Whew! What a ride it’s been! It’s been a crazy past few months, with lots of work and little downtime, but, as I’ve learned, that’s when all the fun starts!!
At the beginning of January, January 7th to be exact, my family and I took a short little trip to the mighty Mississip! We had a wonderful visit in St. Louis, with lots of fun times! We visited the arch, and took some great pictures. We then went across the street to the Maritime Court Building, where we walked in to quite a party! The Missouri Park’s Department was hosting a “Twelfth Night Ball.” This French tradition has been kept for years and is a ball held twelve days after Christmas. With live folk music, people in 17th Century French costumes, and dancing, we had quite the time! I was able to dance with a local native that serves as a re-enactor. I also got meet with some sweet girls that were attending the ball as princesses. We had a great time experiencing St. Louis’s traditions!
When I got back from St. Louis, a new project began! Last February I established a fundraiser in ten schools for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that raised aver $4,000. This was a fundraiser that I wanted to become an annual event, and so this year I led the schools in another fundraiser for St. Jude. The challenge was to raise $1 for every student in the schools. This year, the schools raised over $3,000 for St. Jude. The radio-a-thon for St. Jude that is held at the same time as the fundraiser raised over $32,000!! It was a huge success and could not have been possible without the local support of schools, and without the hard work of the students the were in charge of the fundraisers in their individual schools.
The beginning of February was an exciting time for me! I was informed that I am the recipient of Prudential Spirit of Community Award’s Missouri’s top high school youth volunteer! This award comes because of the mentoring program that I have set up in my community to organize fundraisers, all together raising over $10,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network. With this honor, also comes the great opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. in May. I will be meeting with other state recipients and talking with them about my program. Hopefully, I will be able to take this program national!! I also have been honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award and a Resolution from the Missouri Senate recognizing my volunteerism.
Along with Prudential Spirit of Community, I have been honored by being named one of twelve Elks Teenager’s of the Month in my high school, as well as advancing to the state level in the Elks Most Valuable Student national competition. I’m looking to hearing back from more scholarships as the spring approaches!
I’m looking forward to spending some time in St. Louis this weekend! I haven’t seen my sister queens in a while and I’m ready to spend some time with them!
On a personal note, I will be a proud Aunt Kelby again in July!! And this time, it’s officially a little GIRL!! I can’t wait to meet my beautiful little niece!!!
God Bless!
Kelby Czerwonka
Miss Gateway to the West 2012
I hope that everyone was blessed with good holidays this year. I spent my holidays at my older brother’s house in Huntsville, Alabama, where most of the time I was chasing around my 19 month old nephew, Asa. It was great being around family that I rarely get to see, and I am proud to announce that I will again be an aunt this summer!! I can’t wait to meet this new little addition to our family!!
