May Day was a BUSY Day! ...Morning

Miss Capital City, Miss Minnesota, Miss Mankato, Miss Northwest, Miss North Metro, and Miss Morrhead walked at Como Park for the 2010 Gillette Children's Walmart Walk.
It was a fun day with pageant friends and our friends at Gillette.

The May 2010 Mankato Magazine is out!

The Mankato Magazine is out today!
The cover says Miss Mankato works for new title.
Page 3 has Features The Whole Package Miss Mankato is preparing for the Miss Minnesota competition in June.
Inside page 18, 19, and 20 The whole package By Brittany Larson Photos By John Cross

I had a great day Tuesday working with a few classes of high school students. These classes were made possible through Project G.E.M. which stands for Growth, Experience, and Motivation,it is a local non-profit organization in Mankato, which serves many counties in the state.. The program offers a wide variety of outreach services which focus on education for positive mind, body, and soul development.It is an outreach program for at-risk youth to enhance positive creative self-expression using cultural, environmental, and holistic/social education.
My platform " Dance This Weigh" can be so receptive in any class room!
I taught elementary through high school age students about the importance of staying physically active and how dance is a great way to stay fit. We danced the "Cupid Shuffle" and ended the class period discussing the Miss Mankato program. We were so active all day! I'm anxious to visit my next school!

Due to the Project GEM Code of Confidentiality no pictures were taken. Trust me, had you been able to see pictures...nothing but laughter and smiles were heard and seen as we DANCED THIS WEIGH.

Miss Minnesota Contestant Workshop

So PROUD of our Miss Mankato! She had the most ad pages purchased for the Miss Minnesota program, winning the honor of picking her contestant order(she was feeling lucky #15)and she also won her talent dress!! Samantha, Miss Mankato and Molly, Miss Waseca Sleigh and Cutter will be roommates for the 2010 Miss Minnesota pageant in June. Here is a picture of 5 of the 20 beautiful ladies competing for Miss Minnesota.

A benefit for Ashlyn

The Law Enforcement family came together for Ashlyn Bennett on April 11. I was there to help wherever I could. 1st I was in charge of the guest book. Enjoyed being able to meet and thank everyone for attending. 2nd I enjoyed the spaghetti dinner. 3rd I met Nan! She came up to me and said she just saw me at the Setoma Awards banquet Friday night. She said it is so nice to see me at so many of the Mankato events. She said my kicks are really high too! What a nice lady!
4th I had my picture with the guest of honor. Ashlyn has a rare neurological disorder called Rhetts Syndrome. She is a Gillette Angel. Please pray for her.
To everyone who was giving of their time to organize, cook, donate, rally, bid and support the benefit...THANK YOU!

Sertoma Clubs Annual Award Banquet

Friday,April 9th,2010 was the Sertoma Clubs annual Service To Mankind Award Banquet held in Mankato. Miss Mankato was a honored guest at at the head table, spoke on volunteerism, and after dinner sang and danced to entertain the more than 100 guests in attendance. The Service to Mankind Award is the highest honor Sertoma can bestow on a nonmember, it is for outstanding volunteer service to the community and is awarded to those who make a significant contribution to those in need.

Ralph Ireland was presented by Key City Sertoma Club and Melinda Wedzina was presented by Mankato Sertoma Club.

On behalf of the Miss Mankato Scholarship Organization,Samantha presented the recipients with an engraved frame.

"Prom on the Runway 2010" RiverHills Mall Mankato

MISS MANKATO modeled prom fashions at

" Prom on The Runway" last Saturday at the River Hills Mall Mankato. This was a senior high school project organized and produced by Alexandra Floren, a Miss Mankato SCHOLARSHIP Program contestant this past year! A huge SUCCESS, A + if I was her teacher! Fashions by Herbergers and Tuxes by Tip Top Tux Carrow's Formal Wear(a Miss Mankato sponsor). Live manikins before and after the show was a favorite!

An beautiful girl named Clair was on her dad shoulders next to us, she was commentating on the fashions..she was amazing! She knows her fashion! Future MISS AMERICA I hope!

Thank you to Alexandra for her SERVICE to the community of Mankato, for a great STYLE show and having Miss Mankato Samantha and Miss Mankato volunteer Jasmine model.

Polar Bear Plunge for Special Olympics on the news....

Former Miss Mankato Jennifer Hudspeth " AKA KEYC Mankato News Reporter"
Polar Bear Plunge coverage. Miss Mankato Samantha Phillippi jumps right after Sheriff Dave Lang speaks!!

http://www.keyc.com/node/33692

Polar Bear Plunge 2010!

TEAM ICY HOT 967 raised $770 together for Special Olympics. Team Jeff " Stunt Monkey" Lang, Matt " Commander"DuRose, and Samantha "Miss Mankato" Phillippi.
Thanks to the guys for sporting the Miss Mankato shirts for an extra $20 donation!
oh....and last minute entry Dusty" AKA Miss Mankato body guard " Betow.

Polar Plunge on Valentines day!

Polar Plunge is this Sunday February 14Th, 2010.

Miss Mankato 2010 will join Stunt Monkey's Team "Icy Hot 967 "as the plunge into the extremely icy cold water. High of 17 degrees for Sunday!!

Go to www.specialolympicsminnesota.org to make a pledge!

Miss Coon Rapids 2010 is crowned!

On Saturday Feb. 6th, 2010 the new
Miss Coon Rapids and her welcome party!

Miss America 2010!

Miss America 2010! It is fun to be a part of history and an American tradition.

Mankato, Waseca, and South Central directors in front of the Planet Hollywood theater after the Miss America pageant.

I lost my family to Holly Madison and Mario Lopez.

Brooke made her mark at Miss America! Excited to see what is in store for her next!!

Here She is Miss America!

Miss Minnesota Miss America Celebration!

Looking forward to Brooke Miss Minnesota's Celebration as she leaves for Miss America this Saturday!

My prediction is this will be the last time we will see her before she becomes the new Miss America!

Miss Mankato page is updated!

Go to http://www.missminnesota.org/Locals/mankato.html


Miss Mankato 2010 is Samantha Philippi Age: 20 Hometown: Oakdale, MN Talent: Vocal / Dance Platform: Helping Challenged Children Become Productive Citizens Education: Minnesota State University, Mankato - Junior, Double major Bachelor of Arts in Dance / Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education Employment: Works as a Paraprofessional with students who have emotional and/or behavioral disorders
About the Pageant
Miss Mankato is an OPEN local. Contestants must be a resident, student, or employee in the state of Minnesota. Websites: http://www.missmankato.org/ http://www.missmankato.blogspot.com/
Director: Shelly Bartlett Phone:507-243-4555 Mailing address: 1408 Shoreway Dr, Kasota, MN. 56050 Email: shelraye@hickorytech.net

Miss Mankato's History at state pageant:
2008- Kelsey Malecha was a top 10 semifinalist, Overall Lifestyle & Fitness Award and was one of 5 finalists for the Quality of Life Award.
2007 - Jennifer Hudspeth was crowned Miss Minnesota 2007 and received a preliminary swimsuit award. The last Miss Mankato to be crowned Miss Minnesota was in 1981.
2006 - Amber Kelley was a top 8 semi-finalist.
2005 - Elizabeth Zappetillo was named non-finalist interview winner.
2004 - Heather Schnepf was named a non-finalist interview winner.

Mankato Magazine is out today!

Miss Mankato Samantha Phillippi is in The Mankato Magazine, a product of The Free Press, it is published monthly by The Free Press and covers the lifestyles of people in our region. It came out today! She is featured in the Chilifest Section.

Miss Mankato was ringing and singing today!

Miss Mankato Samantha Phillippi was singing and ringing bells today! OUTSIDE Wal-mart...21 degrees, not bad... sunny and beautiful !
We had so much fun!
Comments were made that we were doing it up right! Paul joined Samantha to delight everyone with Christmas songs.
Spreading the holiday cheer!!! our red kettle was very full and very heavy!
We met some wonderful people including Wesley who is an outstanding military man!
THANK YOU WESLEY! It was an honor to meet you!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Miss Mankato delivers our pageant donation to the Mankato ECHO Food Shelf

Samantha delivered 77 pounds of food to the ECHO Food Shelf recently. Donations were raised by offering a discount on the ticket price at the door of the Miss Mankato Pageant night.

Miss Minnesota CD release Pre Party at the MOA for CMN

Brooke giving the thumbs up ! I would give her a thumbs up for a great day at her CD release party! She hosted a wonderful event for CMN and their families.

Shannon had a few smiles for Samantha.

Miss Mankato serving Chili and the community of Mankato!

Miss Mankato served judge Carol Molnau our Lt. Governor of Minnesota her Chili, along with additional judges Bukata Hayes( 1 of her judges from Miss Mankato 2010) plus Brad Steele and Nicole Winters ( both Miss Mankato 2010 hosts) The Chilifest raised over $16,000 for Minnesota Rett Syndrome Research Association and The Mankato Veterans Memorial Place.

Samantha was able to serve the judges, meet and greet thousands of people, sign autographs, and even serve up some of Shelly's Chili! ( We got 10 people's choice award votes! must have been my secret ingredient..a crown on the server!)

Thank you to my hosts!

Miss Mankato hosts for 2010!

A BIG Thank you to...

BRAD

JENNIFER

NICOLE

JEFF AKA STUNT MONKEY

Miss Mankato Samantha Phillippi!

Crowning..1st runner up Megan Ehlert 2nd runner up Whitney Kermes.. 1st official appearance on KEYC TV...

Miss Mankato 2010 Pageant with visiting local titles

Miss Mankato 2010

Samantha Phillippi

Miss North Metro

Tiffany Gunderson

Miss Capital City Kaylah Dockter

Miss Moorehead Bethany Beniek

Miss Mankato 2009

Kelsey Malecha

Miss South Central Aja Majkrzak

Samantha Phillippi is Miss Mankato 2010!

Miss Mankato 2010

Smantha Phillippi

1st Runner Up Megan Ehlert

2nd Runner up Whitney Kermes

Non Finalist Talent Kelsey McGowan

Non Finalist Interview Jillian Moore

Miss Congeniality Kerri Golombecki

Mankato Community Service Award Tanya Whitcomb

Amazing Non finalists

Chelsie Skorich

Jeanette Sterner

Alexandra Floren

This was very strong competition.

All 10 contestants exceeded my expectations!

THANK YOU GIRLS FOR COMPETING IN MISS MANKATO 2010!