Without the support and generosity of the
following persons, the Miss Czech-Slovak US pageant would not exist.
This colorful and entertaining national ethnic event stems from donations and sponsorship. This year is the 23nd
pageant and we anticipate a strong and exciting competition. We have 14 outstanding contestants for the title of 2009-10 Miss
Czech Slovak US. In addition, to the many hours of volunteering by pageant committee, the following generous donors have furnished
sponsorship awards.
This year the pageant is thankful
for the generosity of our primary sponsor the Western Fraternal Life Association of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Western Fraternal Life generous donation the $1500 Cash Award for the contestant crowned the national queen, $1,000 Savings Bond for the 1st runnerup,
a $500 Savings Bond for the 2nd runnerup, and $2245 towards the general pageant fund. The WFLA also sponsors $2500
to the young lady crowned the national queen to use towards a trip to either the Czech
Republic or the Slovak
Republic. In total the WFLA generously donates $6995.00
The pageant contestants are housed in the
historic Wilber Hotel for three days. These hotel rooms are sponsored by, jointly one room, Donna Gruntorad
of Grand Island, NE; Jim and Caralee Gruntorad of Eldridge, IA; and Bob and
Eulalia Dory of Colorado Springs, CO, sponsoring the other rooms are Helen Zach, T.J. Sokol Hall,
Doris and Lloyd Ourecky, Gary’s Place (Gary and Kristin Karpisek), Wil-Bol Lanes and the Wilber Care Center all
of Wilber, Nebraska, Minnesota State Czech/Slovak Pageant Committee of Montgomery, MN and John Fiala, of Lincoln, Nebraska. The cost of each hotel bedroom for three days is $145.00
The pageant would also like to thank other
pageant sponsors. These pageant awards are sponsored as follows: John Fiala of Lincoln, NE sponsor both Talent awards, $500 cash award
to the Talent winner and a $300 cash award to the Talent runnerup. Lisa “Karpisek” Messman
of Unionville, MO donated
$1000. This will be used to purchase two $500 savings bonds, one for each of the Americanized and Authentic Costume (Kroj)
Awards and $500 towards the general pageant fund. A $50 cash award and Slovak Crystal will be presented to the Oratory award
in memory of Alice “Fiala” Rokusek and is sponsored by Dr.
Cecelia Rokusek, Slovak Honorary Consul of Florida, of Lauderhill,
FL. A $250 cash scholarship award to the contestant crowned the national queen
in memory of John Rokusek, sponsored by Dr. Cecelia Rokusek. There will also be a Miss Congeniality
award determined by a vote among the pageant’s contestants, this winner will receive a $100 cash prize from the Wilber Bakery and Bohemian Garnets. Adrian Fiala of Lincoln, NE is sponsoring the Lois Fiala Spirit Award, a
$250 cash award to the contestant who best exemplifies the Spirit of the Czech/Slovak Heritage. The TJ
Sokol Hall donates a $100 cash prize to the contestant with the best Sokol Routine, four contestants will be competing
for this award. Security 1st Bank of Beatrice/Clatonia
has donated $350 and the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Science has donated $150 and the Czech Language Foundation has donated $200 towards the general pageant fund, to go towards the trophies,
crowns and flowers for the queens.
The Wilber Czech Festival is known for
its heat but to keep the contestant’s cool and not hungry, the Crete Food Mart, Crete, NE has donated 4 cases of water
and the Wilber Food Mesto of Wilber donated a $25 gift certificate to be used for snacks. Maggie
and Ernest Grmela of Maggie's Fabric Patch in West, Texas has generously 3 Czech/Slovak dancer's clocks to be used as
gifts for our volunteer judges. You can find your own Czech/Slovak clock on Maggie's website www.maggiesfabricpatch.com
This year we have a new award the Heritage
Involvement Award. This award is presented to the contestant who best expresses her heritage involvement as judged by her
pageant application. Daniella Olszova of CzechFolks.com has generously donated a $100 cash prize
and Czech Crystal. This year we have a new sponsor Krumlov Crystal of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They have generously donated 4 pieces
of Bohemian Czech Garnets that will be presented to the National Queen, 1st Runner Up, 2nd Runner Up
and Miss Congeniality.
Another contribution involves future queen
contestants who are also known as “Little Sisters” who are escorts for the pageant contestants. They will be introduced
during the pageant ceremonies and will be listed in the pageant program. A special breakfast sponsored in memory of Richard
Mares is attended by the pageant’s contestants, and the pageant committee person on Sunday morning at St. Wenceslas
Church. The pageant committee consists of Pageant Director MaryElizabeth Lackey
and Assistant pageant committee member: Sharon Brozovsky, Brenda Cereny, Judy Florian, and Natasha Vavra. Other people who
share their time and talents include, Sharon Kastanek, Brad Kalkwarf, Tim Linscott. B.F.
Fictum sponsors the pageant programs. Shirley Pecka and Brenda Watson, both of Wilber,
NE audit the judges score. Keith Mueller leads as the Master of Ceremonies for
the pageant. Sandy Ptak, the 2008 Miss Czech Slovak US, Christy Kessler, 2008 1st Runner Up and Maria Cox 2008
2nd Runner up will serve as hostess to the contestants at the Wilber Hotel.
We hope all will join us for the 2009 Miss
Czech Slovak US pageant August 1 and 2
at 7pm at Wilber’s beautiful outdoor theatre. Everyone is invited to a post-pageant party at the Sokol Hall directly
following the crowning ceremony on Sunday evening. A Special thank you to Sandy Schnackenberg and Donna Gruntorad for hostessing
this post party event.
All of the above mentioned persons and
organizations are partners in America’s
most colorful, exciting and entertaining ethnic pageant.
