Our Sponsors
The Miss Czech Slovak US pageant is a non-for-profit organization. All volunteer time and awards are donated. We appreciate all our sponsors, without our sponsors we could not give over $10,000 in cash and prizes to deserving woman across the United States.
Donate to the Miss Czech Slovak US Pageant!
A simple donation goes a long way!
$25 provides meals for a contestant during the pageant weekend
$100 provides crowns for the national queen, 1st and 2nd runner up
$150 provides housing for a contestant during the pageant weekend
$250 provides a special recognition scholarship award
$500 enhances the national queen's ability to travel across the United States
A simple donation goes a long way!
$25 provides meals for a contestant during the pageant weekend
$100 provides crowns for the national queen, 1st and 2nd runner up
$150 provides housing for a contestant during the pageant weekend
$250 provides a special recognition scholarship award
$500 enhances the national queen's ability to travel across the United States
GENEROUS PAGEANT CONTRIBUTORS FOR 2012
Without the support and generosity of many people, 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 26th pageant and we anticipate a strong and exciting competition. We have 10 outstanding contestants for the title of 2012-13 Miss Czech-Slovak US. In addition to the numerous volunteer hours donated by the pageant committee, many generous donors have furnished sponsorship awards.
This year, the pageant is thankful for the generosity of primary sponsor Western Fraternal Life Association of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. WFLA donates the $2,000 cash award for the contestant crowned Miss Czech-Slovak US; a $1,500 cash award for the first runner-up, and a $1,000 cash award for the second runner-up. The association also sponsors $2,500 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 almost $7,000. The national court will all also receive a crown, sash, trophy, flowers and Bohemian crystal.
The pageant contestants are housed in the historic Wilber Hotel for three days. These hotel rooms are sponsored by Donna Gruntorad of Grand Island, Jim and Caralee Gruntorad of Eldridge, Iowa, and Bob and Eulalia Dory of Colorado Springs, Colo., jointly; Helen Zach, T.J. Sokol Hall, Doris and Lloyd Ourecky, Gary’s Place and Wilber Care Center, all of Wilber, Nebraska; Czech Language Foundation and Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Society, both of Lincoln; Wilson Chamber of Commerce, Wilson, Kan.; and Minnesota Czech/Slovak Pageant Committee, Montgomery, Minn. Each sponsor contributes $200 towards the cost of a room. Czech Heritage Foundation of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, also contributed $250 toward a room sponsorship.
The pageant would also like to thank other pageant sponsors, including John Fiala of Lincoln, Neb., sponsor of both talent awards(a $750 cash award to the talent winner and a $500 cash award to the talent runner-up. Tim and Lisa “Karpisek” Messman of Unionville, Mo., donated $2,000 in memory of Lisa’s father, the late Richard Karpisek of Wilber — $500 cash to each of the Americanized and Authentic Kroj (costume) award winners; and $1,000 for the general pageant scholarship fund.
Slovak crystal and Slovak Modra pottery donated by Dr. Cecelia Rokusek, Slovak Honorary Consul of Lauderhill, Fla., in memory of her mother Alicia (Fiala) Rokusek, will be presented to the oratory winner. The oratory winner will receive also receive a $200 cash prize from Tim and Deb Linscott of Slavnosti, Wilber’s own Czech newspaper, and $50 from the general pageant scholarship fund for a total prize of $250.
A $250 educational scholarship award will be presented to the contestant crowned the national queen in memory of John and Alice Rokusek and sponsored by Dr. Cecelia Rokusek. The Lois Fiala Spirit Award, a $250 cash award and Bohemian crystal will go to the contestant who best exemplifies the Spirit of the Czech/Slovak Heritage. The award is sponsored by John Fiala on behalf of Lois’s grandchildren Adele, Lisa, John S. and Chris Fiala. T.J. Sokol Hall of Wilber also donates a $100 cash prize and Bohemian crystal to the contestant with the best Sokol Routine Talent.
The pageant would like to thank 1988 national pageant alumnus Candace Vana-Ingwersen for her donations of $1,000 to the Miss Czech-Slovak US Alumni Association. Ms. Ingwersen dedicates her donation on behalf of the Vana Family in memory of their parents, Emil and Betty (Sukovaty) Vana. Part of Ingwersen’s donation will be used towards the Heritage Involvement Award, a $100 prize and Bohemian crystal to the contestant with the most significant involvement in her heritage. The heritage involvement winner will also receive beautiful jewelry provided by the National Czech-Slovak Museum of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Alaska Czech Society and Olga & Peter Ptak, both of Anchorage, Alaska, are sponsoring the Miss Congeniality Award with a $250 cash prize and crystal. The ACS donated $150 while the Ptaks donated $100.
Phil Kasik, Vice President of the American Friends of The Czech Republic, donated $100. The Embassy of the Czech Republic generously donated 30,000 Czech krowns (or $1,419) towards the general pageant fund, Security 1st Bank of Beatrice/Clatonia donated $350, and Jonathon Tichy, Czech Honorary Consul from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Owen Fuller of Fit Marketing jointly gave $250.
Jennifer Jafek-Jones of Stillwater, Okla., the 1992 Oklahoma Czech Queen and owner of The Crimson Poppy, generously donated the flowers for the new queen and court.
The Wilber Czech Festival is known for its heat but to keep the contestants cool and not hungry, Crete Foodmart donated 8 cases of water and Wilber Food Mesto donated $25. Maggie and Ernest Grmela of Maggie’s Fabric Patch in West, Texas, generously donated three Czech/Slovak dancer’s clocks to be used as gifts for volunteer judges. You can find your own Czech/Slovak clock on Maggie's website at www.maggiesfabricpatch.com on the Internet.
Another contribution involves future queen contestants who are also known as “Little Sisters” and act as escorts for 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 on Sunday morning at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.
The pageant committee consists of Director MaryElizabeth Lackey and committee members Sharon Brozovsky, Brenda Cerveny, Judy Florian and Natasha Vavra.
Other people who share their time and talents include Sharon Kastanek, Brad Kalkwarf and Tim Linscott. B.J. Fictum & Saline Communications sponsor the pageant programs, Bonnie Hoffman and Brenda Watson of Wilber audit the judges’ scores, Keith Muller is the master of ceremonies for the pageant, and Christy Dowling, 2011-12 Miss Czech Slovak US; Kimberly Root, 2011 first runner-up, and Emily Samek, 2011 second runner-up, will serve as hosts to the contestants at Hotel Wilber.
We hope you will join us for the 2012 Miss Czech-Slovak US pageant August 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. at Wilber’s beautiful Outdoor Theater. Everyone is invited to a post-pageant party at Sokol Hall directly following the crowning ceremony on Sunday evening, hosted by Teri Shestak.
All of the above persons and organizations are partners in America’s most colorful, exciting and entertaining ethnic pagean
Without the support and generosity of many people, 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 26th pageant and we anticipate a strong and exciting competition. We have 10 outstanding contestants for the title of 2012-13 Miss Czech-Slovak US. In addition to the numerous volunteer hours donated by the pageant committee, many generous donors have furnished sponsorship awards.
This year, the pageant is thankful for the generosity of primary sponsor Western Fraternal Life Association of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. WFLA donates the $2,000 cash award for the contestant crowned Miss Czech-Slovak US; a $1,500 cash award for the first runner-up, and a $1,000 cash award for the second runner-up. The association also sponsors $2,500 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 almost $7,000. The national court will all also receive a crown, sash, trophy, flowers and Bohemian crystal.
The pageant contestants are housed in the historic Wilber Hotel for three days. These hotel rooms are sponsored by Donna Gruntorad of Grand Island, Jim and Caralee Gruntorad of Eldridge, Iowa, and Bob and Eulalia Dory of Colorado Springs, Colo., jointly; Helen Zach, T.J. Sokol Hall, Doris and Lloyd Ourecky, Gary’s Place and Wilber Care Center, all of Wilber, Nebraska; Czech Language Foundation and Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Society, both of Lincoln; Wilson Chamber of Commerce, Wilson, Kan.; and Minnesota Czech/Slovak Pageant Committee, Montgomery, Minn. Each sponsor contributes $200 towards the cost of a room. Czech Heritage Foundation of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, also contributed $250 toward a room sponsorship.
The pageant would also like to thank other pageant sponsors, including John Fiala of Lincoln, Neb., sponsor of both talent awards(a $750 cash award to the talent winner and a $500 cash award to the talent runner-up. Tim and Lisa “Karpisek” Messman of Unionville, Mo., donated $2,000 in memory of Lisa’s father, the late Richard Karpisek of Wilber — $500 cash to each of the Americanized and Authentic Kroj (costume) award winners; and $1,000 for the general pageant scholarship fund.
Slovak crystal and Slovak Modra pottery donated by Dr. Cecelia Rokusek, Slovak Honorary Consul of Lauderhill, Fla., in memory of her mother Alicia (Fiala) Rokusek, will be presented to the oratory winner. The oratory winner will receive also receive a $200 cash prize from Tim and Deb Linscott of Slavnosti, Wilber’s own Czech newspaper, and $50 from the general pageant scholarship fund for a total prize of $250.
A $250 educational scholarship award will be presented to the contestant crowned the national queen in memory of John and Alice Rokusek and sponsored by Dr. Cecelia Rokusek. The Lois Fiala Spirit Award, a $250 cash award and Bohemian crystal will go to the contestant who best exemplifies the Spirit of the Czech/Slovak Heritage. The award is sponsored by John Fiala on behalf of Lois’s grandchildren Adele, Lisa, John S. and Chris Fiala. T.J. Sokol Hall of Wilber also donates a $100 cash prize and Bohemian crystal to the contestant with the best Sokol Routine Talent.
The pageant would like to thank 1988 national pageant alumnus Candace Vana-Ingwersen for her donations of $1,000 to the Miss Czech-Slovak US Alumni Association. Ms. Ingwersen dedicates her donation on behalf of the Vana Family in memory of their parents, Emil and Betty (Sukovaty) Vana. Part of Ingwersen’s donation will be used towards the Heritage Involvement Award, a $100 prize and Bohemian crystal to the contestant with the most significant involvement in her heritage. The heritage involvement winner will also receive beautiful jewelry provided by the National Czech-Slovak Museum of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Alaska Czech Society and Olga & Peter Ptak, both of Anchorage, Alaska, are sponsoring the Miss Congeniality Award with a $250 cash prize and crystal. The ACS donated $150 while the Ptaks donated $100.
Phil Kasik, Vice President of the American Friends of The Czech Republic, donated $100. The Embassy of the Czech Republic generously donated 30,000 Czech krowns (or $1,419) towards the general pageant fund, Security 1st Bank of Beatrice/Clatonia donated $350, and Jonathon Tichy, Czech Honorary Consul from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Owen Fuller of Fit Marketing jointly gave $250.
Jennifer Jafek-Jones of Stillwater, Okla., the 1992 Oklahoma Czech Queen and owner of The Crimson Poppy, generously donated the flowers for the new queen and court.
The Wilber Czech Festival is known for its heat but to keep the contestants cool and not hungry, Crete Foodmart donated 8 cases of water and Wilber Food Mesto donated $25. Maggie and Ernest Grmela of Maggie’s Fabric Patch in West, Texas, generously donated three Czech/Slovak dancer’s clocks to be used as gifts for volunteer judges. You can find your own Czech/Slovak clock on Maggie's website at www.maggiesfabricpatch.com on the Internet.
Another contribution involves future queen contestants who are also known as “Little Sisters” and act as escorts for 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 on Sunday morning at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church.
The pageant committee consists of Director MaryElizabeth Lackey and committee members Sharon Brozovsky, Brenda Cerveny, Judy Florian and Natasha Vavra.
Other people who share their time and talents include Sharon Kastanek, Brad Kalkwarf and Tim Linscott. B.J. Fictum & Saline Communications sponsor the pageant programs, Bonnie Hoffman and Brenda Watson of Wilber audit the judges’ scores, Keith Muller is the master of ceremonies for the pageant, and Christy Dowling, 2011-12 Miss Czech Slovak US; Kimberly Root, 2011 first runner-up, and Emily Samek, 2011 second runner-up, will serve as hosts to the contestants at Hotel Wilber.
We hope you will join us for the 2012 Miss Czech-Slovak US pageant August 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. at Wilber’s beautiful Outdoor Theater. Everyone is invited to a post-pageant party at Sokol Hall directly following the crowning ceremony on Sunday evening, hosted by Teri Shestak.
All of the above persons and organizations are partners in America’s most colorful, exciting and entertaining ethnic pagean
Queen Level Sponsors
Donation of $2000 & Above
Western Fraternal Life Association of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Tim and Lisa Karpisek Messman in memory of Richard Karpisek
Donation of $2000 & Above
Western Fraternal Life Association of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Tim and Lisa Karpisek Messman in memory of Richard Karpisek
Royal Court Level Sponsors
Donation of $500-$1999
John Fiala of Lincoln, NE
Candyce Vana-Ingwersen on behalf of the Vana Family,
in memory of their parents, Emil and Betty (Sukovaty) Vana
Embassy of the Czech Republic of Washington DC
The Crimson Poppy of Stillwater, Oklahoma
Donation of $500-$1999
John Fiala of Lincoln, NE
Candyce Vana-Ingwersen on behalf of the Vana Family,
in memory of their parents, Emil and Betty (Sukovaty) Vana
Embassy of the Czech Republic of Washington DC
The Crimson Poppy of Stillwater, Oklahoma
Little Sister Level Sponsors
Donation of $250-$499
Dr. Cecelia Rokusek, Slovak Honorary Consul of Florida
TJ Sokol Hall
Security First Bank of Clatonia/Beatrice
Jonathon Tichy - Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic from Salt Lake City, UT
Fit Marking of Salt Lake City, UT
Donation of $250-$499
Dr. Cecelia Rokusek, Slovak Honorary Consul of Florida
TJ Sokol Hall
Security First Bank of Clatonia/Beatrice
Jonathon Tichy - Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic from Salt Lake City, UT
Fit Marking of Salt Lake City, UT
Friend of the Pageant Level Sponsors
Donation of Up to $249
Slanvosti
Olga and Peter Ptak
National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids, IA
Phil Kasik - VP of the American Friends of the Czech Republic
Czech-Alaska Society
Crete Foodmart
Wilber Food Mesto
Czech Heritage Foundation of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Maggie's Fabric Patch of West, Texas
Tomas Trnka of Bohemian Spa Wafers
BJ Fictum
Donation of Up to $249
Slanvosti
Olga and Peter Ptak
National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids, IA
Phil Kasik - VP of the American Friends of the Czech Republic
Czech-Alaska Society
Crete Foodmart
Wilber Food Mesto
Czech Heritage Foundation of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Maggie's Fabric Patch of West, Texas
Tomas Trnka of Bohemian Spa Wafers
BJ Fictum
Historic Wilber Hotel Room Sponsors
TJ Sokol Hall
Czech Language Society of Lincoln, NE
Helen Zach
Lloyd and Doris Ourecky
Gary's Bar and Grill
Minnesota Czech/Slovak Pageant Committee
WilberCare Center
Wilson, KS Chamber of Commerce - Home of the World's Largest Czech Egg
Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences (SVU), Lincoln, NE Chapter
Donna Gruntorad
Jim and Caralee Gruntorad
Bob and Eulalia Dory
Czech Heritage Foundation of Cedar Rapids, IA
TJ Sokol Hall
Czech Language Society of Lincoln, NE
Helen Zach
Lloyd and Doris Ourecky
Gary's Bar and Grill
Minnesota Czech/Slovak Pageant Committee
WilberCare Center
Wilson, KS Chamber of Commerce - Home of the World's Largest Czech Egg
Czechoslovak Society of Arts & Sciences (SVU), Lincoln, NE Chapter
Donna Gruntorad
Jim and Caralee Gruntorad
Bob and Eulalia Dory
Czech Heritage Foundation of Cedar Rapids, IA