never met anyone who has been so successful in their chosen profession while still making their family their number one priority.  I admire his patience, kindness, and integrity.  He has told me many times, ‘always be honest and do what is right,’ and I hope to be as successful in my career as he has been following that mantra!”

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 Chelsea’s mom has also had a huge impact; as a former Miss Alabama contestant, she introduced her daughter to the Miss America Organization.

“I love to sing and it was an opportunity to be on stage,” said Chelsea.  “I have benefited from the Miss Nebraska Organization more than I could ever put into words.  It has truly pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I will always be thankful for that.”

And to those who criticize the Miss America Organization or pageantry in general, Chelsea Arnold has a quick lesson..

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This..

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This.. and this.

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“It is SO much more than what [we’re] saying on stage,” said Chelsea.  “It is not about objectifying women, physical appearance, or hairspray.  It’s about women who are given a platform to speak their mind and further their education and careers.  Getting that many successful women in one place in incredibly empowering.”

THIS is the class Chelsea Arnold is a part of right now.. the Miss Nebraska Pageant Class of 2016.  She wants to take what she’s learned as Miss Kool-Aid Days and educate others as she moves forward, hoping to visit schools of all kinds with a new title: Miss Nebraska 2016.

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Photo courtesy Ali Marie Photography

***

CLICK EACH LINK to follow Miss Kool-Aid Days 2016 Chelsea Arnold

on FACEBOOK, on TWITTER, on INSTAGRAM

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHELSEA?

CLICK HERE * 2015 * A Beauty Queen’s Bucket List

CLICK HERE * 2014 * Nebraska’s Outstanding Teens

For more information about the Miss Kool-Aid Days Scholarship Pageant, visit THEIR WEBSITE or  FACEBOOK PAGE.  For information on becoming a contestant, contact Director Angie Trausch at (402) 984-2690 or angie.trausch@gmail.com, or contact Director Angela Keiser at (402) 578-8621 or angelakeiser@gmail.com.

***

The 2016 Miss Nebraska Scholarship Pageant takes place June 8-11 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

***

PREVIOUS.. Special Feature, Miss Nebraska USA 2016 Sarah Hollins!

NEXT.. Miss Western Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen 2016 Grace Heggem!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!

That’s What Friends Are For

Feb14

Over the last few months, I’ve tried to take a different approach with what I share on Facebook.  I still try to tell our viewers what they should tune in for that night at 10.. and share links to the developing story online that could impact them.. but more and more, I’m trying to share things that just MAKE ME SMILE.  Memes that make me laugh, links that have me giggling at my desk, and photos that warm my heart.  Hopefully they make someone else’s day a little brighter, too.

A few weeks ago, I shared this beauty.

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Photo courtesy Sherri Harnisch – Picture Taker

This is Macy.  I used to work with her momma, who is also the incredible photographer who styled and shot this photo.  Macy is sassy, smart, talented and SWEET.. she is also one of the national representatives for down syndrome awareness and support, featured on billboards in Times Square, and a frequent visitor to Washington DC for new legislation.

PLEASE CLICK HERE to watch Alex Hoffman’s story on KETV with Sherri Harnisch, about her family’s work to pass the ABLE Act.

Macy is showing the world that people with special needs bring love, joy, laughter and so many other things into the world and into our lives.  They deserve our respect, our time and OUR love.

It’s a message Ashly Helfrich has known and advocated for since she was younger than Macy.

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Photo courtesy Jenn Cady Photography

Ashly, a junior at Millard West High School in Omaha, is also Miss Tri-Cities Outstanding Teen 2016.  She’ll compete to become Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen this June.  The program is a preliminary competition to the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, described by many as the ‘little sister’ pageant to the Miss America Organization.  Just like their ‘miss’ sisters, these teenagers spend a year promoting a cause they are passionate about; Ashly calls hers ‘The Positive Power of Inclusion.’

“Two of my cousins have down syndrome, so I have witnessed how inclusion has affected them while growing up,” Ashly told me recently.  “[My platform] is focusing on creating inclusive environments in both schools and the community for people of all ability levels.”

Ashly is a student leader for Millard West’s West Friends club, an organization that twice a month brings together students with and without disabilities.

“I love spending my time with these kids, as they are some of the most genuinely kind people I know,” said Ashly.  “They almost always have a smile on their face, and they always greet me like they are so happy to see me.  For me, inclusion goes so far beyond just putting students of all ability levels in the same room.  The objective of West Friends is to create long-lasting friendships between these students by making a safe, fun environment for all.”

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Ashly and West Friends organizers are also creating a model for other programs across the state, as one of the first schools to participate in NSAA-sanctioned unified sports.  CLICK HERE TO WATCH Andrew Ozaki’s story on KETV, featuring Ashly, about this new opportunity for special needs students to compete in sports.

Ashly also knows a little something about competition; she trained in tumbling and competitive gymnastics for 11 years and is currently a Millard West varsity cheerleader.

She’s also copy editor for her school’s yearbook, a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and Student Ambassador for Millard West.  Ashly has lettered in Academics, Cheerleading and Pole Vault.

WHAT?!? How could this girl squeeze one more activity into her schedule.. and why?!?!

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Ashly answers by noting her role model is former Miss Nebraska local titleholder Chrissy Townsend. (Click here to learn more about Chrissy!)

“My grandparents were Chrissy’s host family during her pageant week in North Platte and for several summers I stayed there with her during that week,” said Ashly.  “She really showed me how cool it was to be on stage, I always enjoyed getting to watch her do her favorite thing.  She truly paved the way for my own pageants because she gave me a great example of how to be happy with whatever the outcome may be.  I always admired the girls in that spotlight; I admired their grace, pose and confidence in front of all of those people, and I knew that someday I wanted to do that myself.”

Despite multiple surgeries on her Achilles tendon, Ashly decided this, her last eligible year to compete, she would try to become Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen.  She revisited the piano, an instrument she played for years as a little girl, and won a local title last fall.

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“I would tell someone who criticizes pageants that the girls who compete in them are not just focused on their appearance,” said Ashly.  “Pageant girls are driven and compassionate, and they are more than ready to help anyone else out before themselves.  They all have goals set for themselves and they are ready to do all the work that goes into reaching that goal.”

And THEN some, like in Ashly’s case.  Since earning that crown in late October, Ashly has volunteered to ring bells for the Salvation Army, helped blind and visually impaired shoppers over the holidays, and just this weekend, took a VERY chilly plunge into Cunningham Lake for the Special Olympics.

At work (Omaha’s Vintage Financial Group), Ashly has earned the nickname ‘Miss America’ from firm President and Millard School Board member Pat Ricketts.  Easy to see why with the sheer amount of self-lessness, talent and ambition this young lady has.

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What’s even cooler to me is WHY Ashly wants all of this.. for her cousins, her West friends, and kids she’s never met, like Macy.

“I want to be the next Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen because I want to spread my message of my platform all around the state.  I am so excited to be part of a team with some of my favorite people,” said Ashly.  “I want to be someone that is a good role model for all teens, and someone who can be trusted with anything.  I am very dedicated to the things that I commit to, and competing in this pageant is another step for me to get closer to reaching my goal of being confident in any situation.”

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 ***

CLICK EACH LINK to follow Miss Tri-Cities Outstanding Teen 2016 Ashly Helfrich

on FACEBOOK, on TWITTER, on INSTAGRAM

For more information about the Miss Kearney/Miss Tri-Citites Outstanding Teen Pageant, visit THEIR WEBSITE,FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER.  For information on becoming a contestant, contact Director Megan Goeke at hello@beautifulbridal.com.

For more information on becoming a Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen contestant, contact Director Heather Edwards at heatheraloseke@gmail.com or Director Kali Tripp at kalinicoletv@gmail.com.

***

The 2016 Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen Pageant takes place June 10 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

***

PREVIOUS.. Miss Omaha 2016 Aleah Peters!

NEXT.. Special Feature, Miss Nebraska USA 2016 Sarah Hollins!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!

Fighting For Hope

Feb8

Once in awhile here at KETV, we share a story that really strikes a chord with our viewers.. and with us.  Earlier this month, Julie Cornell spoke with Ralston Superintendent Dr. Mark Adler about the death of his son, Reid.  The 15-year old was described as positive, friendly, a joy to be around both for his friends and his parents and sisters.

 January 7th, Reid took his own life. His parents learned later Reid had been bullied and threatened for months.

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This story rattled me.  I’m a mother; I cannot even bear the thought of anything happening to my children.  Dr. Adler told Julie he and his wife had an indication Reid was unhappy and immediately got him help.. he is the superintendent of a major school district, sees students and knows what to watch for.. and there was no way to see this coming.  I strongly encourage ALL parents, or anyone who works with children, to click here and watch Julie’s story on KETV.

I simply cannot imagine what the Adlers are going through, and yet they have found strength to share what happened to their son to try and help other students.  They’re fighting for Reid to prevent other kids from bullying and BEING bullied.

So is Miss Omaha 2016 Aleah Peters.

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Photo courtesy Jenn Cady Photography

Aleah grew up in Millard just a few miles away from the Adlers.  Just like in Reid’s pictures, her photos show constant smiles while surrounded by friends.  Happiness.

Aleah told me a few years ago how much that smile hid when she was a teenager.

“When I was in high school I was bullied by a group of girls,” Aleah told me in 2014. “I feared going to school, attending sporting events or even answering my phone.” (Click here to read my entire interview with Aleah.)

Now, Aleah has made it a personal mission to prevent bullying, specifically cyberbullying.  She calls her platform ‘Cyberbullying Prevention: Make Kindness Viral.’

CAMPAIGN

“I have had the opportunity to work with multiple schools in the Omaha metro area and even conduct a critical analysis on the evolution of cyberbullying,” Aleah told me recently.  “I understand how it feels to be alone.  I can relate to people who have experienced or are experiencing this pain.  Victims of cyberbullying usually have some type of psychological vulnerability making it difficult to defend themselves.  I want to stand for the silent and change the culture of schools.”

While Aleah knows how harmful words and actions can be, she also knows what a positive impact kindness and leadership can have.  Growing up, her role models were her baton teachers and coaches at the world-renowned Stepperette’s Baton and Dance, young women who were also titleholders in the Miss Nebraska Organization.

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“I remember looking up to them and admiring them,” said Aleah.  “When I was a junior in high school I competed in the Miss Nebraska’s Outstanding Teen program and ever since then I have been hooked.  I’ve realized the opportunities that have been available through the Miss America Organization and that competing for Miss Nebraska is really my opportunity to have a voice about issues I am passionate about and serve my community.”

It’s also another venue for Aleah to share her talent with a crowd, although performing for big groups is nothing new for this 3-time world champion baton twirler and the former featured twirler for the University of Nebraska.

TWIRL

“I love twirling baton and getting the crowd excited,” Aleah told me.  “Almost everyone asks if I will light them on fire in reference to the movie ‘Miss Congeniality’, then follow with a sigh of disappointment when I tell them that unfortunately, it’s a fire hazard, but if I had the option to I would love to!”

Aleah is completing her senior year at UNL, majoring in Communication Studies with minors in Psychology and Leadership Communication.  She’s a member of Mortar Board (a national senior honors society), Sigma Alpha Lambda Honors fraternity, and Alpha Phi, most recently serving as President.  She has represented the Huskers on several fronts, including as family representative for Dance Marathon, as a Greek Ambassador for the University and now as an employee at the Office of Admissions.

If she becomes Miss Nebraska 2016, Aleah wants to represent the Miss America Organization, fighting the stereotypes many have about it.

“Not only have I had the opportunity to push myself to achieve my full potential in every phase of competition but I have also had the chance to serve my community, and grow as an individual,” Aleah said.  “I would explain that the women in the Miss America Organization are women that care enough to make a difference.  These women believe in something and are the ones willing to work hard enough to create change.  I explain why I compete and the opportunities that I have had because of the crown on my head.  Most importantly, when I interact with people I am REAL.  I want people to get to know me and relate to me.”

And who is Aleah Peters? She is a young woman who wants to share not just her accomplishments, but the challenges and trying times she encountered along the way.  She’s competing for Miss Nebraska for the family and friends who she describes as the most important part of her life.

She’s competing for herself, to show those ‘mean girls’ they FAILED to dampen her spirit.

GIRL

“Beauty is the opposite of perfection. It’s about confidence, charisma, and character.”

And Aleah Peters is competing for kids like Reid Adler.  She wants to show anyone who is bullied, kids who are sad, people who feel alone, that they are NOT.  That there is MORE.  That people CARE.  And that whatever they want to do, whether it’s to become Miss Nebraska or just to be HAPPY, there is HOPE.

“I am confident that I can change the culture of schools and relate to the people I am working with,” said Aleah.  “I want to meet people and change their idea of what a ‘pageant girl’ is.  I know I would be a positive representative for the state of Nebraska.  I am passionate about this organization, the Children’s Miracle Network (Miss America’s national platform), and Cyberbullying Prevention.  I am determined to make a change.”

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 Photo courtesy Marla Austin Photography

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CLICK EACH LINK to follow Miss Omaha 2016 Aleah Peters

on FACEBOOK, on TWITTER, on INSTAGRAM

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALEAH?

CLICK HERE * 2014 * How Do You Like Me Now?

For more information about the Miss Omaha/Miss Douglas County Pageant, visit THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER.  For information on becoming a contestant, contact Executive Director Marianne Grubaugh at ggrubaugh@cox.net or by phone at 402-330-8033.

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The 2016 Miss Nebraska Scholarship Pageant takes place June 8-11 in North Platte, Nebraska.  Learn more on THEIR WEBSITE, FACEBOOK PAGE, or follow ON TWITTER and ON INSTAGRAM.

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PREVIOUS.. A Moment Like This (Introduction to 2016 series)

NEXT.. Miss Tri-Cities Outstanding Teen 2016 Ashly Helfrich!

To read more about this year’s contestants, or the Miss Nebraska/Miss Nebraska’s OT classes of 2015 & 2014, click the THERE SHE IS link at the top of the page!