July 30, 2020
Dear Friends and Supporters,
In June of 2019, nearly $70,000 in scholarships and awards were presented to young women competing in the Miss Kansas and Miss Kansas’ Outstanding Teen state competitions. Each young woman was able to offset educational expenses through their participation in these competitions – scholarships and awards that are made possible by donors like you, who contribute the annual spring scholarship campaign in conjunction with ticket sales and special events leading up to the Miss Kansas and Miss Kansas’ Outstanding Teen competitions.
With the cancellation of both state and national competitions due to the pandemic, the spring scholarship campaign was also cancelled; there were no special events, and there were no ticket sales or scholarship donations. Consequently, the young women who were planning on competing in June of 2020 did not have the opportunity to earn state or national scholarships and awards.
While each local title holder has the opportunity to retain their title and compete in May of 2021, this additional year of service comes at a higher cost – the loss of 2020 scholarships and awards, unless donors like you choose to answer this special call.
The Miss Kansas Organization, Inc. and the Miss Kansas Scholarship Foundation are conducting a special summer scholarship campaign. Our goal is that each young woman who chooses to continue her service during this challenging year be provided with a scholarship that can offset Fall 2020 educational expenses. Replacing more than $60,000 in annual campaign donations is a lofty goal, but one we have achieved annually through your past generosity.
Will you consider making your annual donation to the Miss Kansas Scholarship Foundation as these young women head back to school this fall?
We realize the “ask” is significant. There are no tickets, no glitzy competition, and no special events due to the pandemic. However, there are still 34 young women that need your support. There is still an organization that intends to provide them with the opportunity to be Miss Kansas 2021 or Miss Kansas’ Outstanding Teen 2021, an organization that provides a gateway for them to become Miss America or Miss America’s Outstanding Teen.
Miss Kansas 2019 Annika Wooton and Miss Kansas’ Outstanding Teen 2019 Tori Pedruzzi, along with Miss Kansas Organization, Inc. and Miss Kansas Scholarship Foundation board members listed below are spearheading this special campaign. Please consider continuing your support for the young women who strive to represent our state on the national stage, who continue to have educational aspirations and expenses by returning your gift at your earliest convenience.
The Miss Kansas and MKSOTeen competitions, complete with a parade, will return the weekend of May 29-30, 2021 in Pratt. We hope you’ll save the date. This year looks much different than previous years, but we are looking forward to celebrating 79 years of the Miss Kansas Competition and appreciate your support of the program. Thank you for sustaining hopes and dreams by answering the call.
Gratefully,
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Miss Kansas Scholarship Foundation
Marietta Wetzel, Chair
Lisa Perez-Miller, President
Doug Brehm, Secretary/Treasurer
Janetta Freeman
Eddie Freeman, Scholarship Director
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Miss Kansas Pageant, Inc.
Sue Givens, Chair
John Rolfe, President
Danielle Bias, Secretary/Treasurer
Krystian Fish-Caywood
Stephanie Harris, Executive Director
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State Titleholders
Miss Kansas 2019 Annika Wooton
Miss KSOTeen 2019 Tori Pedruzzi
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The Miss Kansas Organization, Inc. Board of Directors Announces Selection of New Board Members and Officers
For immediate release June 12, 2020
Following their annual meeting on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, the Miss Kansas Organization, Inc. (MKO) Board announced today the addition of longtime state volunteers Stephanie Harris and Danielle Bias to the Board of Directors.
Harris, currently serves as Executive Director of the organization and has been a Miss Kansas volunteer in a variety of roles for 18 years. Bias, who first served the organization as a judge, has been a volunteer for 7 years, presently serving as Director of the Miss Kansas’ Outstanding Teen program and as Communications Coordinator for MKO.
In other action, the board unanimously elected board member Sue Givens as incoming Chair. During Givens’ 28 years of service to the organization she has served in a number of roles including Producer for the Miss Kansas Competition, State Field Director, Booking Manager and as a board member of the Miss Kansas Scholarship Foundation.
Bias, Givens and Harris each has ties to Pratt. Harris is a Pratt native whose parents still reside in Pratt. Givens was a longtime Pratt educator and former Principal at Liberty Middle School. Bias attended and graduated from Pratt Community College. All three credit their connection to Pratt as an integral part of their work with the Miss Kansas Organization.
The board also unanimously elected John Rolfe as President and Danielle Bias as Secretary/Treasurer of the Miss Kansas Organization, Inc. Before joining the MKO board in 2019, Rolf had also served as a judge for the state competition.
Krystian Fish-Caywood, Miss Kansas 2017, joins Bias, Givens, Harris, and Rolf as a returning MKO board member, and also serves the organization, alongside her husband Logan, as the Miss Kansas Booking Managers. All MKO board members and officers serve the organization as volunteers.
The MKO Board of Directors would like to announce there will be no state competitions this year. Miss Kansas & Miss Kansas’ Outstanding Teen will take place May 29 & 30, 2021 on the campus of Pratt Community College. The Miss America Competition scheduled for later this year will be held in late 2021. Annika Wooton Miss Kansas 2019 & Tori Pedruzzi Miss Kansas’ Outstanding Teen 2019 will continue serving the state through May 2021.
APPLICATION AND FULL DETAILS NOW AVAILABLE!
The Sunflower Program is a mentoring program for children ages 5-12 (as of May 31, 2021) who have an interest in learning about citizenship, leadership, volunteerism, and have a future interest in the Miss Kansas' Outstanding Teen and Miss Kansas programs.
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Since being crowned Miss Kansas in June, I have been preparing for the job of Miss America in so many ways. If I am fortunate to be selected as the next Miss America, I become the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.
At the local, state and national levels, the Miss America Organization raises funds annually for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The money I raise will help save children’s lives, and a portion will also support the Miss America Scholarship Fund.
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Miss Kansas' Outstanding Teen
Official State Teen Pageant of the Miss Kansas Organization
Purpose: The purpose of the Miss Kansas' Outstanding Teen program is to provide an opportunity for teens to win scholarships, develop poise, confidence, stage presence, enhance interview skills and speaking ability. Young ladies will also gain knowledge about volunteerism, leadership and community service.
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Want to experience the opportunity of a lifetime?
The first step is to compete in (and win) either a Local Pageant or Festival. Local Pageants and Festivals are held throughout Kansas from July through March annually.
Local Pageants are an integral part of the Miss Kansas system and are conducted using official Miss America rules.
Be a pageant contestant and grow in ways you never imagined.....
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