Intro & Day ONE!!

Hello All!! I will be blogging about my European study aboard opportunity throughout the month of May! Keep up with me while I am experiencing the beauty and wonder of the Eastern World!! By the end of this trip I hope to be a changed person with widened perspective and a deeper appreciation for all things! 

Day One:

Today is a travel day. We boarded a plane in Fargo, ND at 11:50 am and landed in Chicago, IL at 1:30.  The flight was comfortable and we are currently enjoying a five hour layover until our international flight to London, England! I am completely excited for this flight because it is full of firsts: first long flight over the ocean, first meal on a plane, first overnight on a plane….oh yeah, it is going to be my first time in Europe! Once we get to London we will enjoy another five hour layover! Yay!!

 Outside of the Hector International Airport in Fargo, ND

 My first seat companion, Lyndsey Schrader! 

My clubby, Jordan Philippi and I in the Chicago O'Hare International Airport

            I am really excited for Athens because I am hoping it will be as beautiful as they show it in the movies! But I am pretty sure it will be even more breathtaking in person! I am really looking forward to the weather, because it will be low 70s the entire time we are there and that is by far my favorite temperature. More awesome adventures to be blogged and cataloged!

(p.s. you can follow my entire journey on instagram. Follow me at kenzi_kovar) 

-Kenzi

Kidz Fest 2013

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of volunteering with the Dorothy Day Food Pantry at the first Kidz Fest hosted by the Y in downtown Fargo! There was a beautiful turn out of children and parents from the local churches and shelters. A wonderful and healthy lunch was provided by Erberts and Gerbert's along with contributions of the Y. There were several activities that helped teach the kids and parents alike the easy ways to live a healthy lifestyle. There was baseball, bread dough sculpture making, a lesson in nutrition along with homemade trail mix, and family Zumba. As this was the first year everyone involved was very happy about the turn out and how smoothly the day ran! A huge thanks to the Y and all they donated and contributed!! While talking to the kids they were all really excited and at the end of the day they had enjoyed all the activities and were wanting to come back the following weekend to play again! I had a blast and I am looking forward to the 2nd Annual Kidz Fest in 2014!

Xoxo 
Kenzi

Miss Minnesota 2013

I had an absolute blast at Miss Minnesota!! To be a part of an organization that is so selfless is a true blessing! I am honored that I got to share my first experience at Miss MN with such wonderful women who are servers for their community and their state! The opportunities presented to us during the week of Miss MN were incredible! Gillette, IHOP, Open Arms, Lillihei Heart Institute and the Capitol were amazing!!! We even got to spend the whole week with Miss America's Outstanding Teen, Rachel Wyatt! She was a hoot and a half, full of grace and poise and I am so blessed to have met such a lovely young woman!
I was named the Overall Talent Winner for Non-Finalists! I can't tell you how much this means to me! I am so very grateful to have such a support system behind me! A HUGE congrats to Rebecca Yeh, Miss Northwest, on being crowned the new Miss Minnesota 2013!! You will do absolutely wonderful at Miss America, I am sure of it!
I am so thankful for having the opportunity to be your Miss Moorhead 2012 and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for all of you! I do this job because I love it! You have all blessed me and I hope that my year so far had blessed you! I am excited to be entering the summer season because that means so many more parades and pageants to attend!
Peace and Blessings!!
Makenzi Kovar

Avant Garde

This past weekend I was invited to participate in the Avant Garde Fashion Show at Whiskey River for the second year! Rebecca Rossum from Sa Stone Spa and Salon in Perham transformed me into someone who looked like they just rolled out of a Suzanne Collins novel! Several local vendors had booths and models in the show and the night was a complete success! A huge thank you to Rebecca and everyone at Sa Stone! Here are some pictures:

Laine Miller and I at Sa Stone before the show!

Rebecca our stylist after the show! 

Our friend Kasey Wacker who attended the show! 

Blood Drive!

Yesterday Concordia College had a blood drive. The event lasted all day and had a great turn out! I faced my fear of needles again and donated!! I always feel so great after I donate because I think of all the lives that could be saved! Those are the types I think about instead of the needle!! Gahh! I don't know how I could still be afraid of them! It will probably be like spiders, always giving me the heebeejeebees!! 

I am getting really excited about contestant workshop that is coming up this weekend and for the MISS MN OUTSTANDING TEEN PAGEANT!!! Special Good Luck shout out to my sister queen, Hailey Jutz!! You are a beautiful young woman and I know you will just shine on the stage Saturday night!! Love you girlie and God Bless!!

MNOT Send Off

Sunday afternoon was a great day at the Frazee Events Center in Frazee, MN. It hosted a send off for three lovely local title holders. My sister queen, Hailey Jutz, Miss Red River Valley's Outstanding Teen, my previous sister queen from when I held the title of Miss Vergas 2011, Lauren Anderson, Miss Perham's Outstanding Teen and Becca Sorlien-Riewer, Miss Frazee's Outstanding Teen.

Hailey Jutz (MRRVOT), Becca Sorlien-Riewer (Frazee OT), Lauren Aderson (Perham OT)

The afternoon was a blast as we got to watch the girls strut their stuff in their outfits they plan on wearing for competition at Miss Minnesota's Outstanding Teen on April 6th. Along with interviews of the sister queens and princesses. All of the girls looked beautiful and did such a great job promoting their platforms! One last appearance to help prepare them for MNOT! Good luck Hailey and the other girls as well!!

Group Shot!! 

Lauren Anderson, Miss Perham's OT 2012 and my Princess Altona 2011 :)

Family photo! 

Hailey Jutz, Miss Red River Valley OT; Lexie Moe,  Red River Valley Princess

One of my sister queens, Lexie Moe, Red River Valley Princess 

Miss Perham, Leah Wuebben and I supporting our sister queens at their send off! 

Just a reminder that there are 5 days left in March!! Keep the madness going and donate food or funds to your local food shelf!! Be A Hero!!

God Bless

Highlights

This week has been super busy! Here are some of the highlights!

I spent Wednesday night renewing my CPR and First Aid training and had a blast at the Fire Hall with my mom and other local childcare providers.

I got to see my head shots from my Miss Moorhead photoshoot with Wagoner Portrait Studio in Detroit Lakes, MN! I had such a blast and felt so beautiful! Credit goes to Lana Kelly of Blessed Be Photography for my hair and make up! Here are some of my favorites:

Tonight is especially exciting because my high school is playing in the boy's basketball section finals at Concordia against Crosby- Ironton!! Let's Go Jackets!!!!