Miss South Carolina Teen 2008

Moving Day

2009-05-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

   Hard at work!
   Pretending to work!
   All of my stuff crammed into the van!

As school comes to an end it is exciting for me to think about the fact that I survived my Freshman year at the University of South Carolina! However, it was not exciting to face moving day. After my final exams were finished I had to wonderful task of moving all of my belongings out of my dorm room. Thankfully I recruited some help from my friend Devin Taylor who plays football at the University.

Special Olympics

2009-05-27T12:58:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful time volunteering at the Greenville Area Olympics at Furman University. My mother teaches a special needs class, and I got to walk around and watch her students compete. This was one of my favorite appearances so far.

Miss SC day at the capitol

2009-05-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

The contestants and I had a wonderful time at the statehouse in April. We had the opportunity to be introduced on the house floor and meet our representatives from our area! In the picture above, I am posing with Anna Perry, Miss South Carolina and Taylor Fitch, Miss America's Outstanding Teen

There She Is...

2009-02-25T13:39:00.000-08:00

I recently attended the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas to support the very lovely Anna Perry. All of the teen state title holders were invited to take part in the festivities and even perform on the Miss America stage in a dance number. It was truly the experience of a lifetime.

An advertisement for the pageant that was right outside of the Planet Hollywood hotel where we stayed.
Posing with Phyllis Gibson on final night waiting to congratulate Anna for winning the non-finalist talent award.

On the way back home from nevada we had a connecting flight in Detroit, where it had recently snowed. In this picture, I am displaying my excitement and how chilly I was since I was wearing flip flops!

An Exciting New Year!

2009-01-05T16:11:00.001-08:00

I was lucky enough to attend my first ever bowl game this year! It was my mother's Christmas present to go see Clemson play in the Konico Minolta Gator Bowl, and I got to go. Now I know I am a gamecock but I simply couldn't pass up this wonderful opportunity to go with my mom and my cousin, Cristian.

Posing for a quick photo with Jacoby Ford, #6, at the Jacksonville Zoo.
A picture with President Barker in the Omni Hotel lobby.
I saw this little boy and could not pass up getting a picture with the youngest and cutest fan I had seen!
My cousin, Cristian, and I posing with coach Dabo Swinney.

Veteran's day at Northwest Middle School

2009-01-05T16:06:00.001-08:00

I was so glad to be a part of the Veteran's Day festivities at Northwest Middle School.

Michael Cogdill spoke during the service that honored veterans.
The Blue Star Mothers and I after the service at Northwest Middle School.

A visit Home

2008-12-28T10:51:00.000-08:00

Posing backstage with Dawson, one of the Miss South Carolina Organization's best supporters!
With Paul White, the field director for the upstate region of South Carolina, it was great to get together and goof off with the whole committee.
Waiting backstage with my Palmetto Princess, Colby Woody.
Heather Peele, Miss Powdersville 2008 and Laura Stamm, Miss Greenville being silly during rehearsal of the opening number.

During the month of November, I was asked to emcee the Miss Greenville Teen, Miss Greenville County Teen, Miss Powdersville Teen 2009 triple crown pageant. I have written about it earlier in my blogs but now I am able to upload the photos from my visit home!

Some Pics from USC

2008-12-28T07:56:00.000-08:00

While at the University of South Carolina I have been able to participate in several community service projects, including the annual Clemson-Carolina Blood Drive.

Here I am giving blood! I have always been afraid of needles so this was a big accomplishment for me! I am very proud of ll the students who donated their time and blood to help make this drive very successful. USC ended up having almost double the amount of donors...Go Gamecocks!
Proudly displaying my arm bandage!

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!

2008-12-27T17:41:00.000-08:00

I know it is a little late to be talking about decorating for Christmas but.......The Miss South Carolina Organization had a tree featured at the Greenville Pickens Motor Speedway in Easley sponsored by Pet Dairy. The office staff did a fantastic job of decorating the tree! I was battling the flu and could only arrive to put on some finishing touches. Here are some photos:

Other people were there to decorate their own trees!

Being silly!

The final product!

A visit to the Richard M Campbell Veteran's Hospital

2008-12-27T14:19:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to visit the Richad M Campbell Veteran's Hospital in Anderson to deliver girl scout cookies that had been donated for those who have served our country. It was wonderful to meet the patients and the wonderful staff at the hospital.

Most of the residents in this hospital are men. However, there are some women who have served our country in the service as well, that live in the facilities.

Talking with another woman veteran about her time of service to our country.

Everyone loves girl scout cookies!

It was so touching to meet these veteran's who have served in many of the wars our country has faced, including WWII and the Korean War.

This is Sherry Fleming, who was so kind to give me a grand tour of the facilities and introduce me to everyone.

Go Rebels!

2008-12-24T07:29:00.001-08:00

During the first of the month, I traveled to Clemson to watch the 4A South Carolina High School State Chamionship game between the Byrnes Rebels and the Sumter Gamecocks. My father is on the coaching staff for Byrnes High School, so needless to say, I was very excited to see them win 31-21! After the game, I was able to get on the field to take some pictures with the team and coaching staff. My family was also babysitting my nephew, Seth, that week. He got to experience his first time standing on a football field....and I don't think it will be his last!

Starting from the right: My father and I after the game; Seth playing on the football field; posing with the head coach and state championship trophy; grabbing a quick picture with some state champs; getting a picture with Marcus Lattimore, one of the best high school running backs in the nation!

What a Busy Month!

2008-12-24T06:48:00.000-08:00

I am excited to be finished with my first semester at the University of South Carolina! It has been so exciting to be taking such a big step in my life while I am serving as Miss South Carolina Teen. At the beginning of the month I had a photo shoot with the very talented Amanda Ferguson. I had so much fun taking photos in her studio and posing with her three daughters, who are palmetto princesses and princesses in waiting...I definitely see some future Miss Americas in that family! Later that week, I made an appearance at an Easley chamber of commerce function with Taylor Fitch, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2009, and had the opportunity to meet some of the business leaders from Easley. I was great getting to see Taylor and her mom and catch up with everything that has been happening in their lives. Taylor has been blessed with many exciting opportunities so make sure you check out her blog! click here to view Taylor's blog. I was also able to get into the Christmas spirit by participating in the Spartanburg Christmas Parade. I was so thankful to be invited by Mr. Joe Elmore, owner of the Spartanburg Peddler Steakhouse, to ride in his car. I rode with two of my palmetto princesses and then had a great time eating dinner at The Peddler afterwards. One of my favorite appearances this month was Anna Perry's Music for Miracles Concert that she organized in order to raise money for Children's Miracle Network. I got to play my banjo with a professional bluegrass band! I played the banjo solo from Foggy Mountain Breakdown and they played the back up. This was my first time playing with a live band on stage! The concert was very successful and included Taylor Fitch, Anna Perry, the Spartanburg High orchestra, Palmetto Princesses, and even Santa Claus! I am very proud of Anna for her hard work and dedication to raise money for Children's Miracle Network.

My Palmetto Princess, Ella Meyers, and I after the Music for Miracles concert.

A New Idea...

2008-12-24T06:31:00.000-08:00

Hello All!

I have been busy, busy traveling the state and loving every minute of it! I have met some wonderful people and have truly enjoyed the experiences that we have shared. I have taken A LOT of pictures and would like to be able to share them with everyone. Therefore, I have started this new blog, which will be linked from the website just like my other blog. Now I will be able to show pictures and videos from all of my appearances! Enjoy!

Courtney Cisson

Miss South Carolina Teen