Annika Kovar
Creating Generation Healthy
Time to Celebrate!! I am a semi-finalist in the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. That means I am 1 of 2,000 selected from 97,000 to advance to the next step! This scholarship recognizes outstanding leadership, academic excellence, and dedication to community service. Thanks MAOT for fostering these qualities in me over the past 5 years #scholarship#CokeScholarsSF #misscoonrapidsot
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I traded in my sash for an "I Voted" sticker today! I was 4th in line at my local voting location this morning. Because I recently turned 18, and had just missed the voters registration deadline, I came prepared to officially register and guess what, it was so easy and only took a few minutes! #NewVoter #rockthevote
What to do with all that extra Halloween Candy?
Make someone’s day by sending the candy off for a military care package. There are several websites that will take candy donations after Halloween, including Soldiers’ Angels, Operation Gratitude, and Freedom Alliance. Most of the dentist “candy buy-backs” also contribute directly to these organizations. With the AnySoldier site, you can find a specific service member to send a personalized care package and holiday gifts. Make it a family project to create something really great! I know how fast a year can fly by as a titleholder, so when I can, I always say yes appearances that present themselves. One of my elementary teachers recently asked me to perform at a dinner event. What an honor to be able to share my talents by singing a couple numbers and speaking about the Miss Minnesota Outstanding Teen Organization as well as my platform, Creating Generation Healthy. Thank you Mrs. Hein and Alpha Delta Kappa, Alpha Theta group!
Photo credit: Kristin McMartin Photography We are doing our part to keep our beautiful state clean! My friends and I are part of Interact, a student led community service group, and this weekend we got together to pick up garbage out of area ditches. As co-president of Student Council I love setting a great example for my peers, and encouraging them to be involved too!
What an incredible experience to be able to attend the Miss America competition in Atlantic City this year. I was able to to cheer in person for Miss Minnesota Michalene Karlen each night of prelims, and watch her be called into the top 15. The atmosphere was electric!!!! Since this is my last year as a teen, I was so thankful to be able to see first hand what to expect with the new changes in place with Miss America 2.0, I was not disappointed! Can't wait to see locals bring in the 2.0 changes, and be able to compete for my dream job as a Miss someday.
Thanks Southwest Metro magazine for the fun pic of Eden and I and featuring Miss Minnesota week on pages 30-31. Photo credit: Photographycs
http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=c9621375-3fca-4f8e-8d76-9894998478b6 So excited to be able to welcome these new titleholders to the Class of 2019! Congratulations to Miss Perham- Cassidy Nelson, Miss Heart of the Lakes- Topanga Brown, Miss Perham Outstanding Teen- Lizzy Lafond, Miss Heart of the Lakes Outstanding Teen- Ashleigh Kruse & Miss Turtlefest Outstanding Teen Sophie Nelson. Fun Fact: I was Perham's 3rd Teen Titleholder, Miss Perham's Outstanding Teen 2014. The following 2 years the title changed to Miss Heart of the Lakes (2015 and 2016). Then 2 titles were awarded for 2017, both Perham's OT and HOTL OT. And for the first time ever this year, Perham has 3 Teen titleholders with the edition of Miss Turtlefest OT.
August 2 at 9:19 PM · The only thing better than ice cream, is ice cream on Miracle Treat Day. Today, participating Dairy Queens donated $1 or more to CMN for every blizzard sold. Thanks Coon Rapids DQ for turning blizzards into Miracles!
August 14 at 2:18 PM · I attended the send off party for our Miss Minnesota, Michaelene Karlen this weekend to wish her the best of luck at Miss America! We are all so proud of her, and I could not be more excited to be able to cheer her on in person in Atlantic City. Thank you to Team Waseca for hosting such a beautiful send off. The venue was perfect!
As most of you know, I held my first title in the MAO pageant system as Miss Perham's Outstanding Teen 2014. In recent years my hometown pageant has struggled with finding contestants to compete from the local area. I wanted nothing more than to see the Perham Pageant succeed and grow in contestant participation, and I know what made me want to compete was the fun I had participating in Princess competitions as a young girl. So with that in mind my mom June and I partnered together to bring back a Princess Program to Perham. (The last Miss Perham's Princess Program, which was called Little Miss Perham was 11 years ago, when my sister Kassidy was awarded Perham's First Princess.)
We were inspired by the growth of the Miss Minnesota State Princess Program Northern Lights, as well as the Waseca County Princess Program that I was fortunate enough to work with for 2 years. I love that they include all of the girls, by crowning each of them as a Princess, and offer a mentorship experience between the titleholders and the Princesses. This past Friday we had our first Perham Princess Party & Coronation. Miss Perham's Outstanding Teen, Hanna Beck crowned our 12 Princesses, we ate pizza, and cupcakes and did some cute Princess crafts to take home. On Saturday the girls had the option of attending the Miss Minnesota dance workshop, and then they took to the stage first as visiting royalty, and then as escorts for the Miss and Teen contestants during the final look at evening gown. The girls all had the best time, and plan to be back again next year, but even better, plan to compete when they grow up too! They are also learning early about service, as they participated in a fundraising event, to see who could raise the most scholarship dollars to be donated to the Miss Perham Scholarship Program. I am super excited to see what the future holds for each of these Princesses, and will be there to cheer each of them on when they start competing for Miss Perham It was such an honor to attend the Miss Northwest Competition and be able to personally welcome Auroura Eckberg Miss Northwest and Hannah Hagen Miss Northwest Outstanding Teen to the class of 2019. Congratulations to you both! I was also able to pose with my forever first sister queen, Hailey Jutz and some of our new little friends, who want to be Northern Lights Princesses next year. Special Shout out to the outgoing Northwest titleholders Devyn and Alyssa (another one of my forever sister queens) on a great year, I wish you both the best in whatever comes next for you.
It was a picture perfect evening for a parade in Coon Rapids yesterday. It is such a pleasure representing this wonderful community.
Thank you so much to the Algyer Family for recognizing me again this year with the 2018 Anne and Hal Algyer Community Service Award. I am incredibly humbled to be chosen to now represent both the Classes of 2017 and 2018 as the recipient for this award. On behalf of all of us, thank you for your continued support of Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen. I truely appreciate your family and all you do for this program!
I spent the morning connecting with my state and local representatives. and advocating for children's health issues that directly relate to my platform, Creating Generation Healthy. I am hoping to use my voice to work with legislators regarding healthier school lunch requirements, increased mandatory recess time, and the need for more funding to address food deserts in Minnesota. Although I'm only 17 now, I will be 18 prior to next November's election, and I am excited to vote and become more knowledgeable about the legislative process.
I planted the garden with the children at Great Beginnings Childcare. It is so much fun getting our hands dirty and learning hands on where real food comes from. These kids are excited about growing real food and being able to eat the veggies that they planted. I provided seeds to 105 childcare facilities in 21 states this year with my organization, Little Sprouts Garden Gang. It's so exciting knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of children on a National level, and helping them create lifelong healthy habits with my 2 step plan ME- Move more, Eat real! #creatinggenerationhealthy
I visited with students in multiple classrooms at Eisenhower Elementary School in Coon Rapids. Here we are with the bracelets I gave them to remind them of my 2 step plan- ME- Move More, Eat Real. During classroom visits, I share with the children about the Miss America Organization, and explain what a platform is. My platform is Creating Generation Healthy, so we talk about fun ways to be active and healthy food choices. I read 3 books, including the book I wrote about planting a garden. After the books, the kids sit at their desks or table spots and I hand out the bracelets and my autograph cards that have the MyPlate Pledge on the back. We read the pledge together and the kids sign the pledge. Before I leave, we make sure to get a group photo, and give lots of hugs.
This past Saturday, Erin and I had our send off. We showcased our wardrobe, the crowd gave us a mock interview, and performed our talents. Everything went perfect, and we are both ready for state week!!! Thanks to our incredible directors and committee for all the gifts, and especially all your love and support.
Today I am finishing up my free seed packet deliveries for Little Sprouts Garden Gang members. I decided to surprise each childcare provider with some fun extras to say thank you for all they do for children everyday. I was able to share a variety of nutritional information to help promote Creating Generation and my 2-step plan, "ME" -Move More, Eat Real. I will be back soon to visit each of them again to see how their gardens are growing and to read them the book I wrote, Come and Plant a Garden with Me.
This year my charity, Little Sprouts Garden Gang is partnered with 105 childcare facilities in 21 states. If you don't already know, I provide free vegetable seeds so that childcares can plant gardens with their children. So, I have been busy the last couple weeks sorting, packaging and labeling seed packets to be sent out. Over 500 packets, containing 73,600 seeds to be exact! (carrots, green beans, peas, corn, swiss chard, lettuce, beets, squash, cucumbers) My platform is Creating Generation Healthy, and I have been able to impact the lives of children on a National level through Little Sprouts Garden Gang. It is my mission for Little Sprouts to foster lifelong healthy eating habits for children. I am working towards getting Little Sprouts Garden Gangs in all 50 states by 2019.
What an amazing day spent with the children at Hoover Elementary School in Coon Rapids. Thank you Hoover, for letting me teach all of your students about Creating Generation Healthy and my 2-Step plan, "ME" Move More, Eat Real! My goal is to educate children so they can create lifelong healthy eating and exercise habits. Together we are #CreatingGenerationHealthy #MissCoonRapidsOT2018#theresheserves #futureteacher
This is Miss Coon Rapids 2018, Erin, but she's more than that.....She's kind, she's endearing, she's intelligent, she's beautiful, she's stylish, she's an achiever, she's a professional, she's an awesome listener, she's successful, she loves service, she is my role model, she is my friend, she is my sister queen, and I would love to share her with you as the next Miss Minnesota!!! #WomanWednesday#showsomeloveforyourMiss #MissCoonRapids2018#MissCoonRapidsOT2018 #MissMinnesota2019 #crownthejournalist#lovemysisterqueen
Now that orientation is over and all head shots are up on the Miss Minnesota website, I wanted to take a minute to show my appreciation to the amazing team of Paula and Gianna. Thank you so much to our Official Photographer for Miss Minnesota, Paula Preston, and to to the Official Miss Minnesota & Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen Hair & Makeup Professional, Gianna Capuzzi. My sister queen, Erin and I loved our shoot with you, it was so much fun! You guys are so much more than just sponsors, you are the best of the best! I truly value our new friendship and your service to our Scholarship Program. Looking forward to working with both of you for many years to come.
Thank you, Annika |
Annika Kovar
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