Provo Easter Basket Auction

Provo School District hosted a fabulous Easter Basket Auction last week, and it was so fun to be a part of it! Since the date of the Miss Orem pageant moved to May, my reign is lasting a bit longer than a year (from March to May! I don't mind one bit). We were invited to go to this event this time last year and I was unable to go because we were at Hope of America, so I was grateful that I got to come to this after all! I have become quite the fan of auctions after the few I have been a part of.

 

 

That is definitely a basketball signed by Jimmer. No big deal.

We love our Provo sisters!!

Love, Maddi Millard
Miss Orem 2014-2015

#createthegood

createthegood.org

 

RC Willey Grand Opening

I used to be tell people to turn at RC Willey on University Parkway to get to my house, but now I have to get a new landmark because RC Willey has moved to a bigger and better location at University Place! The new building is massive and it looks absolutely gorgeous. This grand opening had been long awaited and had a great turn out of people to cheer us on.

Sometimes I forget how tall I am. I was told to stand in the middle, and it just so happened to be in front of all the managers and important sales associates.... my bad. I'm also covering up the waterfall behind us as well, it is incredible! The entire store is breathtaking, I highly recommend heading over there.

It may be cropped out, but I promise there was a ribbon there. It's always a pleasure to be a part of the classic cutting of the ribbon.

Did I mention there was the fanciest food in the world? I was in heaven.

Shout out to one of my incredible sponsors! I am so grateful that University Place is here to support me on my journey to Miss Utah. Rob Kallas here was very important throughout the process of this grand opening.

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

#createthegood
createthegood.org

 

I see blue wristbands everywhere I go!

 I have loved speaking to these awesome students about my platform. One thing I love about Create the Good is that it applies to any audience, anytime, anywhere. Every group has been so receptive and I've loved learning from them as we discuss the importance of service.The challenge I extend with these wristbands is to perform some sort of service before they take the wristband off.



Mountain View has a soft spot in my heart. I love the Man Choir and I actually used to T.A. for that class. They are an awesome group of guys that are definitely going places in their lives.



This here is the Orem Jr. High Hope Squad! The purpose of this club is combat suicide in their school. They are extra proactive in making friends and being a light to the school. What stellar kids!

On a day when I could not make it, one of our lovely Miss Orem Outstanding Teen contestants, Hailey Johnson stepped up and gave a presentation for me! She combined my platform with her own and talked about service and self-confidence, cool combination if you ask me! This is the Hope Squad of Lakeridge Jr. High, and I'm so glad they got to hear a great message even though I couldn't be there. Thanks, Hailey!

Here is Lakridge Jr. High's A Cappella Choir! I was once in this choir and loved it with all my heart. My brother also happens to be in the choir (bright yellow shirt on the back row) and promised to help his friends keep their promise of serving around the school before they take off the wristbands.

 

Although I often adjust my message according to the audience, one of the things I teach in my presentation is my favorite poem. I have grown up learning this poem and it has helped me throughout my life to remind me that I have a voice and I have a choice. And that's the message I love to share to everybody I can reach.

 

Drop a stone in the water

In a moment it is gone

But there are a hundred ripples

Circling on and on and on

 

Say an unkind word this moment

In a moment it is gone

But there are a hundred ripples

Circling on and on and on

 

Say a word of cheer and splendor

In a moment it is gone

But there are a hundred ripples

Circling on and on and on

 

I have loved spreading this message throughout Orem, I hope the ripples of my efforts last longer than the time that I have this crown.



Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

#createthegood

createthegood.org

 

Hope of America

Cherry Hill Elementary has got some serious spirit! A few days before they went to perform in the Marriott Center for Hope of America, I got to give them my little speech on creating the good. I challenged them to use the music from Hope of America to inspire themselves and others. As always, I requested that they do something nice for somebody before they take off the wristband.

 Just about all of the kiddos got to sign my journal :)

You've got to love a good group selfie!



Her name is Madeline too!

 

Abby and I loved going to the performance on Thursday night! Our job was to direct the military families and first responders to their seats. That job allowed us to see some of the performers backstage, which was pretty awesome.

 

 

 It is impossible to go to this program and not leave beaming with patriotism and pride for America. I am SO proud to be an American and love this country with my whole heart. I think my favorite song is "We Can Be a Light!" "We can be a light, shining everywhere, all across America, showing people that we care. So let your light so shine, helping others find their way, we can turn the darkest night, into the brightest day." AMEN and hallelujah to that. {platform alert!} this song goes right along with Create the Good. We CAN change the world one person at a time.


Speaking of America! Miss America initiated a National Day of Service so all the participants in the Miss America Organization could come together and perform service together. I am 100 zillion % in support of this brilliant idea. Service is easily my favorite "S" of the crown (style, service, scholarship, and success). This program rocks.

 

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

#createthegood

createthegood.org

 

 

 

Bowls for Humanity - Food and Care Coalition

The Food and Care Coalition combats homelessness by providing shelter, food, dental care, and salon services for homeless people. Additionally, they teach interview skills and other skills that will help the residents do well in the workforce.  And my favorite part about it, the payment for these services is volunteer hours! This goes right along with the point of my platform, Create the Good, and shows that service can have an objective. As these participants get involved in service, they can learn that they are valuable, needed, and that they can contribute to society in many ways! We are all able to combat social and economic inequality by participating in volunteerism and giving freely of our time and talents.

As you can see, I am in full support of the organization and loved helping out with this fundraiser!

The point of this event is to sell all of this fancy pottery! These vases, plates, and bowls were donated from the students of UVU, BYU, and high schools from around the area. I loved seeing the awesome variety and creativity that came from the hands of all these students!

Here was the process: if you bought a bowl, you got free soup! Or you could buy the soup separately. What a great deal! The soup was divine, the bowls were beautiful, and the fundraiser was a definite success! Plus, there was a classic band playing across the field, which totally set the mood. 

Huge thanks to Jesse Craig and McCall Smith who came to help the entire time (these lovely women are two of the contestants who will be competing for the title of Miss Orem on May 16th).

Kayla also got to stop by for a little bit. Thanks for helping pour the soup, ladies!



Although I was originally assigned to help dish up soup, I was instead recruited to serve as a cashier! And let me tell you, people were very generous with their donations and purchases.

After seeing all these masterpieces, I now wish I knew something about pottery.

I love the doors that can be opened from these Miss Orem events. Thanks to our awesome events coordinator, I am aware of this incredible organization! This summer, I will be volunteering here to help teach interview skills to these wonderful people. I cannot wait to be a part of such a great cause!

 

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

#Createthegood

Createthegood.org

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, dedicated citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead

That quote was hanging up in the kitchen of the coalition. Amen and hallelujah to this statement!



Miss Utah Spring Workshop

After pulling an all-nighter, editing my paperwork again and again (with the help of some incredibly brilliant people), and struggling to put fake eyelashes on, I made it to the workshop with a smile on my face!! I had been looking forward to this workshop for months and I was so excited to finally be there! All the girls were so sweet and friendly, which got me even more excited for the week of Miss Utah. Now that all the paperwork is turned in, all that is left to do now is the fun stuff!

This morning consisted of a meeting, brunch, and the choosing of our contestant number (which determines which night you compete in which competition, and who your roommate is!)

 

This is my little group! In the middle is our hostess (aka mom for the MU week) and right next to me is my roommate!!! She is Miss Millard County, which I find a little hilarious. I love this girl, her name is Kennedy Springer and I actually went to her pageant and saw her crowned a few months ago. She is so down to earth and inspirational so we will definitely have a fun week together.

It's my lucky number!! I was so glad that #6 hadn't been taken by the time I got to choose. I am the 6th kid in my family, I am 6 feet tall, my birthday is the 6th month, my volleyball number was 6, and the past 2 Miss Utah's have been contestant number 6. I am pumped.

 

This is what I looked like for the entire week before the workshop. Working on my paperwork in the park, basking in the sun and fresh air! The platform statement and resume are what the judges will see far before they meet any of us. It's kind of a big deal because it gives the judges a general idea of who you are before they see you in the interview.

This is the red Miss Utah bible.

I cannot wait for the week of Miss Utah! A lot of time and effort is being put into the preparation, and I have no doubt that it will all be worth it. No matter what happens, it is going to be a BLAST! Plus, the support I have already gotten from my family and friends lets me know that everything will work out the way it is supposed to. I love them all.

Love, Maddi Millard
Miss Orem 2014-2015

#Createthegood

createthegood.org



Workshop Heaven

One of the best parts about the Miss Orem program is its emphasis on the workshops! The program does a great job in preparing the contestants for what they are about to experience. Our workshops consist of interview practice, make-up consultations, dress workshops, opening number practice, and walking coaching! We have a great committee that helps us out in every aspect that we need. Since the 2015 Miss Orem pageant is coming up (on May 16th), we have been involved in workshops for a couple of weeks now! It is so exciting to see the new group of girls. We have a big group and I have had a blast already!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our very first meeting all together as a royalty (minus Emily who was out of town and Kayla who had not yet been put in the royalty:) ). Such great memories! I look back at times like these and can't believe that a whole year has passed. I have felt so much growth as I have learned from these girls and as we've been through so much together. It has been an incredible experience.

 

 

 

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

 

#createthegood

createthegood.org



SHOES!

Power2Become has taken on the project of collecting shoes for Africa! All of the Miss Utah contestants are collecting as many as 1,000 pairs of shoes to be told in Burkina Faso so they can establish water wells and farmland. It amazes me how willing friends, family, and strangers have been to donate their used shoes to this great cause. I have learned so much from the project, but am not done yet! I'm collecting until May 2nd, so keep the shoes coming! (The contestant who collects the most will go to Africa as a reward!)

 

Yesterday I recruited my friends and family to count the shoes and make sure they all have a match. We had a lot of fun as we bagged and labeled them all :)

Thanks for helping to Create the Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are more of my favorite people in the world: these boys of mine were SO helpful on the morning that we delivered the shoes at the drop-off! They stayed for several hours and hauled all of my shoes, and the shoes of a lot of the other Miss Utah contestants. Quite the job, and it gave us a pretty good workout for the day! There will be another drop-off time in May, but this first delivery gave me the sum of 1,684 pounds of shoes! Holy Moly that's a lot. I am so grateful for all those who have donated and helped me in this project! I love you all.

Each of these shoes has a story... This pile has mission shoes, pageant shoes, running shoes that have been around the world, baby's first sneakers, favorite pair of snow boots, the list goes on! One incredible woman sought me out so she could donate all of her husband's old shoes after he passed away. I love seeing people rise to the occasion to donate to a good cause!

 

 

Love, Maddi Millard

Miss Orem 2014-2015

 

#Createthegood

createthegood.org