Matt Leverton’s National American Miss (NAM) Pageants Blog
National American Miss (NAM) Blog
All the money goes to under privilege children to assist them with school supplies, etc. Last year they had 1500 participants and expect more this year.
Jr. Pre-Teen girls I hope that you go to this pageant and have a blast and that you meet many new friends. I wish you the best of luck this pageant weekend and just remember to smile big and be yourself. Dreams really do come true! Good Luck! I can’t wait to meet you at the pageant.
Hello State Finalists,
I can’t believe this year has gone by this fast! It seems like just yesterday I was crowned your 2010 National American Miss Jr. Pre-Teen North Carolina. I was so excited when I heard my name called out I think I was in shock. This was only my third pageant ever and I won!
Just think, you have already made a big accomplishment and that was being selected as a state finalist. That is exactly what my mom told me last year before when arrived in Charlotte, NC. You are going to have such a blast this 4th of July weekend. The rehearsals and the themed party were awesome. Last year I dressed like a cowgirl with my brown cowgirl hat and my matching boots and we sang and danced and had a great time. My favorite part of the pageant weekend was meeting so many great girls from my home state and from South Carolina as well. You will have the opportunity to meet so many different girls and make so many great friendships that could be shared for a lifetime. I have kept in contact with several girls from last year’s pageant. These are memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
As a state queen I helped raise money for breast cancer awareness. I set up along with my family at my different festivals and raised money to help fight to cure breast cancer. I walked along side many women that have had breast cancer and it made me feel good about myself to know that I was there to help fight this disease that kills so many women in the world. I kind of stood out in the crowd because my mom bought me a hot pink wig to wear while I was walking; this was so much fun and rewarding. I was also a part of the crop walk in my home town and handed out apples to dozens of people in Shallotte, NC. I also visited the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Greenville, SC and donated gift bags and get well cards to all the kids that had surgery. This really touches close to home for me because I am a patient at the Shriner’s Hospital, I have Cerebral Palsy and one day that patient could even be me.
I want to thank my Mom, Dad and Brothers for all of their love and support. I also want to thank my Nana, Papa and my Aunt Bobbie for the support as well, I Love You. To Jada Orr, my sister queen, we have made such a great friendship I hope it lasts forever, You Rock Jambalaya.
Jr. Pre-Teen girls I hope that you go to this pageant and have a blast and that you meet many new friends. I wish you the best of luck this pageant weekend and just remember to smile big and be yourself. Dreams really do come true! Good Luck! I can’t wait to meet you at the pageant.
Sincerely,
Morgan Skylar Strahley
2010 NAM Jr. Pre-Teen North Carolina
This year has come and gone so fast! It has been an honor and privilege to represent such a beautiful state as Miss North Carolina Junior Teen. National American Miss has taught me so many valuable lessons and skills to help me through this crazy life! It is truly unlike any other pageant in the country.
S.W.E.E.T. (Supporting with Education, Encouragement and Togetherness) Revenge Diabetes Support Group has given parents and their children a chance to meet others in the same situation and time to talk about the issues that many families deal with.
Kristen spent time volunteering at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina in Charlotte, NC. Second Harvest strives through education, advocacy, and partnerships to eliminate hunger by the solicitation and distribution of food.
During her day of service, Kristen helped to organize the different food items and place them in the appropriate distribution bin. She was trained how to identify damaged food items and remove them from distribution. She also helped clean up the warehouse when the work was done. It was a lot of hard work, but very rewarding. The best part of volunteering is about helping people in need with this effort. Kristen loved serving her community and knowing that the day’s activities is essential to feeding families and children. She looks forward to serving again throughout the year.
Kristen participated in the 9/11 National Day of Service. She baked and delivered homemade chocolate chip cookies to some local fire departments in Charlotte.
Kristen participated in the 9/11 National Day of Service. She baked and delivered homemade chocolate chip cookies to some local fire departments in Charlotte. She volunteered through the Bank of America Community Volunteers which provided the contact information. She called several fire departments to arrange delivery of their cookie trays. She picked stations in four different parts of town in order to cover a wide area. The project gave her an opportunity to share one of her favorite things to do and bring a smile to someone else. She was able to meet firefighters at each station and thank them for all their hard work and dedication to keeping the community safe. She was able to sit in one of the trucks which was she thought was really cool. Kristen said it was good to see their smiles when delivering the cookies to them. Kristen said it was great to show our local heroes how much they are appreciated.
Kristen’s second activity was as a rescue dog handler for Project H.A.L.O ( Helping Animals Live On). Her duties included event set up, handling rescue dogs during the event and providing for its needs, speaking with potential adoptive parties, and encourage support of the organization to event visitors.
Once again Cailee kicked off her “Movies for Military” in the fall and was able to collect over 646 DVDs and 100 puzzle books for our troops.
Once again Cailee kicked off her “Movies for Military” in the fall and was able to collect over 646 DVDs and 100 puzzle books for our troops. In fall of 2009 she collected over 200 DVDs so she was quite proud that she was able to more than triple that in 2010. Cailee and her family do so much with the project on a ongoing basis that they have officially registered the trademark “Movies for Military.” They are just beginning the new year and already have collected over 45 DVDs and 40 puzzle books.
In September 11th Cailee also participated in the Freedom Walk at the Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC where she spoke to over 600 participants about her project and received a standing ovation from the two star Major General Rodney Anderson which he initiated. In October, State Representative Rick Glazier came to her school to give her a special acknowledgment for her project. At Christmas time, Cailee also sponsered a military family.
Jocelyn, Ganzert, 2009, National, American, Miss, North, Carolina, Pre,,teen, Cover, Girl, Farewell, nam, namiss, pageant
Hello National American Miss Pre-teen Contestants!
I believe the memories made at the NAMISS pageant have not only helped me build the confidence and skills I needed to grow, but also helped me create lifelong friends, and meet some extremely, amazing people in the process!
My reign as North Carolina Pre-teen Covergirl began at the State Pageant last summer and continued to Nationals, where I was crowned National Pre-teen Covergirl in November 2009. This year has been absolutely amazing! I loved going out there and representing my home state at Nationals in Anaheim, California and meeting so many great girls and their families. Being a representative of NAMISS, I also was given the opportunity to really give back to my community through volunteering. I was honored to volunteer with the ALS Association – Catfish Hunter Chapter. I started my own Walk Team to defeat ALS, which is also known Lou Gehrig’s disease, and my team raised thousands of dollars. It felt extremely wonderful to be given a chance to help raise money to fight that terrible disease.
First, I would like to thank God and my family for helping me to create these memories. I also want to especially thank my sister Aidan, for supporting me through it all – I wouldn’t have a leg to stand on without you! Also, special thanks to my friends for supporting me throughout State and Nationals! Thank you to Matt Leverton for all you do for this pageant and thank you to all who supported me along the way!
Most importantly to all the contestants this year, it’s your time to truly shine! I encourage you to make this weekend something you will never forget! Good luck to all!
Yours Truly,
Jocelyn Ganzert
National American Miss
North Carolina Pre-teen Cover Girl
2009 National American Miss North Carolina Teen Queen Staci Alden Farewell Letter
Hello 2010 Contestants & Families!
It is hard to believe that a year has gone by already! Being crowned the 2009 NAMiss North Carolina Teen was thrilling! After the pageant, I did not take my crown or banner off until maybe midnight…yes, I was ecstatic! That night was so surreal, and though it is sad to see my reign come to an end, I know that the memories of this past year will stay with me forever.
During my reign, I was able to volunteer with many charity organizations like the Great Dane Rescue of the Carolinas, Bray’s Love, and the American Cancer Society. I also received the opportunity to appear in several parades, including the Azalea Festival parade in Wilmington.
Making an appearance at the Expressions Dance “Wishes Come True” summer camp for young girls was an amazing experience. I signed t-shirts and even got to dance with the girls during their final recital!
I threw out the first pitch at a Charlotte Knights game and I am ashamed to say that the ball did not make it to the catcher…even though I was standing in front of the pitcher’s mound.
The National Pageant in California was easily one of the highlights of my reign. Representing North Carolina was brilliant! I met so many girls and made friends to last a lifetime. Disneyland was a blast! Riding roller coasters with my sister queens and beating my parents in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin was all too wonderful. I will never forget the memories or the friendships from that week.
My year could not have been possible without the support of many people. A big thanks goes out to all my family and friends for their love and support. They have always been my number one fans and I am lucky to have them in my life! To Matt Leverton, you are awesome! Thanks so much for all your support and for being such a great director! To the NAM Staff, I am so appreciative of everything you have ever done for me…you rock! To my sister queens, this year has been wonderful getting to know all of you. I love you girls!
To all the 2010 North Carolina contestants, I hope you have the weekend of your life! Nothing is impossible. I truly believe that any dream is attainable once you set your mind to it. Like my hero Walt Disney once said, “All dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” National American Miss will be one of the best experiences of your life so enjoy every moment!
Sincerely,
Your 2009 National American Miss North Carolina Teen
Staci Alden
Tara-Nicole National American Miss Farewell Speech
Hello everyone,
I am Tara-Nicole Azarian, your 2009-210 North Carolina National Amerian Miss Junior Pre-Teen Queen. WOW – what a year I have had! When I heard them call my name last year, as the winner, I nearly fainted! I could not stop crying! A dream of mine had come true – to be a NAM queen….and I have enjoyed EVERY minute of it!
I have made a gazillion appearances, at Parades, Pageants, Festivals & more! I was so glad to also be able to use my reign as a way to help support many community service projects I believe in! Such as, the Salvation Army, The Boys & Girls Club, Operation Homefront & of course, Tara’s Teddys (www.TarasTeddys.com). I was even recognized by Build-a-Bear Inc as one of their 40 National finalists in the US for outstanding volunteer work in 2009!
My journey to Nationals was amazing! My favorite moments were seeing Walt Disney’s Star on the Walk of Fame, going to Disneyland with my pageant buddy Miss New York & receiving a Spirit Stick at Nationals! But the VERY BEST moment for me was when I WON the National Volunteer Service award…which was the event that meant the world to me!
I would like to thank everyone who made my journey possible! First of all, God – who makes all things possible, my Daddy, my brother Nick & my mommy – who is the person who does all of my pageant stuff with me! I’d also like to thank Miss Lynn, Misty Carson, my sponsors & my State Director Matt. Most of all, I’d like to thank my Great-Grandmother – who passed away just a few weeks ago. She was my biggest fan. Without her support, my year would not have been possible. It is to her I dedicate my year. I love you Great-Grandma & I miss you soooooo much!
To all of you contestants – SHINE as brightly as the STARS that you are! :o) To my successor…hold on tightly, you are in for the ride of your life! :o)
My year has been filled with adventures, excitement & changes! I’ve grown 6 inches, entered Middle School & my acting career has taken off!
Ladies & Gentleman, I am a cheerleader, I am a Girl Scout and I am an actress…but tonight, for the last time…I am Tara-Nicole Azarian, YOUR 2009-2010 North Carolina National American Miss Junior Pre-Teen Queen….Thank you & God Bless.