SERVICE WITH A SMILE
Fri, 2016-04-29 05:00
News Staff
Royalty serves up smiles with pageant co-sponsor
By DAVID MORRIS
Cove Leader-Press
Senior Ms Rabbit Fest Edith Natividad and 2015 Ambassador Kelsey Dane passed more than Happy Meals through the drive-through window while visiting pageant co-sponsor McDonald’s last week. The pair joined by much of the court learned to run the register, make Egg McMuffins, ice cream sundaes and Happy Meals.
“It is amazing to see the kids giving back and helping educate others about preventing Child Abuse,” said Kyle Peterson, GM of the Copperas Cove McDonalds. “They came to us and we were willing to help out any way. We gave them coupons to pass out as well as tying a blue ribbon on their cars, while letting the community know how to reach out if they need help.”
McDonald’s joins Manning Homes in presenting the annual pageant that has grown to one of the top three new events for Texas and has drawn more than 100 contestants for the co-ed pageant.
“I am used to cooking in a big kitchen, so I felt at home behind the counter in McDonald’s kitchen and to see the customers we helped prepare the food for,” Natividad said. “It was cool to see how they keep both breakfast and dinner prepared fresh 24 hours a day.”
Junior Miss Rabbit Fest Gabi Ortiz collected more than 10,000 pop-tabs for the Ronald McDonald house and recently needed a wagon to deliver the bulk of the tabs collected by members of her school, the Exchange Clubs of Copperas Cove and packages from as far away as Indiana.
“It was fun getting to work with the register and take everyone’s order,” Pre-Teen Miss Rabbit Fest Camryn Brown said. “I’m happy that McDonald’s is helping with the pageant this year, adding scholarship money and prizes for all that get to compete. So far my favorite event since the pageant is helping walking the dogs.”
Registration is open until April 30 at rabbitfestpageant.com and the entire application process is completed online. Reserved floor seating is available for $8 at the May 14 pageant at Lea Ledger Auditorium. All contestants receive one free ticket for a guest. Additional tickets purchased in advanced will be picked up at the WILL CALL window at Lea Ledger Auditorium the day of the pageant beginning at noon. A Paypal receipt is required for ticket pickup. Reserved seating ticket prices will increase to $10 the day of the pageant. Children ages five and younger are admitted at no cost. General Admission tickets for the upper level of the auditorium are $5 each.
Photos for the inaugural pageant magazine will be Sunday during the rehearsal set for Lea-Ledger Auditorium at 2 p.m. Copperas Cove Rabbit Fest Pageant titleholders may not compete in the same age category which they previously won.
Reigning Rabbit Fest Pageant titleholders may not compete in the pageant while currently holding their titles.
Titleholders may compete the following year after crowning their successors, provided they meet the age category requirements.