Miss Michigan's Blog - News from Katie

Hello Family and Pals:

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind but all has been going wonderfully. I just wanted to let you know that the first blog has been posted and I will be doing my best to keep up on it. You can read the blog at www.katielynnlaroche.blogspot.com. I have also listed any and all info that you could possibly need below. PLEASE pass along that I am ready and willing to present to groups on the issue of human trafficking and that appearances can be booked through www.missmichigan.org. FYI: They ask for a fee BUT if it is a non-profit or school and there are no funds available we should be able to work something out.

That is all for now. For more snazzy details and fun you can check out the blog.

Lots of Love.

Katie

Miss Michigan Webpage: www.missmichigan.org

One World One Future Webpage: www.oneworldonefuture.org

Blog: www.katielynnlaroche.blogspot.com

Twitter: K_LaRoche

My new address:

3950 Lake Point Drive

Muskegon, MI 49441

Upcoming Dates:

August 8^th: I am told that I will be having a homecoming party in Bay City on that date. The location is TBA.

October 17^th: I will be running in the Chicago Marathon and invite anyone who is up for a challenge to join on in. Let me know if you are interested ;0)

October 24^th: Human Trafficking Awareness Gala in East Lansing – More info will be posted at www.oneworldonefuture.org We are looking to raise many thousands of dollars at this one event in effort to fund several shelters for women who have been victims of trafficking.

January 11-15th: Miss America in Las Vegas– Several people have been asking about ticket information. I will be sending out the info on the hotels that are sponsors as well as information on purchasing tickets as soon as I get the details (This will probably be in August)

--
Katie Lynn LaRoche
Miss Michigan 2010

Wow!

What a night! Kaley was Top Ten, Katie LaRoche was Top Ten, Morgan Lind was Top Ten, Angela Venditti was Top Ten and Angelica Francisco was Top Ten. Each Top Ten contestant received a $1,000 scholarship.

Kaley also won the Excellence in Interview award, along with a $250 scholarship.

Angelica was Top Five! Katie LaRoche was Top Five!

Angelica was Fourth Runner Up! She received a $2,000 scholarship.

Katie was crowned Miss Michigan! She received a $10,000 scholarship.

I am so glad that I was able to be there! We had a wonderful time seeing Miss Heart family and watching a terrific program.

I am so proud of the Miss Heart ladies. Five former Miss Heart contestants were Top Ten. Two were Top Five! One won! It cannot get any better than that!

Best of luck to Katie as she tours Michigan this year and prepares for Miss America in January. I would love to see Katie wear a Miss America crown.

I look forward to seeing all of the the other Heart ladies back at Leelanau Sands in February (unless they are crowned at another local or open before then!). If they wear another crown, they can visit Miss Heart and cheer for their Miss Heart friends!

More Congrats for Katie!

Katie LaRoche did it again! She won evening gown and swimsuit at last night's competition.

Michael said that Kaley's talent was wonderful and she was just as beautiful as always.

The other Miss Heart ladies lived up to the Miss Heart standard of excellence. I am so proud of them.

I am on my way to Muskegon tomorrow. Last year, I had to stay home and listen to Michael two way me with the results. This year, I am not missing the event!

I will post my comments on Monday when I return.

Miss Heart ladies rock!

Congrats to Katie!

Congratulations to Katie LaRoche (Miss Heart 2009) for winning the talent award in Miss Michigan prelims last night! Katie received a $500 scholarship!

Miss Heart ladies rock!

Kaley's Miss Michigan Adventures - Tuesday

We have interview today. Being contestant #22, I do not have my interview until this afternoon. Interview is scheduled for 2:12 PM. The judges seem as though they are a very eclectic group this year and will bring something different to the panel. I will write more after interview...

Finished up with interview and I feel as though it went very well. I walked feeling comfortable and as though the judges are well informed on where I am in life and what I stand for as a woman. I must admit that normally I would prepare a closing. For those of you who do not know, the Miss America Organization interviews are 10 minutes long and you are allowed to end with a 30 second closing. This is the time that some women chose to pitch the job, tell a brief story, etc.

This year, I really struggled with what I was going to say. I decided to sleep on it the night before and whatever came to my heart was what I was going to say. So I ended with a life lesson that has served me well and is sure to serve off those who read it or hear it well. "We find ourselves when we lose ourselves in the service of others."

I can promise you this; I will continue striving to serve whether or not I do that with a crown on my head or wearing an old pair of scrubs.

Signing off from the heart-

Kaley

From Loretta - Kaley will always wear a crown, whether it is for Miss Heart, Miss Michigan or in service to her patients. I think crowns and old scrubs could make a fashion statement!

Michael is on his way to Muskegon to spend the rest of the week with Kaley and the ladies. I will join him on Saturday for the Miss Michigan pageant.

Tonight is the first night of preliminaries. Kaley will shine!!!

Kaley's Miss Michigan Adventures - Monday

Monday:

So today was filled with rehearsal, rehearsal and rehearsal... and a lunch at the Exchange Club. I write this blog from my hotel room as we have an hour or so of down time before we head off to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.

The Exchange Club event was great and the keynote speaker/representative gave such a heart warming speech about the importance of service and philanthropy that it literally brought tears to my eyes.

I had the pleasure of sitting at a table with Dick and Donna, a couple who have been married for 56 years! I asked them what the secret was to a successful marriage and Dick said "well in my day we did not have trial runs!" Ha ha! Good advice. They also told me about how their granddaughter has competed in the program and at Miss Michigan and now is trying to make it on Broadway. After just a couple of days here, I am reminded of what great women come to the Miss Michigan stage and I am just proud to be among them.

I will do my best to keep updating!

Signing off from the Heart-

Kaley

Kaley's Miss Michigan Adventures - Saturday events

And we’re off!

Just arrived in Muskegon today! The day began with wardrobe check-in at the theatre, individual photos/head shots, and an orientation regarding the week.

What a crazy time in life! I literally finished up my final internship yesterday at 5:00 PM and arrived at Miss Michigan this morning at 10:00 AM. Tomorrow we start off with a full day of rehearsal and talent productions. I will do my best to update the blog and keep you informed on all the happenings.

Signing off from the heart-

Kaley :)

From Cleats to Crowns - Kaley's Story

The Miss America pageant is an organization that focuses on the four points of the crown that comprise the substance of the program: Style, Scholarship, Success and Service. However, not a day goes by that the representatives of this organization need to explain that it is not in fact a beauty pageant. Although Miss America does not focus on outer beauty, it still is rich in tradition and consists of glitter, glamour and crowns.

Had you met me when I was young, you would have seen a tomboy covered in mud and grass stains and playing in the barn. I grew up in the country with my horses, barn cats, dogs and neighbor’s cows. I spent my days fishing, hiking, playing sports and enjoying all that the outdoors had to offer. In fact, my favorite past time is America’s favorite pastime; baseball. I grew up watching my dad play ball since I was a baby. Summer meant days and nights at the ball field. I grew to love the sport and started playing at a young age.

Fast forward to my high school days and I was training to achieve college offers to play. It was my senior year that it was all coming true.

In 2005, we had an amazing group of women who were State Championship bound. I had earned the position of Captain and all my hard work was paying off. It was this year that my softball coach informed me that she had signed me up to run for our local Harvest Festival Queen. I could not believe she had entered me! She told me that she thought I would do well and they were trying to get as many girls as possible.

On a warm Saturday evening, I found myself at the local band shell in a gown and heels, running for Harvest Festival Queen. 18 local girls graced the stage, answered on stage questions and had a formal interview earlier that day. Wouldn’t you know it! I won! Throughout that year, I had the opportunity to serve my community, attend local events and grow as a young woman. I found that I loved the experience and didn’t mind rotating the softball cleats for the queen crown.

As my year progressed, the committee of the Harvest Festival Queen said I should run for National Cherry Queen. And so it began. I started to apply myself in a new capacity outside of the softball field. Friends of mine smile and smirk when they see me in a sequin gown because they remember me best in a softball uniform with grass and dirt stains. I feel strongly that I have had such great success through this organization because I have never let go of who I really am, and that’s a country girl playing in the haystacks. What I love most about this organization is the ability to bring together such a wide variety of women and all who find success learning to embrace who they really are.

Signing off from the heart

Kaley