On the road again...

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." –Ralph Waldo Emerson

As Miss Pennsylvania, I spend a great deal of my time on the road. As long as some drives may be, it provides ample time for me to reflect and think about whatever is on my mind. The other day I glanced down at the odometer and noticed that I had just hit the 100,000 mile mark on the Miss PA car, and it got me thinking about what that humble little car represents. Contrary to popular belief—or just elementary students—I am not escorted in a limo nor do I touch down at my appearance in my own personal jet. My means of travel may not be that appealing on the outside, but what it represents is something so much greater than a shiny paint job or fancy wheels. I am the fourth Miss Pennsylvania to drive that car and each and every mile that we have put on it has been dedicated to service. Collectively we have reached the achievement of traveling 100,000 miles across the commonwealth to high schools, parades, fundraisers, and even children’s hospitals devoting our time as Miss Pennsylvania to improve the lives of others. To think that I have been able to contribute and share this with my role models is staggering. Its monetary value is nothing compared to what that car represents. If steering wheels could talk I bet we would have a pretty neat conversation. J

When I signed off the last time I had just made it home from Williamsport. Since then I have been to all corners of the state spreading my message. On October 21st & 22^nd I reached over 1,500 students at three different schools, speaking about my platform. Each time I speak to a group of students I have the potential to save at least one person from making a destructive decision. Some of these schools even had groups that were formed to address bullying in their schools. It is so inspiring to see teenagers step up and take the initiative to join such a group and choose to be role models for their peers. I wish every school across the state had an anti-bullying program!!

On October 23^rd, I attended a fitness expo at the Indiana YMCA. Here, I signed autographs and interacted with the attendees of the event. My table just happened to be right next to that of the “Power Team”, which is a group of power lifters that travel the world to perform fitness routines and give inspirational lectures. One lady brought a Pennsylvania license plate, had me sign it, and then gave it to one of the power lifters to RIP IN HALF!!! Needless to say, these guys were very muscular! I also had the unique opportunity to compete in some games like those on “Minute to Win It!” If you are not familiar with this game show, you are given household objects and a challenge that you must complete in one minute. I had a stack of red cups with a green one on the bottom. I had to remove a cup from the top, one-by-one, and place it on the bottom until the green cup was at the very top. I was the only one to complete it in a minute without dropping the cups! I was very excited!!! Some of the children that attended the event recruited me to play some games with them that they do during their gym class. Let’s just say I’m glad I wore my flats that day. J

October 29^th was truly, an amazing day. This is one appearance I will never forget. The DuBois Middle School asked me to speak about my platform as part of their Red Ribbon Week. The magical day began as soon as I stepped up onto the sidewalk in front of the school. The group “Step Up”, which is a group of 8^th grade students that do anti-bullying campaigns as well as provide substance abuse awareness at their school, met me at the front doors with signs and banners that said, “Welcome to Dubois Middle School, Miss Pennsylvania!” I felt so special and welcomed by these students. They were so excited to have me there. That morning I gave three presentations to the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades. After lunch, there was an assembly in the gymnasium where the students pledged to be drug free. Not only was that a memorable moment, but one student let it slip that my birthday was the next day and the ENTIRE SCHOOL sang happy birthday to me and presented me with a bouquet of flowers! And it doesn’t end there! Following the assembly, all 1,500 students encircled the building and joined hands to validate their pledges to be drug free. We even made the local news!! I really wish I could accurately describe the emotions that I felt that day. It was so inspirational. What amazing kids…

The next day was my actual birthday. I woke up and headed over to Hamburg, PA for their annual King Frost Parade. As soon as I arrived, a band approached me and started playing “Happy Birthday”. Now, at this point I’m thinking that a certain Miss Pennsylvania Business Manager—Mary Meister—told the parade coordinator that it was my birthday. When I met with my driver at the convertible the signs on the side of the car even said “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”. Then I had the town of Hamburg singing to me, too! Following the parade, the parade coordinator presented me with the most beautiful cake. It truly was the best birthday ever!

On Novmber 4^th, I attended a booster club meeting in Phillipsburg, NJ, which is right across the Pennsylvania border. I spoke about my platform as well as my love for sports. I also had the exciting opportunity to attend the event with former Miss Pennsylvania, Judy Guinosso! The next night I attended the Easton High School football game—which happens to be Phillipsburg’s biggest rival—to take part in the ceremonial coin toss at the beginning of the game. Word did get to Easton that I was in Phillipsburg, but fortunately they weren’t too upset with me. J

I have really been keeping busy, especially with adding Miss America prep into the mix. Jeremy Hoy at Finish First Sports Performance has really been keeping me motivated and pushing my endurance with his incredible workout routines. I am also able to keep up with my current events while I’m on the road with my “News Radio” iPhone App! My Dale Carnegie course that I have every Wednesday has also been very helpful in my preparations. I highly recommend it!

Two months from today I will be debuting my new “techno twist” on the Miss America stage in Las Vegas, Nevada! I can’t believe it’s so soon! As I mentioned in my last entry, if you are interested in attending my send-off party on December 5^th at 2p.m. in Brookville, PA at the Pinecrest Country Club (an invitation will be sent out and posted shortly), please email me for R.S.V.P. information at: MissPennsylvania2010@yahoo.com. There will also be a Chinese Auction taking place, and if you or someone you know would like to donate a gift basket or an item to the auction, I would sincerely appreciate it.

I want to close by thanking you all for your support. The cards, notes, and emails I have received are so uplifting. The Miss Pennsylvania Class of 2011 is quickly coming together and I am so happy for all of the newly crowned contestants! This weekend I am finally able to attend my first local of the season—Miss Allegheny Valley/Miss Armstrong County. I want to wish all of the girls competing the BEST of luck, and I cannot wait to see you all. J

As always, thank you for following along!

With Love,

XOXO

Courtney Elizabeth Thomas

Miss Pennsylvania 2010

The (2nd) Most Wonderful Time of Year!

Yesterday marked month four of my Miss Pennsylvania reign. It is incomprehensible to think about how much I have grown in these last few months. One of my first appearances as Miss Pennsylvania was a radio interview in my hometown, and I could not even begin to tell you how NERVOUS I was. I wanted to make sure that I covered all of the important points that I had outlined prior to the interview and that I was concise and succinct when I answered each question. I sure have come a long way since then. Just a few days ago I stood in front of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Senate and spoke to them from my heart and after I stepped down from the microphone I couldn't help but think about just how far I really have come.

You really have to grow into the job of Miss Pennsylvania. When I was in elementary school, my mom would always buy my shoes a little too big so that I could get more wear out of them before I eventually grew out of them and had to buy a new pair. That is how I feel like it is with Miss Pennsylvania. At first, the shoe was a little loose and not really broken in. I was a bit timid and clumsy, because I wasn’t always sure what to expect. But now, the shoe fits, and I am running in strides fulfilling the duties of Miss Pennsylvania. I love this job, and as busy as I may be at times I am reaching more people than I ever thought I would.

Picking up from where I left off after my previous blog entry, I mentioned I would be a part of the 250^th anniversary of Palmyra parade. I rode in a brand new, blue corvette. Two other titleholders—Becky Zaneski, Miss Midstate’s Outstanding Teen and Miss Central Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, Katie Schreckengast—were also part of the parade! It was so nice to see a small town come together and put on such a nice parade to celebrate their 250th anniversary.

A few days later I visited the Brockway School District and gave a presentation to their high school, grades 7 through 12. The Brockway School District has an Anti-Bullying Committee, which encourages other students to sign pledges that they will not bully. I was so inspired that I took as much information as I could in hopes to start another program like this in other schools that I visit in Pennsylvania! These types of appearances are my favorite, because when competing for the title of Miss Pennsylvania I spoke so much about how I wanted to share the message of my platform with the youth across the commonwealth, and I am thrilled that I have been able to follow through with that. I have been so very fortunate because I have already had so many schools invite me to speak with their students and there are even more scheduled for the upcoming months! It was lovely coming back to the Brockway High School Auditorium, because that was where my very first Miss Pennsylvania local was held!

The following day kicked off week one of my Dale Carnegie course. It will be every Wednesday evening until Thanksgiving, and already going into week 4, I have learned so much!

October is my favorite month of the year for many reasons—the colors of the leaves are at their prime, the air seems so fresh and crisp, Halloween activities are always going on, pumpkin carving, and oh yeah…my birthday is October 30^th! The appearance that kicked-off the month of October was perfect for the season—the Clarion Autumn Leaf Festival Parade. That morning I was joined by Miss Clarion River Valley, Amber Alsop. We had so much fun! Too much fun really, because we were supposed to be signing autographs but we just couldn't stop talking and catching up with each other! Zach Covington and Laura King—The Miss Clarion River Valley local directors—were my hosts for the event and drove me through the parade. Being that Clarion is not far from my hometown, I saw many familiar faces!

The next day was the Pennsylvania State Fiddle Contest. I have been unable to attend/compete in this contest for the last few years because I always had something going on at school and could never make it home. S&T Bank sponsored me to be there and I could not have been more excited. My mom and dad host the event every year and put on the Fiddle Contest. I was even asked to be a “celebrity judge”! Wow, was that hard! There were so many talented fiddlers, which made that job very challenging! I have played the violin since I was four, and for the last decade I can only remember a handful of times when I was actually nervous before playing my violin somewhere. THIS was one of those times….at a fiddle contest…among my toughest critics. Fortunately I managed to hit every note and perform without tripping over a cord and falling flat on my face! J

That evening, I was off to Philadelphia so that I could speak at the Philip Lauer Middle School in Wilson Boro, PA the following day. This time I spoke to grades 5 through 8. These kids never cease to amaze me with their intelligent questions and inspiring stories.

On October 5th I was on the road to Harrisburg. The representative from my area, Sam Smith, invited me to speak and perform for the House of Representatives. This was a remarkable day and I gave a whole new meaning to "bringing down the House!" Following my presentation I was given a tour of the Capitol and even met the Governor!

A few days later I was back in Harrisburg for an appearance in Camp Hill at the West Shore Chamber of Commerce Expo. Mountz Jewelers sponsored me for the event and provided me with the Pennsylvania Jeweler’s Crown to wear while I was there—WOW! This crown was so beautiful, and has been worn by several past Miss Pennsylvanias. It is made of Gold, Amethyst, and Diamonds. I was so honored that they let me wear it for their event! Linda, Terry, and everyone else from Mountz were so friendly and kind to me. I had such a great time there!

A short time after that, I was back in Harrisburg at the Capitol to speak with the Senate! Even though it was only a few short minutes, just having the opportunity to speak about the organization and my platform to the leaders of our state was such an honor.

This past Saturday I was a part of The Great Pumpkin Parade in Mohnton, PA. It was the most exciting parade I have ever been a part of. It was an evening parade and all of the kids that lined the streets were dressed in their Halloween costumes. I really had to be conservative with my candy-throwing because there were SO many people there!

My most recent appearance was yesterday in Williamsport. I attended another Senior Health & Lifestyle Expo and signed autographs for the attendees of the event. I couldn’t believe how many people told me they attended the event just to get my autograph! What an inspiration!!

I also want to mention that the date, place, and time have been set for my send-off party to the 2011 Miss America pageant! It will be held on December 5^th, at 2 p.m. at the Pincrest Country Club in Brookville. It will be $7/person and lunch will be provided and will promptly be served at 2 o’ clock. Everyone is invited, but you must R.S.V.P. by December 1^st so that we have a number to prepare food for. A detailed invitation will be posted and sent out in the near future.

As always, thank you for following along! There are several upcoming local pageants and I hope to make it to as many as I can! Good luck to all of the girls competing!!

With love,

Xoxo

Courtney Thomas

Miss Pennsylvania 2010

My party still hasn't stopped :)

Hello everyone!

The last couple of weeks have been VERY busy! Since my last blog update, I have had such a variety of events that I attended and they all kicked off in Phillipsburg, NJ. I had the honor of crossing state lines and speaking at the Lopatcong Township Middle School. I gave SEVEN presentations on my platform and spoke to grades 4-7. We talked about peer pressure, bullying, and having a positive body image. From the questions that they were asking me, there is no doubt that children and teens in this day and age are growing up much faster than my generation and those preceding me. I was thrilled to be able to give so many presentations that day, and reached over 800 kids. I can only hope that those that I spoke to will take my message and apply it to their daily lives.

My next event was the Cookport Fair in Green Township. My parent's band--Diamonds in the Rough--has played there for the past 15 years, so I saw many familiar faces! When I first arrived, a gentlemen came over and said, "Miss Pennsylvania, your carriage awaits." He wasn't kidding! It really was waiting for me--my mom and I were about 15 minutes late due to construction. It was so beautiful and the horse was what they called a Miniature Work Horse. I was escorted around the fair where I had the opportunity to say hello to the fair attendees and invite them to the stage to watch me perform!

I had planned on using my two CDs as background music for my performance, but unfortunately--due to technical difficulties--I was not able to use the CDs. Because I have such a musically inclined family we just happened to have a guitar in the back of the car and my mom ended up accompanying me on my two songs! There are always bumps in the road, but everything always manages to work itself out for the better! I played one of my favorite fiddle tunes, "Ragtime Annie" and the non-techno version of "The Orange Blossom Special". I also spoke to the audience about the Miss Pennsylvania & Miss America Scholarship Organization as well as my platform!

The next day I was off to Lebanon, PA for the Annual Pennsylvania Trappers Association Banquet. I attended this event with our Outstanding Teen, Jocelyn and her mother. I love Jocelyn so much, and every event that I attend with her is always a lot of fun! The event was really nice, the food was delicious, and Jocelyn and I shared our experiences as state titleholders with the audience. Despite my hatred for cold weather, I cannot wait until the first winter parade when I can finally wear my beautiful fur that they gave to me upon winning Miss Pennsylvania!

The next evening I was off to Scranton, PA for the National Association of Abandoned Land Mines event. Now, to be quite honest, I had no idea what this event was about when I asked to be in attendance. I did some research and WOW, what a remarkable organization this is! The NAALMP reclaims land and water resources that have adversely been affected by past coal mining and that have also been abandoned or inadequately restored. I learned quite a bit about land mine reclamation and the dangers that abandoned land mines can have on communities. At the event, I signed autographs and mingled with the attendees during their meet and greet. I met the mayor of Scranton and was even serenaded by Van Wagner and The Breaker Boys!

I would be remiss if I did not mention that my wonderful chaperone for the evening was Mrs. Doyle! You could tell that she was an experienced and seasoned chaperone! (I wonder why J) It was nice to finally have the opportunity to catch up with her and I was so grateful that she was able to attend!

On Tuesday I was at the Senior Health & Lifestyle Expo in Lewisburg, PA. They had all kinds of vendors set up that in some way benefit the health and fitness of senior citizens. I met a lot of Miss America fans who watch the pageant every year!

I don't know what it is with being serenaded lately, but no sooner did I get settled into my booth a quartet came over and sang to me! It was so beautiful. I had such a nice time there! I signed many autographs and was the one that drew all of the tickets for the door prizes and cash giveaways! There are several of these expos that go on during the year. I will also be attending one next month and several in the Spring as well.

To wrap up this stint of appearances I scheduled my first session with Jeremy Hoy at Finish First gym. I really had NO idea the pain I was about to inflict on myself upon making this appointment. Before the first session started I told him I would be back the next day as well. That was my second mistake.... My thighs, hamstrings, and abs have never hurt so bad in my life. I had dinner with Chet, his brother & wife, Bob, and Mark last night and I could barely get up the stairs to go into the restaurant! Embarrassing, I know. However, despite the difficulty and pain from the workout, Jeremy will DEFINITELY be getting me into shape for the swimsuit competition at Miss America!! I will be seeing him for a workout every Wednesday to make sure that I am staying on track with my diet and my own workouts.

This weekend I will be in the 250th Anniversary Palmyra parade! I have several appearances coming up next week as well. Check out the Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization Fan Page on Facebook for more updates on upcoming events! Also as the pageant season gets underway, if you are interested in competing, check out www.MissPA.org for pageant dates and deadlines!

As always, thank you for following along J

With love-xoxo,

Courtney Thomas, Miss Pennsylvania 2010

A Weekend of Heroes - September 10-11, 2010

“I come here today not just as First Lady, on behalf of my husband and a grateful nation. I come as an American, filled with a sense of awe at the heroism of my fellow citizens. I come as a wife, a daughter, and a sister, heartbroken at the loss so many of you have endured. And I come as a mother, thinking about what my daughters, and what all of our sons and daughters, can learn from the 40 men and women whose memories we honor today.” –Michelle Obama, Septmber 11, 2010

September 11^th will forever be remembered for the heroes that lost their lives at the World Trade Center in New York City, The Pentagon in Washington D.C., and Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

This past weekend was about heroes, and I had the opportunity to meet some myself—both big and small. Friday night was the Brookville Volunteer Fire Department’s 101^st Anniversary Celebration. As soon as I got there, one of the volunteers ran out from behind his milkshake booth—camera in hand—and darted over to greet me with a hug. He was so excited that he could barely get the words out to ask me for a picture. I could not believe how thrilled he was to finally meet a Miss Pennsylvania! It was such a special moment, and the rest of the night was no different.

One of the perks of being Miss Pennsylvania is the plethora of free food that you get when you go to events—especially fairs and festivals. The vendors feel that if people see MISS PENNSYLVANIA eating their pizza, french fries, cotton candy, etc. then the general public will want to go to that particular vendor for the food. In other words, they want me to be a walking advertisement. Which is great and all, because there is no doubt that I LOVE to eat, but the cotton candy that I was given is not exactly in the “swimsuit-friendly” category. I believe I had—no joke—the world’s largest cotton candy ball that evening. But my goodness was it D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!

Later that night, I performed a couple of fiddle tunes on the grandstand and had the extraordinary opportunity to play a song with Pork McElhinny—a hometown country music star. We played “Let the Circle Be Unbroken” and during the song Pork turned to me and said, “Hit it, Courtney!” and I broke down on my fiddle and had my very own solo!!

The volunteer firefighters at the event were so kind and friendly. I spent the evening with them listening to their stories and experiences about firefighting and was so happy that I could spend the September 11^th weekend at such a remarkable event!

The next morning I drove from my hometown in Sigel to Philadelphia to be a part of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia CMN Radiothon. This will go down as the most fun, emotional, and humbling appearance of my entire year. The children at that hospital are truly heroes. It was such a perfect, Fall Saturday and these kids were fixed to their beds and wheelchairs—unable to enjoy the weather outside. I shared the day with Andrea Helfrich, Miss Philadelphia 2010, and we both left the event feeling so touched by all of the children we met. Their positive attitudes made me realize how much I take for granted and how often I should count my blessings. Vikram, Brandon, Alexander, Sarah, and Delaney were a few of the children that I met that day and they are all heroes—heroes that I look up to for their strength and determination.

I really hope that I have another opportunity to revisit CHOP to see them all again. I will never understand why these children were chosen to have to go through life with such painful diseases, but we can certainly be taught a lesson from their strength of mind and fortitude.

I hope that you all have an excellent start to the Fall season! Thank you so much for following along and don’t forget to “Like” the new Miss Pennsylvania Scholarship Organization fan page on Facebook!

Until next time…

With Love,

Courtney Thomas

Miss Pennsylvania 2010