Miss Missouri 2006 Sarah French

*I just wanted to show all of you some of my Miss America competition photos!*
March 27 On Tuesday, I spoke to Eastside Elementary School in the morning. The elementary school has its own TV station that the students run! So the kids interviewed me and the show televised throughout the schools and the Sallisaw community the next morning! I felt so special! That afternoon I spoke to Brushy Public School! The kids were great, and they were all so excited about getting Miss Missouri's autograph! One little girl told me it was her dream to meet me! How cute !
March 26 For Spring Break I visited my family in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Well, my grandmother works for Sallisaw Public schools, so many of her friends asked if I would give my "Right Decisions, Right Now" Presentation to their classes. I was more than willing! On Monday, I gave my presentation to Tommie Spear Jr. High and Central Public School! The kids were wonderful! Thank you so much for allowing me to speak at your schools!
	March 24 Today was orientation! I can't believe the year has gone by so fast! I had a wonderful time! I gave a powerpoint presentation to all the contestants, and I was able to show an amazing video about the Missouri Children's Miracle Network Champion, Danielle. I even modeled some production clothing that we will be wearing this summer during the pageant! Orientation was from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the day just flew by! I guess time flies when you are having fun!
	March 23 I gave my "Right Decisions, Right Now" Presentation to St. Brendan's Catholic School. I spoke to the students in 5th - 8th grade. Then during lunch I visited all the younger students. The kindergarten class even wanted me to sing for them. But I was lucky enough to get a song in return called "Welcome to our Class"!
	March 20 Today I spent the day at Washington High School! I gave my presentation on Right Decisions, Right Now. The students were great! Here I am pictured with the Student Body President, Ben. At the end of the day I spoke to the journalism classes about majoring in Broadcast Journalism at Mizzou! I had a wonderful time!
	March 16 On Friday, Lane Teeters (Miss Springfield) and I spent the day with the Children’s Miracle Network Missouri Champion, Danielle Roeder. When Danielle was born, her parents thought she was a normal, healthy baby. She was 6 months old when she started to lose all muscle control. She had no control over her arms, legs, or head and when she was old enough to speak, she spoke in a very quiet, strained whisper. The doctors had no idea what was wrong with her and for 6 years, she was misdiagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy. She was completely wheelchair bound and dependent on her parents for everything! During the summer of 2005, with help from Children’s Miracle Network, Danielle and her family traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Three days after they were back home, the doctor called and told them that Danielle has L-Dopa Responsive Dystonia, which is like a childhood form of Parkinson’s, and it is treatable! Danielle has been receiving treatment for two years now. When she’s not too busy talking or singing, she is sitting on her own, getting around the house on her own, and feeding herself! With hip surgery this summer, Danielle hopes to do the one thing she cannot yet do…walk. With your support of Children’s Miracle Network, miracles can and do happen!
	March 14 On Wednesday, Jefferson City High School hosted a health fair for the entire student body. I had the pleasure of setting up my own booth, promoting my platform "Health & Fitness for Life" and the Miss America Organization. I am very appreciative of coach Andreà, who invited me! I was even invited to the prom by a few of the high school boys! I had a fabulous day!
	March 9-10 I attended the 95th Annual Girl Scouts Celebration, "Make the World a Better Place." I performed with the Missouri Girls! We entertained for about 45 minutes straight! The girl scouts were the best audience we have ever had! They clapped and cheered the entire time we were performing! It was fabulous! After I entertained, I talked to the girls about health and fitness. The girls were K-12, so I was a little nervous about being able to connect with a Kindergartener and a Senior in high school. But they were all very attentive and asked a lot of questions, so I was thrilled all the girl scouts enjoyed my speech! After the celebration ended, I stayed to sign over 600 autographs!
	March 5-8 I am excited to say that I’m official re-enrolled in school at the University of Missouri-Columbia. I’m taking few online courses and independent study classes. I’m so lucky that my professors are working with me so I can still graduate on time! Be sure to check out KOMU next year because I will be reporting for the TV station. I’m also thrilled to let you all know that I landed an internship with NBC in Burbank, CA for this summer!
	March 3 The 20th Annual Missouri Deer Classic took place at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia. I spent the day signing autographs at the Missouri Trappers Association’s booth, and I really enjoyed looking at all the different vendors' booths! I even tried elk jerky for the first time! For more information on this event, visit www.missourideerclassic.com
	March 2 I had a meeting in Mexico, Mo. with the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Director of Development, Dan Fowler. We met Lou to discuss what I would be doing with CMN for the rest of my year. I am pictured with Lou and his grandkids, who were both patients at Children's Hospital as infants. Aren't they both adorable!!! After the meeting, I drove to Columbia for a meeting with The Villager on Broadway. Phil Kimmi and Anne Williams both met me there. The Villager will be giving me a dress to wear at the pageant in June when I give up my crown.
	February 27 I spent the day at Montgomery County Schools. I signed autographs during lunch for the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Then I spoke to all the 8th grade classes about "Right Decisions, Right Now." It was a great day!
	February 23-25 Friday I spoke to Wood Middle School about my “Right Decisions, Right Now” program. Saturday we all celebrated 25 years with Paul & Lelar Corbett! It was an unbelievable weekend, and this was the Corbett’s last year as local directors. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” Paul, Lelar, and Layla have truly left wonderful footprints in my heart. I once read “We make a living by what we GET, but we make a life by what we GIVE!” I have never met such giving people. People that give of their time and are so humble about how much they truly do. I have learned from Paul, Lelar, and Layla that our quality of life is determined by what we can contribute through giving to others. I want to thank these incredible directors, who are part of my family. You will forever hold a very special place in my heart! You are more than just my local directors. You are like family to me. And I will never forget your love, compassion, and support! I am truly blessed that God has brought you all into my life. Thank you for everything!
	February 15 On Tuesday, Feb. 20, while many people celebrate Mardi Gras with beads and parades, area IHOPs will focus on a lesser-known tradition of the day before Lent: National Pancake Day. To help celebrate National Pancake Day in its own way, IHOP restaurants will offer a free short stack of pancakes to guests who come into restaurants Tuesday, Feb. 20 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. During the celebration, guests are invited to make a donation to Children’s Miracle Network. In order to raise awareness of its National Pancake Day efforts, IHOP hosted a “Pancake Pandemonium Party” at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City today. I had the privilege of entertaining the children with a story reading of “Curious George Makes Pancakes.” I also did an autograph signing for all the families. An outstanding magician also provided entertainment. Each child took home a National Pancake Day t-shirt and a copy of the book. Please support Children’s Miracle Network and go have some pancakes at your nearest IHOP on Tuesday!
	February 10 The Missouri Military Academy’s annual Valentine Ball took place on Saturday evening. Miss Missouri is a special guest every year. She is presented in the receiving line and helps to crown the Queen later in the evening. Each cadet has a date, and one of the girls is surprised at the end of the night and crowned Queen. I was escorted by Junior Class President, Victor Canaballo, a student from Mexico City. The MMA Class of ’08 presented me with an adorable Valentine Bear and the cutest card! Thank you so much! I had so much fun dancing the night away with you guys!
	January 31 I had the best time being the mistress of ceremonies for the 2007 Mr. Eureka High School Pageant! I hosted the evening pageant as 20 young men vied for the prestigious title – competing in club wear, “talent,” karaoke, formal wear, and a top 6 final question. Let me tell you, these guys put on the funniest performances I have ever seen! I loved it! Mr. EHS is an annual pageant that is sponsored by the Student Council for the purpose of raising money for charity. This year’s recipient will be “World Vision.” This charity helps needy children here in the United States as well as other countries. For more information, visit www.worldvisions.org
January 19-30 As a little girl, I dreamed about competing in the Miss America Pageant, as I am sure many little girls do! Well, I feel blessed to say that it was my privilege to “live that dream” in January of 2007 and it was the experience of a lifetime! Fifty-two impressive young women, representing each state, Washington D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands, arrived in Las Vegas on January 19th. That was the beginning of an unforgettable two weeks. We spent the first week rehearsing for the pageant, making appearances and developing friendships that will last a lifetime. Some of my favorite memories include attending a private screening of “Dreamgirls” at the Palms, being part of an unbelievable fashion show attended by over one thousand fans, enjoying a relaxing evening on the Venetian Gondola rides, dancing the night away at the Planet Hollywood party, and attending the Children’s Miracle Network dinner. On January 25, 2007, it was officially announced that the Miss America Organization had teamed up with the Children's Miracle Network to create, not only an official national platform, but official state and local platforms as well. I was honored to be a part of this very special moment in history! I also had the opportunity to spend some time with Tammy Haddad, who is on the Miss America Board of Directors, and works for the Chris Matthews’ Hardball show. We talked for a while at the Children’s Miracle Network dinner about the possibility of me joining MSNBC for an internship. That was the highlight of my trip! Becoming a national news anchor is my lifetime goal so I view the Miss America pageant as a stepping-stone for turning dreams into reality! The majority of our time in Las Vegas focused on rehearsing and preparing for the three nights of preliminary competition and the final night, which televised nationally on Country Music Television. Let me tell you, just being on the Miss America stage for a rehearsal is thrilling! Before we competed in the preliminary competitions, each of the contestants participated in an intense “one-on-one” interview with all the judges! Let me say, after going through an interview with Chris Matthews, any job interview in broadcasting should be a breeze. On the first night of competition, I competed in swimsuit and evening gown. Tony Bowls, one of our Miss Missouri sponsors through Clark’s Bridal, designed my dress. It was to die for! I loved it! The second night, I performed my talent, “I’ve Got the World on a String,” a song originally performed by Frank Sinatra. I performed the Celine Dion version, which was very fitting for the Las Vegas atmosphere. This song would not have been what it was without the assistance of Bill Wolfe who arranged for the Houston Symphony to record my soundtrack. I actually sounded like I was performing in front of a live big band! Jim Dye provided Bill with the original Celine Dion soundtrack after hearing her perform her version in Las Vegas last year. The third night I did my on-stage question. Again, the feeling of being on the Miss America stage is something I will never forget! When we walked onto the stage for the last time, every contestant could feel the energy of the crowd and the immensity of the event. The next Miss America was going to be named and it would be one of us! The two-hour show raced by and before we knew it, the woman we knew as Miss Oklahoma was now Miss America 2007. After the pageant, I went through all my photos and discovered most of them were with Lauren! I know she wasn’t expecting this title because Miss Oklahoma won last year! However, I know she will be a fabulous Miss America, and I am so glad to say that she is one of my good friends! I will always look back at the Miss America experience fondly. It was fun, challenging, exhausting, inspiring, and unforgettable. Even though I did not achieve my goal of making the Top 10, I feel that it was an honor to be a Miss America contestant. Even more, I am proud to say that I had the honor of representing Missouri. During the pageant, it was announced that I had received the Miss America’s Best Smile Award! This was so special to me because it was the only award AMERICA actually voted on! So, thank you to all the fans! Another highlight for me was the Miss America Silent Auction. Each contestant created a decorative mask to be auctioned. Profits from the masks were split between the Miss America Organization and NAMASP. I am proud to say that the mask I decorated went for the highest bid out of all the states! I cannot possibly thank all my supporters enough! I hope I have reached everyone with a personal “thank you”. If you did not receive a note from me acknowledging your gift, I probably did not receive your package because the zip code on the Miss Missouri website was incorrect. Some people I have talked to said the zip code sent their gift to Washington even though they addressed it to Las Vegas, Nevada! So sorry if this happened to you! My Miss America experience was the thrill of a lifetime. Thank you for all the wonderful cards, flowers, and gifts. Your support meant so much to me. For example, my roommate from the Miss Missouri pageant, Emily Pritchard, sent me a gift to open each day! It was such a generous and thoughtful thing to do! I especially want to thank Mrs. Riggs’ third grade students at Eugene Field Elementary School. Each student made me an individual card. This project was coordinated by Kara Adams who was responsible for mailing me the cards. I anticipate finishing my reign as Miss Missouri with excitement and a flourish as I represent the Children’s Miracle Network as their state spokesperson. Don’t forget the Miss Missouri Pageant this June and stay tuned for more updates! Here is a gallery of Miss America Snapshots
January 18 About two weeks ago my grandfather passed away. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in October. This has been really difficult for my family, but I know I'm going to be stronger because my grandfather will be with me, holding my hand, during the Miss America Pageant. I attached his obituary, an article the newspaper editor wrote, and the speech I gave at the funeral. Please keep my family in your prayers. You all have been such a wonderful support system for me! I don't know what I would do without you! News Article Sarah's comments from the funeral
	January 7 Today I had a wonderful send-off party/wardrobe showing for the Miss America Pageant! Thanks to Deb Haag & Anne Williams for organizing the event, Rita Jackson & Kim Brinegar for helping me dress, Phil Kimmi for serving as emcee, Bill Wolfe for doing the sound and entertaining on the piano, and the Missouri Girls for providing a wonderful entertainment show. Also, thank you to Linda Huffman, Silpada Jewelry representative, and to Bruce Oliver for making this fabulous event a reality! Most of all, I owe thanks to YOU – my family, friends, and supporters! Each of you has a very special place in my heart, and I want you all to know how much I appreciate the fact that you took time out of your day to support me in viewing my Miss America Wardrobe! I know some of you even drove hours to get here! It means so much that I have such a wonderful support system! This years Miss America attendance will be the largest group Missouri has ever had! The Mexico Ledger was there to do an article. The Columbia Missourian was also there to do a story. I attached the article that was published: click here
	January 3 I traveled to Tulsa, OK to meet with Troy, who will be doing my hair for the Miss America Pageant! Phil Kimmi set this up for me! I am so glad I will have someone there to take care of my hair when I am stressing!
	January 1 Happy New Year!!! I had a wonderful New Year's Eve with friends in Kansas City, but it was back to work the next day!