Make Me A Cover Model

Hi Everyone!

If you haven't heard I have been selected out of 1,000 other applicants as one of 25 semi-finalists in Fourpoints Magazine Make Me A Cover Model contest! If you follow the link below you can cast your vote!

http://fourpointsmagazine.com/make-me-a-covermodel

You are able to vote up to 100 times per day but you must log on and off your internet connection or computer.

If selected I will appear on the cover of Fourpoints and have a featured story in the magazine!

Thanks for all your support!

Ashley

P.S. Miss Ohio Outstanding Teen contestant Kelsey Barrett is also in the running! Make sure to cast your vote for her too!

"You Always Made Us Look Good...Because You Did the Dumb Stuff"

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all have been doing well! I have been staying busy with class projects, work and events but squeezed in a little time to blog about some exciting things I had the opportunity to do this past week.

I was invited awhile back to speak at the Ohio FCCLA State Conference. I have been a part of the organization since the eighth grade and it holds a special place in my heart. It is also an integral piece of my platform, "Creating Strong Leaders for Tomorrow". Before I had the chance to speak however, I was contacted by Ms. Pam Huston from the Ohio Department of Education. She stated that she would be featuring me and the two other keynote speakers, Kent Boyd, Ohio FCCLA Alumni and 1st runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance, and Joel Penton, OSU Football Player and recipient of the Wuerffel Trophy in a web-based article. Here is the resulting article.

Friday, I made my way down to the Ohio State Fairgrounds and again found myself in familiar territory, among thousands of students furthering their leadership abilities. I presented my speech on my leadership journey and encouraged students to always think outside the box, challenge themselves and innovate and to never be realistic. One of the fatal flaws of leadership is to accept average performance or mediocre ideas, it is required of us to push boundaries. The students response was great and I hope I ignited some desire in them to create more for themselves. Here is a clip from Joel's presentation of the crowd I got to speak to!

I had a great time getting to interact with the students afterwards and am looking forward to working more with the organization on creating leadership development modules for classrooms to use for years to come!

I will keep everyone posted on new events and information on www.twitter.com/MissMansfield20

For the time being I am focused on my last few weeks of school and graduation! Pray for warmer temperatures and have a great Easter and Passover!

Peace, Love and Happiness

Ashley Warholic

P.S. The title for this blog comes from my friend, Leo Almeida; who served with me on the Ohio State Executive Council when I was a freshman in high school. Leo was referring to my spunky spirit on the stage, in workshops and in breakout sessions when we worked together. I was known and still am thought of as the, "fearless one" and was always recruited to make a fool out of myself, specifically lip sync on stage while dressing in the STRANGEST outfits. But, what can I say, I do love to make people laugh!

A Winning Combination

Hi Everyone!

I have a few spare moments today so I figured I would fill everyone in on what I have been up to for the past few weeks, besides enjoying the warmer temperatures and sunshine!

First of all, and probably the most time consuming of all, I was hired at Dillard's Department Store at SouthPark Mall in Strongsville. I have been working about 30+ hours a week in addition to going to class, finishing homework assignments, meeting with the several organizations I am involved in and more. It has been a little overwhelming in addition to the Miss Ohio prep, platform work and trying to maintain a bit of a social life but I have been hanging in there! I work in the Accessories Department helping customers find handbags, jewelry or watches. The people I work with are great and I have learned a lot, not only about sales and our merchandise but, about people in general. I really enjoy the position and it's not too bad for my bank account either!

In addition to my job I have also, slowly and steadily, begun gearing up for Miss Ohio. I had new advertisement photographs taken at the Renaissance Theatre on my only day off over Spring Break and headshot photographs taken a few days, and a haircut, later! I really love them and working again with Crystal Jo Holt from Crystal Jo Foto and Chris Johannsen Miller from The Open Shutter was great! I had a fantastic time and I think the pictures came out really well!

Also, I was asked by Ohio FCCLA to help judge some National Programs for the State Conference coming up in April. I drove down to Columbus last Wednesday to assist them in the process and helped select the winners for the Student Body National Program. Student Body national peer education program focuses on eating right, being fit and making healthy choices. A former Family and Consumer Sciences Education teacher and I learned about middle school and high school students that had helped raise awareness for this cause in their elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. They educated students on making healthy choices, like saying "no" to drugs, how to eat right and select nutritious foods and how exercise can be fun and healthy! It was so great to see the change that these students were creating and I think we selected three really great winners, although the competition was fierce! In addition, the other judges and myself made our own impact that day. Typically, the score sheets and comments are not given back to the students or teachers making it difficult for students to see how their projects were lacking. The other judges and I felt it important that the feedback be given back to the students in order for them to improve and better make corrections in the future. A simple change that will undoubtedly yield some great results!

In other news, I have made a large change to my future plans and decided not to go to graduate school right away. I had filled out the applications, received letters of recommendation, paid the fees, the whole nine yards however, after my first interview I knew I wasn't ready... just yet. I love Higher Education and believe that Student Affairs is where I will end up in time but I need more experiences in other fields as well in order to make such a large commitment. This definitely changes my plans for the next few months however, although, it is terrifying, not having a rock solid plan, I am confident in my abilities and in God, and for this situation I think that's a winning combination.

I have tons of events coming up including Miss Ohio Forum, Ohio FCCLA State Conference, my last finals week and Graduation. I am so excited for all the opportunities in the next few weeks and I promise to share more soon!

Ashley

P.S Follow me on Twitter at MissMansfield20

Ice Cubes in the Toilet

Hi Everyone!

I hope everyone has stayed safe and warm these past few days! The weather has allowed me a chance to cross off some important tasks on my to-do list including, updating everyone on what I have been up to for the past few months! (Also, the key to a snow day is ice cubes in the toilet according to one of my favorite friends, Miss Lauren Beard!)

In August, I began my senior year at Baldwin-Wallace College. I had a schedule full of capstone and honors courses, internships and leadership positions to keep me extremely busy for my first few months back. I organized sorority recruitment for Alpha Phi this September, was the Co-President of the Buzz Ambassadors Program in the Admission Office and interned in the Student Life Center helping research peer mentor programs and creating leadership materials for organizations across campus. In addition, I made the decision in the summer to pursue a master's degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education and was beginning the long process of applying to graduate schools.

However, although my days were busy I felt like I was missing something and that, I realized, was the Miss Ohio Program. So, in between my 22nd birthday and final exam week I competed in my hometown pageant, Miss Mansfield. I dug out my swimsuit shoes, dusted off the gowns and brushed up on my interview facts and was shocked when my name was called as Miss Mansfield. Miss Mansfield was the first local pageant I ever competed in and it has always been my dream to represent the place I came from at Miss Ohio! The Sunday after the pageant I met with press and my new local directors then packed up to start my final exams (I finished on the Dean's List!).

In December, I continued working on my applications to graduate school in addition to spending time with my family and celebrating the holiday season. I also volunteered at Toy Time, a local organization that donates thousands of toys to families that are in need. It was great to help an organization that provides so many children with a happy Christmas that they potentially would not have had otherwise. I also had to opportunity to be Santa's little helper at the Dial-A-Santa event arranged by Graham's Auto Mall in Mansfield. Children from all over the Mansfield area and beyond dialed in to talk to the big man himself and his elves. I had the best time listening to all the unique wishes and requests!

Miss America this year was so exciting! Miss Ohio, Becky Minger was a resident of the Warholic Inn her first year at Miss Ohio and since then has always been one of our favorites to cheer for! My family and I kept careful watch during the week of Miss America and thought Becky looked stunning and sounded beautiful and intelligent throughout all of the week's events. We were shocked and saddened when Becky did not make the final cut however could not have been more proud of all her accomplishments. We are truly blessed to have Becky in our lives and believe she embodies all the ideals of the Miss America Program. In addition, I believe that the new Miss America, former Miss Nebraska, Teresa Scanlon will be a great representative for the organization and I am so excited to see her throughout her reign.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend an event sponsored by the Kiwanis Club to raise funds for the Friendly House in Mansfield. The event was entitled, "Talkin' with the Tribe" and hosted Matt Underwood from Sports Time Ohio and Bob DiBiasio, Public Relations Executive of the Cleveland Indians. All the attendees enjoyed ballpark food and conversation on one of our favorite teams. My mom and dad both attended with me and between the three of us we managed to win a T-shirt from the raffle, an autographed Travis Haffner jersey that was auctioned off and the 50/50 raffle, we donated the proceeds of the 50/50 raffle back to the Friendly House and all the money from the auction was given to the organization as well! After the festivities had settled down I had the opportunity to speak with Baldwin-Wallace Alumna, Matt Underwood and shared some fun stories about B-W then and now. Later that evening, I had the honor of sharing dinner with seven other students at Baldwin-Wallace College President, Dick Durst's home. We had a lovely evening getting to know each other and discussing after graduation plans. The only rule President Durst gave us for the evening was completing the statement, "If I were President of Baldwin-Wallace I would ..." All of the guests offered his or her small changes to the campus and President Durst was willing and excited to hear all of our advice. He also stated that many of the changes that occurred on campus had began at the table we were sitting at, from students like us. It was a special experience that I will forever cherish.

Now, I am working on fundraising for the Children's Miracle Network, gearing up for judging and speaking for the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America organization and meeting with local students! Also, I am beginning to hear from graduate school programs and must begin interviewing for each school, in addition to finishing my last semester at Baldwin-Wallace!

Below I have included a few photos from over the months!

Stay bundled up and safe!

Peace, love and happiness,

Ashley

Crowning Moment

Press Day with Little Miss Snowflake

Dial-A-Santa Event with Sister Queen, Heather Waterman

With the organizers of Toy Time!

Only SOME of the toys that were donated to families in need!

Miss America Watch Party!

(Me, Ashlee, Mom and Colleen)

Matt Underwood and I at, "Talkin' with the Tribe" Event

"Hate Cannot Drive Out Hate Only Love Can Do That"

Hi Everyone!

I promise to update everyone soon on what I have been up to these past few months (trust me I've been busy hence the lack of blogging.) but first I wanted to share a great experience I had yesterday evening.

Last night, Baldwin-Wallace College hosted Mayor Cory Booker of Newark, New Jersey on campus. Mayor Booker was invited to speak on ethical leadership in addition to the dream and realities of Martin Luther King Jr. However, what Mayor Booker presented was so much more than a lecture and reflection.

Booker began by describing his childhood, parents and the obstacles his family had to overcome. He then seamlessly started to reflect on Martin Luther King Jr.'s dreams and the lessons we must all take away from MLK's short yet impressive life.

Personally, Martin Luther King Jr. has always been of interest to me. I can vividly remember a day in the second grade when I brought my Encarta Encyclopedia on CD-ROM disc into class and played a clip of MLK delivering his, "I Have a Dream," speech. I was in total awe of his powerful words but confused about his obvious message. As a second grader from a small town in the heart of Ohio I had never experienced any race issues. From my perspective, this was a problem of the past, Abraham Lincoln had abolished slavery and, I would definitely have no problem joining hands with anyone! However, as I grew I began to witness the tremendous divide the history of race relations in this country had created for the present and future. Although we, as a nation, have made great strides toward equality for all races and ethnicities we are still a long distance from the dream that Martin Luther King Jr. had envisioned.

Mayor Booker shared and reflected on one of King's poignant quotes, "history will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people." He stated again, " not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people." This statement immediately created a connection for me. Throughout my diversity training and mediating as an Orientation Leader we discussed, "What Would You Do," after watching clips from the identically titled ABC show. The most common question we would ask was, "does silence condone the behavior?" Now, it was almost like Martin Luther King Jr. and Cory Booker were my facilitators and they were asking me, "what is your silence doing to create a solution to the problem?" So many of us believe we know what is right and wrong and what we should do in situations. However, we falter when it comes to our actions. Do we stand up to someone who is doing something we don't agree with or do we merely turn a blind eye? Mayor Booker poked fun at all of the armchair politicians that watch the news and get so fired up that they yell and scream at the TV and pump their fists but when it comes to making actual change do little. Change comes from action.

My favorite point that Mayor Booker made was that it is the day to day kindness and love that creates change and makes a difference. By doing good deeds and spreading kindness each day we will create a more conscientious world that strives to do better for all citizens. Booker also stated that what we see around us is what we are made of. It is easy to see darkness and despair but that means inside we are equally depressed. However, if we look upon our world with hope and ambition we will be able to create possibilities meaning our souls are just as beautiful and courageous. In order for our world to become a better place we must look beyond ourselves and our needs and focus on the people, places and things around us.

Mayor Booker was a huge inspiration to me and I hope my interpretation of his words ignite a flame of activism in you as well. I look forward to making a difference in the people and places around me and I hope you will do the same.

I want to leave you with an African quote that Mayor Booker relayed to us that specifically stood out to me, "When spiderwebs unite they can tie-up a lion." Although we may be a small part to a large problem with action and some help we can create huge changes.


More updates soon!

Ashley

P.S. Follow me on Twitter at MissMansfield20

"Why Is This Happening?"

Hi Everyone!

It's already July? Sure there were fireworks and the temperature did increase to a sweltering ninety degrees but still....doesn't really feel like July. Maybe my mind is stuck in June because it was so out-of-control amazing!

First things first, Miss Ohio week:

As always Miss Ohio week was a great experience! I remember, as a volunteer, hearing that the contestants had a great time making new friends and building skills that they would need for life. However, I always wondered if they were just feeding me a large portion of bologna. Now, I can say that I know for sure they were being truly honest. The friendships that I made last year at Miss Ohio strengthened, new friendships formed and the support from other contestants was overwhelming throughout our time in Mansfield. This group of women were wonderful with extraordinary goals and aspirations; every single one was an inspiration. I had a great week personally as well. I was confident with my interview, felt strong and proud in swimsuit (I ran over 100 miles from May to June!), believed I was beautiful and poised in evening gown, articulate in my on-stage question and graceful during talent. I preformed to the best of my ability and I was really comfortable with the competition portion of the week. Before I knew it, all the preliminaries were complete and all of us were lining up to finish up Friday night's show, little did I know this was merely the beginning of my night! I walked away with five scholarship awards Friday night!!! YAHHHOOOO!!! The winnings were totally unexpected (by the third award I was shouting, "why is this happening to me?!") but I was thrilled to say the least! I was the recipient of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Style Award, Mina O'Guinn Award, Americanism Essay Award, Miss Ohio Community Service Award and for the second year, The Children's Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award. All of these scholarships totaled up to $1,900! On finals night I was excited to see great girls announced into the Top Ten and thrilled to have such an outstanding Top Five. I was c-o-m-p-l-e-t-e-l-y taken back when I won the non-finalist interview award making my overall scholarship total $3,400!! Overall I had such a great time with my favorite girls and won a ton of scholarship money! I am so excited for Miss Ohio 2011, Becky Minger, a former resident of the Warholic home and my Alpha Phi sister! I know that she will be a great representative for Ohio and delegate at Miss America! She deserves every bit of this success! By the way, just to make things clear those girls were definitely not feeding me a ton of bologna.

Next up, Orientation Training and First B-W Summer Orientation:
I was lucky enough to be selected, out of around 80 applicants, as a Baldwin-Wallace Summer Orientation Leader with 15 other students. I left for Berea the Tuesday after Miss Ohio to start "training" and had the best time ever getting to know the other orientation leaders. It was absolutely amazing to see a group of people so diverse and unique come together and be the best of friends. We got to play Whirly Ball, which I suggest everyone try at least once, learn more about Baldwin-Wallace and improve teamwork, communication and other life skills. We concluded with our first summer orientation. All of us got to meet around 200 of B-W's new, incoming students. I cannot wait for the next orientation and for the class of 2014 to be completely welcomed onto campus!

Then, The Continental Cup:
Caitlin Sutter, my friend and sorority sister, is one of the summer interns for The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and asked me months ago to attend the Continental Cup: International Soccer Tournament. She asked me to bring some pictures and myself and just be ready to sign some autographs and enjoy the opening ceremonies. However, this event was SO much more! I arrived to see tons of kids and young adults running around in their soccer jerseys and lots of vendors. 3,400 kids and their families from all over the world were at John Carroll University participating in this huge soccer tournament. I met kids from Italy, Canada, Barbados, India, Boston, Baltimore and a thousand more places (including Wadsworth where they knew my cousin, Connor and Iowa where they knew my friend from high school, Trisha!) and they all wanted my autograph (I promise I am not exaggerating, these kids thought I was SO cool!) We took pictures, I signed autographs and we talked about which Silly Bandz were the best. I had such a wonderful time and I am really grateful to have been invited to such a fun and unique event!

Next, The Ontario Fourth of July Festival:
I have been attending this festival since it's revival several years ago. There is nothing like being home with your good friends, enjoying some fair food, summertime and Independence Day and this year I was invited to participate in the festivities! Laura Russell, Miss Mansfield and Miss North Central Executive Director and Ontario Fourth of July Festival Committee Member, asked me to be involved in the parade and a short autograph signing at the festival. I obviously accepted and was really excited to see some of my favorite friends from Miss Ohio week and hometown friends and fans! Meggie Wittman, Sarah Hider, Amber Bussa, Heather Wells, Marissa Bucheit, Miss Ohio 2011, Becky Minger, Miss Ontario, Jess Burdette and I had a blast playing some games and winning Zac Efron posters! The day finished with some of the best fireworks I have ever seen and a bowl of homemade ice cream! Perfect ending to a fabulous Fourth of July!

Now:
I will be working for the rest of the summer completing a few more summer orientations and the Weekend of Welcome as an Orientation Leader along with babysitting my favorite eleven year old, Lauren. Also, I will be preparing for Alpha Phi recruitment in the fall since I was elected Vice President of Recruitment in the spring. In addition, I will be getting ready for my final year at Baldwin-Wallace and planning for the future, which is the most bittersweet experience ever.

I am really excited for the upcoming year but am also so blessed to have had the opportunities I have had this past year.

Thank You's:
All of my accomplishments this year would not have been possible without these people: Lynda David, the most giving and fun woman I know! Sylvia and Harvey Jensen, the best executive directors! Phyllis Zahn and Ann Brown, the best chaperone and home hostess! The Jacubik's, what would I do without the support of the Hooty-Hoot Club? Emily and Lora Pheils, I will always appreciate your support, thanks Mom! Abby, Ally, Chris and Shelly, you made my week so enjoyable, relaxing and fun! I can't wait for Abby to take me to West Virginia! Nanci Kenith, that style award is thanks to you and your hoop earring selection! Rachel Foore, for helping me so much and being a huge support! FCCLA, the Berea Children's Home and all the other organizations I have worked with over the year, I am so appreciative of your support and your causes! Mr. Buker and family, Dr. Kathy Conderato, Salon Vivace and Bridal and Formalwear by Bee, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! All the volunteers at Miss Ohio week, you made the week an amazing experience and I am so thankful for all your hard work! Toni Shaum, Lindsey Ward, Nicole Carlone, Sarah Spiker, Ashlee Frazee, Scott Sika (I have a button with your name on it!) and all the other friends and family that came to support me, thank you for being the best fan club ever! To all the others I know I have forgotten, thank you, I am truly blessed to have you in my life and all that you have done is appreciated! And above all else, my family! Mom, Dad and David your opinions are invaluable, your support is unmatched and your love, faith and belief in me is unwavering and I will never be able to fully express my appreciation for that.

Enjoy the sunshine and (although I am getting tired of hearing about it too) keep your fingers crossed that Lebron stays at home.

Peace, Love and Happiness
Ashley

Speechless

Hello Everyone!

So, contrary to the title of this new addition I am not at a total loss for words....
or (after sitting here for a solid ten minutes) maybe I am...

Although Miss Ohio is quickly approaching (2 days left to go!) and last minute errands are slowly becoming full day adventures and quiet thoughts of, "Do these shoes really 'go'?" become tearful online searches and frantic trips to every shoe store in a 5 county radius, I still cannot make myself turn out the light and fall asleep (currently it's 2:50 am and I have to rise at 6 am...crazy, I know). However, this BP Oil Spill has me all kinds of fired up! Whatever your view on the disaster I believe everyone agrees it is just that, a terrible (scratch that)...monumental, disaster.

After spending an entire semester, almost solely, devoted to sustainability and environmental learning, after contributing community service for environmental issues for 7 days, from 9 am to 5pm, on the Delaware Seashore with 12 other students, after merely being a citizen of this planet I find it absolutely disgusting that 17647 barrels of oil are pumping out of control into our ocean...everyday.

This disaster is so upsetting because not only did it kill 11 people but it is also affecting immeasurable amounts of wildlife animals and plants and the end to the destruction cannot even be estimated.

Although difficult to find how we, as mid-westerners, can contribute to this problem I urge everyone to become more informed about the products you use in your home(http://www.theredwhiteandgreen.com/2010/05/05/oh-the-irony-dawn-saves-wildlife-with-oil-based-dish-soap/ Did you know that a former board member of BP was also, simultaneously, a board member of Dawn? Or that, although BP markets its product as eco-friendly it's actually created from petro (aka: oil).), the produce you purchase at the store and the daily activities you engage in contribute to the destruction of the environment. Simply learning more about products, foods and activities can help make a small impact on the planet and help us all move towards a guaranteed future. Consider, knowledge and a better understanding, as a gift to the land that we have taken so much from and hurt in so many ways.

See you soon!
Ashley

P.S. It's now 3:52.

Finally!

Hi Everyone!

Holy busy. This past month has been totally non-stop!

First, I had the opportunity to crown one of the six winners at Sweeps! Congratulations Rebecca Zoz, Whitney Fricke, Stephanie Beltz, Tera Coleman, Liz Wong and Devon Stansbury! I am so excited that each of you get to join the Miss Ohio team this year! I had a great time visiting with old friends and seeing all the girls again. It had been awhile since I had been under the lights and close to "spray adhesive" so I had a great time seeing all the gowns and crowns again!

After sweeps I helped out one of my favorite former Miss Ohio's, Melanie Murphy-Miller. Sarah Hider, Chelsi Howman, Miss Ohio, Erica Gelhaus and I had the best time serving up apple dumplings and speaking with the residents of a small town to help raise awareness for Melanie's husband, Matt Miller. Sarah, Erica, Chelsi and I had the best time talking about the competition in June and our future trip to Spring Forum!

I celebrated a wonderful Easter with my family following that appearance and prepared for my upcoming week.

Thursday, after consuming a full blown, sugar-free Rockstar, out of paranoia of falling asleep at the wheel, I drove from B-W to Columbus to attend the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America State Conference the next morning. I woke up bright and early (even though I had only fallen asleep a few hours earlier due to the giant energy drink I consumed! Lesson learned.) and arrived at the Ohio State Fairgrounds only to be turned around because I didn't have five dollars in cash to pay for parking, apparently $3.57 and a few bobby pins wasn't going to cut it. So, I arrived back a few minutes later and walked in to my old territory and it was amazing that although, many things have changed, I still felt like I was home. I met my old state officer friends, walked across stage to be recognized as a special part of the organization and caught up with some of my favorite teachers! I had a great time and hope I can travel to Chicago with the group in July!

The next day, after driving back home to Mansfield, I headed down South again to the Miss Ohio Spring Forum! I loved seeing all my old friends and meeting all the new contestants! We enjoyed snacking on smore's, playing bingo (my new favorite game) and participating in team building and leadership challenges. Shannon O'Neill and I were part of the Blue Blades group and also got to spend some quality time together leading each other blindfolded through an obstacle course! It was such a blast to be back at camp and, like always, I had a fantastic time with all the girls!

After Spring Forum I traveled back to Baldwin-Wallace and hit the books. Finals were quickly approaching and my internship in the Office of Admission was in full swing. However, I did have time to squeeze in my first 5k! I participated in the first annual Bike'N'Hike sponsored by the brothers of Alpha Sigma Phi that benefited the Livestrong Foundation. My Alpha Phi sister's and I kept pace and as a group finished in, around, second place! I had the best time running in the rain and being with some of my best friends...in addition to benefiting a great cause!

With the Bike'N'Hike completed I finished up school projects and cracked open the books and FINALLY, finished the semester!

Now, after hauling every single possession I own back home, am heading back to Baldwin-Wallace and leaving for the state of Delaware on Monday. There I will be participating in an Alternative Summer Break opportunity and cleaning up the beaches of a state park in Lewes, Delaware for a week. I cannot wait to make a small, positive impact on the environment and make some new friends along the way!

I hope the spring weather has treated you all well and you are enjoying the beautiful sunshine! I hope to see you all soon, until then, I wish you all the best and God bless!

Ashley Warholic

P.S. "I've seen and met angels wearing the disguise of ordinary people, living ordinary lives." You were apparently, always, incognito. All my love goes to a woman who inspired me to be my best, Dorothy Warholic.

3,000 Words

So after I wrote my last post I asked my mom to scan and send some pictures of my old glory days.

This is what she sent:







So, a picture is worth a thousand words? I will let these speak for themselves.

I hope everyone enjoys their Passover and Easter!

Best Wishes!
Ashley

Saving The Best for Last

Hi Everyone!

First of all, welcome back to Cleveland, Z!

Next, I want to say good luck to all the sweeps contestants. It has been, almost, one full year since I gained my first Miss America Local Preliminary title, Miss Heart of Ohio, but it feels like yesterday!

I began my journey with this organization when I was around seven years old. I attended Miss Ohio first as a spectator and then was introduced a few years later to the stage where I was to do the most important duty of them all, hand out the crown. As I stood backstage I remember teetering in my two and one half inch heels, grasping on to the crown and anxiously awaiting Miss Juanita's guiding push (that sometimes, accidently, catapulted me onto the stage...obviously she was a little jittery too!). I still remember the faces of the contestants when I walked onstage because as everyone was looking at me (or the crown, but I am going to let my ten year old ego get in the way here and say me) I was looking at them. Amazed at their courage, talent, intelligence and beauty I was almost overcome by complete and total joy. I was on the Miss Ohio stage! I would be one small puzzle piece to this epic story! I hope Mom is getting a picture of this because no one is going to believe me at recess! Fast forward ten years and again I am on stage, teetering in twenty two and one half inch heels (exaggerated of course) getting ready for the results of my first Miss America Local Preliminary pageant. It took a lot of hardwork, a positive attitude and great people all around me to win my first local title (quite awhile after my first local), one year ago. Although it seems like an obvious story it was never always so clear to me. I never imagined I would be standing on stage in a swimsuit or answering intense questions. I, at ten years old, was just happy to be where I was. Now, I am happy (and to be honest, a little shocked) to be where I am.

So, I am very excited to place that coveted crown on one lucky and deserving young lady's head this weekend. It is such an honor to be a part of this organization and knowing that six more women will be added to the 2010 Miss Ohio class is beyond thrilling (cheesy word but so true!).

I thought I had it all at ten but, little did I know...

Good luck contestants!
See you all Saturday!

Ashley Warholic

P.S. Major thank you's to Kim Baker Canary for helping me through out this year! You are the best and I really appreciate all your advice and guidance! In addition, Courtney Monk, Heather Wells and Kristy Moneysmith you will all hold a very special place in my heart!

True Life: I am Miss Greater Cleveland

Hello!
I hope you all have been enjoying the beautiful weather we have been getting lately! It's nice to know that warmer days are ahead of us even though I am sure Mother Nature has some more snow in store.

I apologize for not updating in awhile but with my semester in full swing, Miss Ohio paperwork deadlines and just life in general I have been really busy! However, with spring break underway I have a second to finally breathe and share with you a few things that I have been working on!

Recently, I returned from an FCCLA Regional Meeting in Painesville, Ohio where I got to be on the other side of the table and judge students in the Concept and Curriculum category of FCCLA STAR Events. I listened to Junior and Senior Early Childhood Education vocational students share their themes and the connection to the subjects that are essential in the classroom. I had such a great time conversing with the other judges and learning about their journey with the program. In addition, it was great to see students that are working so hard and are dedicated to teaching children and being positive role models. After my job as judge was finished I had the opportunity to meet with some of the students and hand out awards. I had a great time seeing young adults engaged and participating in the same organization and events that I was as a student.

Also, my sorority, Alpha Phi, just finished our Fourth Annual Red Dress Ball. This great event benefits our philanthropy, The Alpha Phi Foundation, which supports women's cardiac care. We had a fabulous silent auction with tons of goodies, a delicious dinner, dancing and great conversation between family, friends and sisters. My job was to sell raffle tickets for a chance to win fifty scratch-off lottery tickets! I had the best time tearing off an arm's length of tickets (which was about the equivalent of Lebron James' arm length!) and talking with all the supporters. This event was also a great way to spread the word about women's heart disease and the importance of cardiac care. Overall, we raised around $3,000 which is such a blessing to the foundation and will be able to provide for so many sisters and women effected by heart disease.

In other news, my first event after being hired as the Event Coordinator Intern in the Office of Admission at Baldwin-Wallace went really well! I am in charge of organizing prospective student overnight visits in addition to planning get-togethers in hometowns. All our students had a great time, I learned so much from the experience and I am looking forward to developing my skills professionally and helping students make their college decision!

This past week B-W held their Second Annual Sustainability Symposium and I had the opportunity to attend a few of the conferences that were offered. I have grown increasingly aware and passionate about the issue of sustainability over this semester and these meetings furthered my knowledge and interest in the subject. I met with small business owners that are located in the Cleveland area that are world renowned for being "green businesses." Their discussion was inspiring and helpful and I can't wait to continue my studies in this subject.

Lastly, I wanted to extend a huge congratulations to our beautiful Miss Ohio, Erica Gelhaus! She did a fabulous job representing our state at Miss America and I was so proud to call her my friend and my Miss Ohio! Furthermore, congratulations to former Miss Virginia and current Miss America, Caressa Cameron. She had outstanding performances in all areas and I am excited to see more of her in the future!

So, although my brain has been permanently scarred from midterm exams I think I have shared all the information I wanted about what I have been doing over the past month. I have a busy few weeks ahead of me but I will try my best to keep everyone posted!

Pray for more sunshine and higher temperatures!

Best Wishes and Much Love!

P.S. Try to engage in one random act of kindness this week! I spent $4.88 on two fish filet sandwiches, a diet coke and a small fry for the lady behind me in the drive-thru and it was the best money I have ever spent (even with a quickly depleting bank account)! Make someone's day!

Keeping Up with Miss Greater Cleveland

Hi Friends!

First and foremost, I want to say Good Luck! to Miss Ohio, Erica Gelhaus! I cannot wait to see that Miss America crown on her head and literally every time I THINK about watching the pageant I get so excited! I have been watching Miss America since I was a young girl and I have many pleasant memories from those experiences (mainly being able to pick the winner out of all the women for several years in a row without any knowledge on any of the contestants. Kind of cool, right?!) One of my most vivid memories was when I was in the fifth grade and had my best friend Nicki over to the house the night of the pageant. We set up shop on top of my mom's bed with our tipped over laundry baskets as desks and all the Pretty Pretty Princess jewelry and fake tiaras we could find. Oh, in addition, we had sashes made out of toilet paper. We kept score and had the best time picking out the most fabulous dresses on stage. It is amazing to me that now my friend Erica will be on that stage and could very well be in that coveted spot. My fingers are crossed....

Next, I want to address my platform, Creating Strong Leaders for Tomorrow. My platform focuses on the organization FCCLA which I have been greatly involved in throughout my life. FCCLA stands for Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and was formerly FHA (Future Homemakers of America). I began my involvement in eighth grade as a member and by the end of that year held a position as Vice President of Public Relations on the State Executive Council. Along with fourteen other high school students I was in charge of 14,000 FCCLA members statewide. The next year I was re-elected as Vice President of Membership and helped increase Ohio FCCLA's membership from fourth in the nation to second. I had the opportunity to speak in front of thousands of people, be a part of a team that was in charge of a major event, and participate in activities that expanded my knowledge on creating and maintaining a better family, the potential I held as an individual to higher my education and be successful and to enrich the lives of the people around me. Myself and students my age arranged a memorial for September 11th, planting 2,819 flags in the ground to commemorate those who lost their lives. We visited nursing homes and created flour bag babies to take care of for a week. We learned about internet safety, how to execute a complicated recipe and how to balance a checkbook. FCCLA enables students to experience many things that they would not normally get the opportunity to experience. I believe so strongly in this organization not only because it seems to be a worthwhile program but because I know it is a worthwhile program. I know the possibilities and I want to help others realize their own.

In other news, three of my eighteen credit hour schedule is dedicated to a class entitled, Green Business: God, Ecology and Money. The course load has been out of control but to be honest I really enjoy the work! The main project of the class is to conduct a sustainability audit on Baldwin-Wallace College and form ideas on how to lower the ecological footprint of the school. I know it is going to be intense and complicated but I am really looking forward to learning a new skill and being a part of a groundbreaking effort!

I hope all of you have been enjoying the chilly winter months! And let's keep our fingers crossed that the Cavs beat the Lakers tonight! :)

Tumbleflump Dancing-Baubles

Hello Friends!

I hope everyone has been staying safe and warm!

These past few days have been such a blessing and I want to fill you in on some of the special moments this holiday season has brought me.

On Tuesday, December 22nd my mom and I set out for some last minute shopping for the girls of the Berea Children's Home. We purchased DVD's, pajama pants, hairbrushes, headbands, chapstick, body spray, scarves, gloves, some candy and a partridge in a pear tree (kidding about the partridge of course!). We brought it all back home and added it to our collection of tote bags, fleece blankets, manicure sets and Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer and began assembling the gifts. They turned out really cute and I was excited to give them to their deserving owners the next day!

(I am a fashion disaster in this photo, please do not hold that against me.)

So, on Wednesday my mom and I hopped into the car and made the hour and fifteen minute trip up to Berea to drop off our eight little gifts. I met with the girls and explained to them that I was Miss Greater Cleveland, a little detail that gave way to millions of questions. We spoke for awhile and then I distributed the packages. They were all so grateful and excited and I promised that I would visit soon and we would have lunch and next time I would bring my crown!

Christmas Eve was spent with my family watching the traditional, The Christmas Story, along with some other holiday movies. A few hours later it seemed, we were exchanging our presents and then heading to the place we have been going for about 12 years, The Brown Derby Roadhouse. Since I was nine years old my parents, brother, and occasionally aunt and uncle have been making our way to the banquet room of this local restaurant. There we serve the less fortunate a hot Christmas meal that includes turkey, mashed potatoes, dessert, and a plethora of side dishes. The opportunity to enrich others lives on such an important day has really shaped my life and helped me realize the importance of community service and, more importantly, it has taught me generosity and love. The family that owns the restaurant donates all the food that is used to serve the hundreds of people that come through the door. The volunteers donate their time that they could be spending with family and friends. The individuals that are perhaps down on their luck, without a family, or in need of meal bless everyone that is helping with gratitude and appreciation. The day is a beautiful mixture of thanks and benevolence, there are people who are genuinely thankful for what they are receiving and people who are happy to be able to give. My family and I finished up our day and came home to leftovers and more movies, a perfect Christmas day.

Since then I have been enjoying time with my family and bracing myself for my next semester at school. I have also been teaching snowboard lessons at my local ski resort and practicing driving in the snow (I have SO not mastered this skill yet so if any of you have any tips please fill me in!).

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and I will be sure to update soon!

P.S. The title of this blog is the name a Christmas elf name generator created for me. You can now call me Tumbleflump.

Grown Up Christmas List

Hi Friends!

I am trying to keep my promise of staying on top of my blog and in celebration of finals being over I figured tonight would be a great night to update!

After my last update, which happened to be on Thanksgiving Break, I went back to school to finish up the semester. However, right in the middle of that was my birthday! YAY! My friends and my family were so sweet and I was sent flowers, my door was decorated and one of my best friends took me to get a pedicure (first one ever! and I can definitely say it won't be my last!). I had a great time and everyone made it one of my best birthdays ever!

I finished up my last week of classes that week and prepared for..dun dun dun. FINALS. I was so upset that I could not make it to the Miss Mansfield Pageant on Saturday but literally my brain was about to explode just thinking about all the work I had to do. So I sent my mom. (She was a very willing candidate!). The next morning I got a call with all the news from the show. She mentioned everything from how the stage was BEAUTIFUL to how I was now the proud, new owner of a Christmas tree designed by Miss Sasha Eby! She told me everything...everything. It was great to hear about the competition though and I was very excited to hear that Amber and Heather won! Congratulations! and I cannot wait to spend another week at Miss Ohio with you two!!!

So, after the chat with my Mom it was back to studying for a crazy week.

Although there was not a lot of time to get many other things done besides sleeping, eating and studying one of my good friends, Colleen, and I went shopping for some friends that were in need of some Christmas cheer. The little buddy I was shopping for was Jessica and she was two and a half years old and Colleen was looking for goodies for Isabella who was six. We had the best time picking out clothes and looking for the perfect toys to make the holiday season a little bit brighter for these two little girls. Colleen also had a great time picking out miniature sized clothes for me and selecting outfits she envisioned me wearing as a child. Overall, we walked away with some great things (these girls are about to be stylin' at school!!) and a great feeling!

In addition, I have been collecting things for some of the residents of the Berea Children's Home. I cannot wait to deliver the bags of treats to the kids! (If anyone knows where some cute pajama pants are, let me know!)

Today, I had to tear down my Christmas tree (which I set up only two weeks ago) and pack all of my belongings that I could maybe, possibly, sorta-kinda, potentially need over the course of a month and head back home to Mansfield. I am really looking forward to the break (even though I will be working..if teaching little kids to snowboard is considered work!?) and the holiday season!

I hope everyone has been enjoying these past few weeks. I want to leave you with one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs! If anyone saw me on road between Berea and Mansfield you most likely saw me belting this song (luckily no one else was in the car. YIKES!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxtluFgCRW8&feature=related

Keep warm!
Ashley

Forgive thyself little, others much.

It's official: I am the worst blogger known to man. I want to sincerely apologize for dropping off the face of the planet and leaving you all in the dark! I created this blog with the intention to keep everyone up to date with what I was doing during my reign as Miss Greater Cleveland and to use it as a means of communication with the community. However, I failed... miserably, and I want to say I am sorry and I am going to do my best from now on to update! So, I am hoping you can all find in it your hearts to forgive me and read on about all the fun things that have been keeping me SO busy!

First, I started my Junior year at Baldwin-Wallace College! My schedule this semester was jammed packed with classes ranging from Legal Environments of Organization to Dance in America, with everything else in between! As I am sure you can imagine it's a ton of work and I feel like I always have an Economics test or a presentation in my Business and Professional Speaking class. On top of that my involvement in my sorority, Alpha Phi, and my on-campus job as a tour guide keep me really busy!

However, just a few short weeks into school I participated in a fashion show at Catan Fashions! I had such a great time chatting with the other girls, laughing with Meggie and of course, trying on clothes! Down below are a few pictures from the day!

All the models in our fun outfits!

Erica!

The lovely Erica Gelhaus was in attendance and entertained the Catan's crowd while "Sylvia's Girls" were the models for the day. In addition, all the profits from the ticket sales went to help the Miss Greater Cleveland and Miss Cuyahoga County Scholarship Program's future show! We all had a fabulous time and it was really nice to spend a day with some of my favorite people showing off great clothes!

Next, Meggie Wittman, Miss Cuyahoga County/ Partner in Crime/ Sister Queen and I had the opportunity to speak with Alison Nottingham, a former Miss Ohio Local Contestant turned Cleveland.com journalist. She asked us questions on all types of different subjects. She mainly focused on fashion but did ask us our opinions on Toddlers and Tiaras! (Click in to see our responses! http://blog.cleveland.com/seasonal-cle/2009/10/miss_ohio_hopefuls_share_fall.html ) Alison also asked us to wear a typical, everyday outfit, a cocktail dress, and an evening gown. Down below is my favorite picture from the day, Meggie and I in our cocktail dresses!

So once all the glitter had settled from all the fashion shows and interviews I decided it was time for me to re-focus my energy and start helping the community!

First, I started by helping my sorority with our annual Cardiac Arrest philanthropy event. We raised over one thousand dollars for our foundation that supports women's cardiac care! Heart disease is the number one killer of women in America so it was really important to me and my sisters to educate women our age, and older, on the importance of cardiovascular care. It was also great that we were able to raise money for the continuation of research in this field.

Next on my agenda was to assist another fabulous sorority on campus with their philanthropy event! The sister's of Phi Mu decided to hold an event entitled, "BW's Best Dance Crew" in order to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network! As soon as I caught wind of this fantastic idea I asked to be involved in every way possible. So, the Vice President of Community Service appointed me as one of the judges for the event! I had such a great time watching the teams compete (most were fraternity men with no rhythm!) and interacting with the other members of the judges panel. The women of Phi Mu did such a great job with this event and I am proud to say that they raised over five hundred dollars to go towards the Children's Miracle Network and even graciously contributed fifty dollars to my efforts! I am truly honored that these women asked me to be a part of their event and it was really great to see every one's hard work pay off in the end!

So, now that I have brought everyone up to speed with what I have been doing these past few months I think it would be important to add what I am currently working on!

Recently I have been in touch with the Berea's Children Home and after discovering their need for common goods and fun little treasures I am working on putting together tote bags for some of the main residents of the facility. I love children and I am SO looking forward to surprising the little ankle biters with some treats around the holiday season.

In addition, I have been working on creating a leadership activity coloring book that I can take into schools and facilities like the Berea's Children Home to help kids get a better grasp at what being a leader is really all about. It's in the process of being produced right now and I cannot wait to see the final product!

I am going to leave you now with two photos. One depicts the true joy I feel every December 2nd, the day of my birth. The other should remind everyone to eat and be merry during the holiday season!

"Happiness is the experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude."

Ashley Warholic

Hi Everyone!

Wow! August has been such a crazy month! After the Miss North Coast Pageant and Bowling for Books I made my way to the Miss North Royalton Pageant! My directors, Sylvia and Harvey Jensen, put on the North Royalton Pageant for children and young adults in the North Royalton area. Seeing young faces answer tricky questions with ease and walk gracefully around the stage was such a fantastic opportunity. All of the participants really did an awesome job and the crowns could have gone to any of the contestants!! I got to perform on stage during the pageant and it felt great to get back on pointe. The experience was truly enjoyable and I hope to be back next year to see how the young ladies and men progress. Continuing on my Miss Greater Cleveland adventure I attended Browns Training Camp to support one of my all-time favorite sports teams. I had a blast in Berea (right down the street from my college campus!) watching the team scrimmage each other and practice. I cannot imagine doing what they do in that heat!! HOLY TOLEDO! Afterwards a few of the players came over to take pictures and sign autographs, sadly it was not Brady Quinn, but I was really excited to see just about anyone! I have included some of the pictures from that day!

"This Girl Loves the Browns!"

Adam Hoppel!

About a week later Sylvia invited me to go to the Thistledown Horse Track to see the 42nd Annual Miss Ohio Stakes horse race! I had a great time watching the horses, meeting the public and jockeys, and interviewing on-air with the announcer. It was a really unique opportunity that I am so fortunate to have! Here again are some pictures from the day!

In addition to all of these special events I moved back into school and am starting my Junior year at Baldwin-Wallace College. I am excited to be back at my second home and in part of the area I represent as Miss Greater Cleveland. I am not only looking forward to working with some of the youth in the area to promote leadership and education but am also thrilled to be raising funds for the Children's Miracle Network!

I will make sure to keep everyone posted on any new endeavors!

Hello Everyone!

Oh my goodness! I had the best time Friday night bowling with some of my favorite Miss Ohio friends and The Ohio State University Football Team! Not only did we have a blast bowling with supporters and friends, we raised money and books for the Second and Seven Foundation, which promotes literacy through Central Ohio. I captured a few moments of fun on film!

My sister queen Meggie Wittman and I striking a pose!

Making sure our shirts were priceless keepsakes!

Miss Ohio Ladies and The Buckeyes!

I had not bowled well ALL evening but when I got to my friend Macy's lane I bowled a STRIKE! Needless to say, she is my new lucky charm!

Autographing T-Shirts is more difficult than it looks!

This fundraiser was absolutely fabulous and I am so thankful to Erica and her helpers for extending an invitation my way! Giving back to the community provides one of the best feelings in the world and I am so blessed to be able to contribute to such a worthy cause!

Hello Friends!

I must admit, I am VERY excited to be posting for the first time on my own blog! I decided recently that the opportunities the internet provides far outweigh the misfortunes and I should try my hand at blogging. This realization coincided perfectly with my newly accessorized head! On July 24th, I was crowned Miss Greater Cleveland 2010 and therefore have the honor of representing the Greater Cleveland area! In addition, this provides the opportunity for me to compete with other young, talented and intelligent women at Miss Ohio this upcoming June. In order to keep family, friends and supporters updated on my pageant and everyday life events I have created this blog to capture glimpses of my busy days.

So, now that all of that has been taken care of let's get down to business!

First and foremost I want to congratulate Cayla Hellwarth, Miss Lake Festival, my sister queen, Meggie Wittman, Miss Cuyahoga County, and the newly crowned Miss North Coast, Sarah Hider! I am so excited to be able to share the stage with these fabulous young women in June! Here are some pictures from the Miss North Coast Pageant that I attended yesterday evening:

My directors, Sylvia and Harvey Jensen

One of my best friends from Miss Ohio Week, Sasha Eby, Miss North Coast 2009

Miss North Coast Contestants

Sasha Eby, Miss North Coast 2009, Sarah Hider, Miss North Coast 2010, and Myself

Secondly, I wanted to share some pictures that were recently taken at one of my hometown hotspots, Kingwood Center. A family friend who likes to dabble in photography, my mom and I had a fun day goofing around and getting a few shots that I can hopefully use in the future. Here are some of my favorite images out of the 518 we snapped!

Some upcoming events I have scheduled are the Miss North Royalton Pageant, which Sylvia has informed me that more than 40 participants have signed up!, a Thistledown Horse Race, Training Camp with the Cleveland Browns, and a Catan's Fashion Show!

I am very excited for all the events and opportunities in store for me this year and I will do my best to keep everyone updated!

Best Wishes,

Ashley Warholic

Miss Greater Cleveland 2010