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Miss
Pennsylvania Newsletters
November 2008 Newsletter
(December 2, 2008)
Dear MPSO Friends and Family,
November
began sadly with the news of Evelyn Ay Sempier's passing. As most
of you know, Evelyn Sempier was a former Miss Pennsylvania who was
also named Miss America 1954 . I never had the honor of meeting
Ms.Sempier in person, but her legacy has been shared with me through
the warm recollections of so many Pennsylvanians who remember her
fondly. Again, I offer heartfelt condolences to her daughter Stacy,
and family.
In last
month's newsletter I wrote about the experience of speaking to my
graduate school classmates at Carnegie Mellon. This month, I was
thrilled to be invited back to my undergraduate alma mater, the
North Carolina School of the Arts. On November 1st I delivered the
keynote address at the University's annual Family Weekend. This was
my most challenging speaking engagement to date because of its
required length (1 hour). Thankfully, I felt at home in that
artistically charged environment and I gained some valuable
interview preparation during the question and answer session that
followed.
On November
6th, I had two appearances. The first was at the Mid-Atlantic Career
Counseling Conference in Lancaster. There, I spoke to university-
level career counselors about the importance of career counseling
and I shared some of my personal experiences in terms of preparing
and encouraging students who are interested in creative or arts
related careers.
Later in the
evening, I performed at Challah Day in Bethlehem where I was
surprised to be presented with an honorary membership to the
Historic Bethlehem Partnership. Special thanks to Lori Ann Wkitsch
of the Historic Bethlehem Partnership.
November
12th was the big day! I traveled to Williamsport to be part of the
prestigious Governor's Awards for the Arts. My involvement was
made possible through a partnership that I've formed with the
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. I was so excited to meet the man
who played such a vital role in inspiring my arts platform, Sir Ken
Robinson. I also met our Governor Ed Rendell and our First Lady
Judge Marjorie O. Rendell, author Sascha Feinstein, jazz musician
Phil Woods, and actor Michael Keaton.
From
Williamsport, I was off to Philadelphia for another platform related
appearance at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I was a celebrity
guest at the museum's "Every Family Party" and release of the new
children's book A Is For Art Museum. Every corridor of the
gigantic museum was filled with young people and their families. I
had a great time reading to the children. And, I am so happy that I
could be of service to the museum's education department in their
effort to introduce children to their outstanding collection of
art.
On November
16th, I was the special guest speaker at Right Decisions
Right Now "Just for Girls Tea Party", at Just Born
Candy Company in Bethlehem. I spent several hours with the girls
sharing the importance of making positive life- choices, especially
saying no to cigarette smoking, drugs, and alcohol abuse. I had a
great time delivering another RDRN presentation to the seventh grade
girls of Raub Middle School in Allentown on November 18th. The event
was covered by B104 radio, and the Morning Call Newspaper. I will be
spreading the youth tobacco prevention message to at least 20 middle
school groups this year through MPSO's partnership with RDRN.
I joined
former Miss York County Randi Levendusky at the Bon-Ton in Lancaster
for a Ralph Lauren Fashion Show and MPSO Scholarship Society
fundraiser on the 22nd.
The very
next day, I was off to Hatboro for the town's holiday parade. It was
a gorgeous day, and I received such a warm reception from the town.
I also had fun riding with Ed Bonk, my driver for the day and
president of the Corvette Club!
On the
evening of the 26th, I joined the reigning Miss Philadelphia Brintha
Vassagar and her local Organization in welcoming Miss America to our
state. We honored Miss America with a dinner at Maggiano's
Restaurant in Philly where we were joined by Misses Delaware and New
Jersey respectively. We girls had a special time together and we
also shared the experience of riding in the ABC/ Ikea Thanksgiving
Parade on the morning of the holiday.
To anyone
who may be able to attend, there will be an informal Miss America
"send-off" event at the Bon-Ton in Lancaster at Park City Mall at
1:00 on December 20th. Communications expert Soni Dimond will be in
attendance to speak and sign her new book, which I have endorsed,
called Life's A Pitch. The event will also feature a
performance by Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen.
Until Next Month,
Kendria Ashley Perry
Kendria Perry
Miss Pennsylvania 2008
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