Hello Everyone! :)

Hello, Friends!

I'm not too sure how blogging works exactly, so you will have to bear with me for this first post! For those reading this who I have not personally met, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lydia Fisher, and I was crowned Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen about 3 weeks ago. I am so excited to represent service, scholarship, style, and success (the pillars of the Miss America Organization) on behalf of the amazing Muscatine community! A little background information about me. I am 14 years old and I am from Wapello, Iowa, just 25 miles south of Muscatine. I actually have strong personal connections to Muscatine, as I have two aunts that live there, and my mom has been an employee of Bandag Inc. for over 30 years. It is so great that I can represent and serve a community that is so close to home for me!

I am in the 8th grade at Wapello Junior High. I have an older sister, Lorin, who is in her third year of pharmacy school at the University of Iowa. Even though we are 8 years apart and look NOTHING alike, we are so close and share many of the same interests. I have competed in pageants through the Miss America Organization since I have been 6 years old, and I held the titles of Li'l Miss Iowa 2010 and Junior Miss Iowa 2014. Now that I am in the Outstanding Teen division, it has been a big leap from the Miss Iowa Youth Program, but so far my pageant journey as a Teen has gone great! :) Outside of pageants I am also a competitive dancer. I take ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical classes, but tap is probably my favorite form of dance. I also play club volleyball and softball, and I am on my school's volleyball, basketball, track, and softball teams. I also enjoy being a leader in my junior high's student senate. I am definitely a busy person!!

Since I was crowned 3 weeks ago, I have been super busy with all of my extracurricular activities, and I'm already starting to prepare for the Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen Competition, which will be the last Saturday in June. I am particularly working on further developing my platform, "Educating the Voters of Tomorrow". I became really involved in following the presidential election of 2016 from the angles of both political parties. I asked my family lots of questions about how the election process worked, and I really learned a lot. I tried to have discussions with some of my classmates about current events surrounding the election, but I quickly learned that many peers lacked basic knowledge/understanding of politics and the mechanics of American government. Unfortunately, at my school, government isn't taught until the senior year, and I feel that waiting to learn about it then will not allow us to have a strong background and enthusiasm for politics when we become old enough to vote. I also feel that I do not know too much about how government works at the state level, so I really wanted to have the opportunity to learn more about it.

There are two alumni from Wapello that were elected into the Iowa legislature for this session, Representatives David Kerr and Gary Carlson. Gary Carlson is actually the Iowa House Representative for the Muscatine community. I personally reached out to them, congratulating them on their wins, and invited them to come visit my school to educate students about their roles as state legislators. We are currently working out times for them to come visit, so I think this will be a great learning opportunity!

I am also working on a research project with my social studies teacher to learn the baseline knowledge of Wapello students in regards to American government and politics. I created a survey and gave it to my peers. I am currently in the process of organizing my results. I hope to present this information to my school board and advocate to introduce government and politics education earlier in our school's curriculum. I also would like to reach out to other schools in my area and possibly present my data to the Area Education Agency. It has been a lot of work so far, but I think I my results may be able to make a big difference!

I'm also in the works for preparing for the other phases of competition as well. Soon I will be starting a new dance solo for competition. Hopefully I will have a successful competition season.

Wow, it's past my bedtime! If you have any questions for me, don't hesitate to shoot me a message on Facebook. Until next time everyone!

~Lydia Fisher, Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen, 2017

So Long Farwell...

Well, where do I begin? What a year it has been for me being your Miss Muscatine’s Outstanding Teen 2016!
I was able to accomplish so much in just one year of being crowned Miss Muscatine’s Outstanding Teen. I met several Presidential candidates, I spoke and volunteered at many Alzheimer’s Association events, I performed my passion--baton twirling, I competed at Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen, I met many new people, and I made memories and friendships to last me a lifetime. But this memorable year would not have been possible without the help of some really amazing people.
First off, I’d like to thank my awesome directors, Ashley Brown and Kindra Plett. To Ashley, thank you for keeping me on track and for always giving me the best inspirational talks! To Kindra, thank you for your amazing hair, makeup and fashion advice! I would still be clueless on how to curl my hair if it weren’t for you! Thank you to Michelle and Jessica for prepping me in every aspect for Miss Iowa week. From paperwork to interview prep, you both always went the extra mile to make sure I was ready. To Ray Porter, even though you are over a thousand miles away in Georgia, you still made it a goal for you to help me overcome my performance anxiety. I can now perform in front of large crowds and not have a panic attack, thank you so much! My amazing sister queens: Kaylee, Jessica, and Julia, this year would not have been the same without you three. I am so blessed to have grown closer to each of you and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of you! Thank you to all the Muscatine Scholarship sponsors, without your generous support, I would not be standing here today! Thank you especially to Le Chic Prom and Pageant Boutique for providing me with my dream dress, Michale Crumly with Mississippi Pearl Photography for my beautiful headshots, Salon Halo for making my hair look fantabulous, and many more!
But most importantly, I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me in everything I do. Mom, thank you for constantly schlepping me all over God’s green acres for appearances and volunteering events. You sacrifice so much to make sure I can chase every dream I can. Thank you for always making sure I look perfect, for making me take lots of pictures, and for always loving me (even though I can be a piece of work sometimes). To Papi, Grandma and Gabi, thank you all for being my biggest cheerleaders. I know I can always count on you guys to make me feel the most confident on and off the stage. I love you all.
    To the next girl who will be crowned Miss Muscatine’s Outstanding Teen, you will have a blast this year! As cheesy as it may sound, your year will go by quickly, so enjoy and soak up every moment you encounter and take advantage of every opportunity presented to you!
Even though my time of being Miss Muscatine’s Outstanding Teen has come to an end, I am so excited for the next adventure I will take on. As they say, dreams don’t work unless you do. I plan to continue working with my platform, Remember Me: Attacking Alzheimer’s Disease. I also hope to embark on another journey and dream within the Miss America Organization. Not only has this excellent organization taught me skills to utilize in everyday life, but it has helped me discover who I am and how I plan to grow as a woman. But for now...

Signing off for the last time,
Your Miss Muscatine Outstanding 2016,
Sophia Aguirre

Busy Bee!

Holy moley! Time sure flies by when you're having fun! Miss Iowa is quickly approaching, and I couldn't be more thrilled! Although there is only just days until finals night, there is still a lot to do!
I was recently honored to receive my volunteer proclamation that was signed by Governor Branstad to recognize the importance of Iowa Volunteer Week! It is such an honor to know that this proclamation was acknowledged, read, and signed by the governor of our great state!

My Volunteer Proclamation for the State of Iowa

I am also super excited to say that I have some great plans for my platform this month! On Tuesday May 10, I will be performing a baton routine at the halftime of the Alzheimer's Association's Blondes VS. Brunettes RivALZ Game! I absolutely enjoy being able to the two things I love so much- baton twirling and fighting Alzheimer's! On May 23, I will be volunteering at the Alzheimer's Association's "Round to Remember" golf outing! I will also be speaking at this event and describing how my life has been affected by a loved one living with Alzheimer's disease.

Last year's "Round to Remember" Golf Outing

I will try to keep you all updated as Miss Iowa approaches. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Sophia Aguirre

Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen 2016

A Learning Experience

Hello, everyone! I have had one busy weekend! I kicked my weekend off by dancing it out at my high school's Mini Dance Marathon! Over $2,000 were raised for the University of Iowa Children's Hospital!

Dance Marathon with the squad

Judging at Special Olympics

Not only did I get a great workout in by dancing for a great cause, but I also had the opportunity to judge at the Mid-Winter Tournament of the Special Olympics! I was able to judge the cheerleading and dance portions of the competition, and I was given the opportunity to hand out awards at the end of the day!

I took many things away from volunteering at the Special Olympics. The first thing that I took away was, nothing is impossible. One of my all-time favorite quotes by Audrey Hepburn states, "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!" As I judged many of these kids and adults at Special Olympics, I saw the drive and determination they had in their hearts. I can guarantee you, anyone who possesses these characteristics can succeed in anything they set their mind to! The second thing I took away from this experience was, be grateful for what you receive. While I was handing out awards, there wasn't a single participant that wasn't overjoyed and grateful by their placement. There was one participant that hugged me and began to cry because she was overwhelmed with so much happiness. There were groups that didn't receive first place, but they were still so excited of what they accomplished. I recall one coach telling her team, "Win or lose, your hard work always pays off!"


Personally, I think that other sports teams should go to watch events at the Special Olympics. So much can be taken away and learned from these kids. For me, it was very humbling to see how grateful each and every participant was! Placement didn't matter to these individuals. The fact that they worked hard was more than enough for them. It makes me realize that it's not always about winning. In fact, it has never been about winning! It has always been about doing your very best and realizing that your best is what truly makes you a winner.

 I can't wait to keep you all updated on the rest of my experiences throughout this year! Thank you!

Sincerely,

Sophia Aguirre

Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen 2016

Work Hard, Play Hard

Hello, everyone! It has been quite some time since I have last blogged! I have had a crazy couple months since I won Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen!

Secretary Madeleine Albright

Governor Martin O'Malley 

To start off my year as Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen, I had the chance to meet with some pretty cool public figures! My first appearance was meeting and talking with the accomplished former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright about Alzheimer's disease! I also had the opportunity to personally meet with Janet Huckabee (wife of Governor Mike Huckabee) to specifically discuss the issue Alzheimer's disease has become in our nation. The last public figure I met was Governor Martin O'Malley! I spoke with him at one of his rallies while he was on the Presidential campaign trail!

The lovely Miss Janet Huckabee!

While I am on the topic of politics, I also went to go view my very first Iowa Caucus! It was super cool to see how we select our delegates and too see the process on how one can win a caucus!

Another appearance I have made this year was modeling some dresses for Le Chic at the Gilda's Runway Benefit! Not only was it extremely fun to strut my stuff in some insanely cute dresses, but all the money raised at this event went to cancer support services.

Modeling for Gilda's and Le Chic!

My very favorite event that I have volunteered at so far this year was being a "Buddy" at the Tim Tebow Foundation's Night to Shine Prom! This annual event is a prom for special needs kids. Getting to dance it out with everyone was a blast! Volunteering at this event also made me realize how blessed I truly am to be able to do all of the things I do. Count your blessings and don't take anything for granted! :)

My prom date at Night to Shine!

Just last weekend, I the great privilege of being able to perform at the Miss Johnson County Pageant! I performed a baton twirling routine entitled "Back in Black" to commemorate the Iowa Hawkeyes on having such an awesome year for athletics!

I also traveled to Mt. Pleasant to model for Runway Prom and Pageant last weekend, as well! It was SOOO much fun! I'm going to be honest, though! It's always a great time when you get to wear gorgeous dresses, but it's even better if you can wear them with your best friend!

My best friend and I modeling for Runway Prom and Pageant

I have been quite the busy bee so far, this year! I will be sure to keep you all updated on my upcoming events! Thank you so much!

Sincerely,

Sophia Aguirre

Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen 2016

Allow Me To Introduce Myself...

Hello, everyone! I am so thrilled to be blogging for the very first time as your new Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen 2016!!! I cannot express how excited and honored I am to have joined the sisterhood of so many successful young ladies of this program! For this being my first blog post, I would like to start by telling you a little bit about myself and my goals for this upcoming year!

For starters, my name is Sophia Aguirre. I am half-Mexican and have four, beautiful sisters. I am 16 years old and attend Clear Creek Amana High School. I am the feature baton twirler and have the amazing opportunity of performing at football halftimes and basketball halftimes. Not only that, but I am also a member of the two-time, Iowa state champion dance team, CCADT! In my free time, I LOVE looking at dresses! My mom would tell you that I am a little obsessive over this hobby! I also enjoy hanging out with kids! If it's babysitting or giving a child a mini baton lesson at the Rec Center, I love being around them! Their energy is contagious! Lastly, my favorite television shows to watch are the "Big Bang Theory" and "Modern Family". Because let's be honest, you can never laugh too much!

Another piece that has become to play a huge part in my life is my platform, Remember Me-Attacking Alzheimer's Disease. This platform is very personal. My great grandmother, Alice Mitchell, was diagnosed with this disease several years ago and she is still battling it today. This disease has taken over her and everything that has made her the one and only Alice. I have teamed up with the Alzheimer's Association and participate in many of their national and local events. I have spoken with a few Presidential candidates about this issue. I do all of this in the hope that one day, a cure for this disease will be found. I am wanting to become the next Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen so that I can promote and introduce my platform to a larger audience.

The following day after being crowned Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen, I met with my awesome directors about what plans they have for me this year! After that, we took a trip to my FAVORITE gown shop to look for my Miss Iowa gown. I love Le Chic Prom and Pageant Boutique! After a couple hours of searching for "the one", we found it...or Stacy and Heather did! I am absolutely head over heels for this gown! I can totally see myself gliding across the Miss Iowa stage with it! Thank you, thank you to Le Chic! I couldn't be more delighted with this gown!

I have LOTS of things planned for this year, and I can't wait for you to be apart of this journey with me! I will be keeping you all updated on this blog about how things are going during my reign! Thank you!

Sincerely,

Sophia Aguirre

Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen 2016

Signing Off...

What a year it has been. Since I was crowned Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen last year, I was able to accomplish so much in this short period of time and now it's coming to an end. I had a wonderful time emceeing a bridal show, performing piano at different events, volunteering at Muscatine and Cedar Rapids, meeting new people and making long lasting friendships, competing at Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen, and so so much more. But this great year really couldn't have been done without some great people supporting me through this. 

I would like thank my amazing directors Elaine, Ashley, and Kindra. Thank you Elaine for rooming with me during Miss Iowa week, we have truly bonded and I thank you a million times for bringing that foot massager. You have been a great teen director. Thank you Ashley for always keeping me updated and making sure I get things done. Thank you for the crazy shopping trip where we literally shopped for 7 hours one day. Thank you Kindra for always making me look perfect and doing an amazing job on my hair and makeup. You guys are truly awesome to work with! I will miss you all. Thank you Michelle and Jessica for prepping me for Miss Iowa week, its because of you guys I felt I was confident in everything I did. I am so blessed to have gotten to know you two, thank you for everything. Halie and Anna, I am so glad we met during Miss Iowa Week, you guys truly made that experience so much fun for me. I am so glad I’m friends with you two, let’s get that sleep over planned soon! Leah and Serica, my amazing sister queens. I am so glad to have gotten to know both of you this year. You guys are wonderful women and I look up to you in so many ways. Thank you to all the Muscatine Scholarship sponsors, without you guys, I would not be standing here today! Thank you especially, Le Chic for providing me gorgeous dresses, Shrik Photography for my headshots, and much much more! But most importantly, thank you mom and dad for always supporting me in everything I do. Thank you for constantly driving me from Cedar Rapids to Muscatine, thank you making sure I always look perfect, and thank you for always loving me even though I can be a bit of a hassle sometimes. I love you both.

Even though tomorrow I will be giving up my crown of Miss Muscatine Outstanding Teen, I am so excited for what's ahead of me. As they say, a door closes for another one to open. I will continue working with my platform Diversity Advocacy: Embracing the Unique in Everyone and start my new project called the Youth Leadership Program, a program that brings the topic of diversity and inclusion to high schools. I also hope to embark another journey in the Miss America Organization and learn and grow as a woman. But for now....

Signing off for the last time,

Your Miss Muscatine Outstanding 2014-15,

Nina Yu