> January 2008 Gallery > April 30, 2008 > March 25, 2008 > February 17, 2008 February 17, 2008 Hello world!  I am so excited to be able to share this amazing journey with you.  If you watch the video of the crowning, I’m sure you can tell how excited I was to win the pageant.  I can honestly tell you that I wasn’t breathing through the announcement of the runners up.  Being able to represent the University that is so dear to my heart is such an honor, and I am glad that I can keep you posted on my year of service to the University community.

This first month as Miss UGA has been busy and wonderful.  If you spotted me on the day after the pageant, my Mom, my sister, Laura, and I went around campus taking pictures.  As we were riding around campus and I was looking at all of the students and buildings, I made the comment, “I represent all of this.”  Mom and Laura both giggled because that probably sounded like, as I call it, a “World Peace” comment.  I meant what I said, however, and take my job that seriously. 

Back to my events:  I visited some first and second graders at Winterville Elementary here in Athens, to discuss cancer prevention basics including saying “No” to smoking, protecting yourself in the sun, and living a healthy lifestyle.  I handed out bookmarks that I made with those cancer basics on them, so hopefully those students will remember what we discussed.  On January 26th, I spoke at the “Inside Out” conference in Jackson, Georgia to a group of high school and middle school girls about improving character and self-acceptance.  I then raced back to Athens to attend the “Pink Out” Gym Dogs meet against LSU.  The “Pink Out” was for breast cancer awareness.  At the end of the meet, I got to hand out flowers to the highest scorers, most of whom were wearing red and black.  Go Gym Dogs!  On February 2nd, I judged a pageant in Buford, Georgia with Miss Southern Heartland, Rachel Evans, and then made an appearance at the Miss Elbert County High School pageant that night.  Elberton is my hometown, and Miss ECHS was the first pageant I ever won.  Congratulations to Corbin Childs, Miss ECHS 2008!  On February 9th, I spoke at Dance Marathon here on campus.  Since it began, the UGA Dance Marathon has raised over $1.2 million for the Children’s Miracle Network.  Later that evening, I emceed the Miss Hart County High School pageant in Hartwell, Georgia.  The Elbert County Blue Devils and Hart County Bulldogs have been long-time rivals, so, as a former Blue Devil, I’m surprised they invited me.  Just kidding!  We do have one thing in common: we’re all Georgia Bulldog fans!  This past week was a busy one.  I had my yummiest appearance to date at IHOP’s National Free Pancake Day, which is a national fundraiser for CMN.  I then rushed off to be auctioned off at the UGA Relay for Life Date Auction.  It was so much fun and all in good taste, of course.  All of the money I raised went to my Pharmacy School relay team.  Go “Rx for a Cure!”  On Wednesday night I helped promote a Salsa dancing event.  Part of the proceeds from the event went to help the relief effort at Union University at Jackson, Tennessee, which was recently hit by tornadoes.  I am still raising money for the relief effort and plan to use that money to purchase gift cards to send to the students, so they can replace what was lost in their dorms.  For more information about the effort, please visit www.uurecovery.com.  On Friday, I attended a National Salute to our Veterans event at the VA Hospital in Decatur, Georgia.  Many of the veterans let me know they were Georgia fans, including Mr. Pete Wheeler, the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service.  He made sure that I saw his UGA class ring. 

Yesterday, I made my first Cure Bears delivery as Miss UGA to the Children’s Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina.  The children there were absolutely wonderful.  Thank you to all of my generous sponsors!  If you’d like know more about the Cure Bears program, please visit www.curebears.org.  My next delivery will be to the Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Georgia on February 29th. 

I know this has been long, but like I said, my first month as Miss UGA has been busy.  Thank you to the UGA community for being so supportive!

Go Dawgs!

Liza