A Day in the Life of Miss Upper Missouri Valley, Danyka Malkowski

Throughout high school I have been given many opportunities to take on leadership roles. Being involved in FFA, FCCLA, 4-H, the North Dakota Leadership Seminar, and the Miss America Organization have made me into the person I am today. As a senior at Belfield High School I can’t wait to graduate and attend Bismarck State college studying Business Management Entrepreneurship this fall. My dream has always been to own my own store. I am winding down my time as senioritis is really kicking in, but I am enjoying every last minute of it.

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Juggling scholarships applications, FFA banquets, planning for graduation, and also preparing myself to compete for Miss North Dakota can all become a hassle, since I’m never sure what I should do first. So, I do it all at once! Some people ask how I am able to juggle all of it. Well, the answer is I enjoy all of it and everything I do is going to benefit me in the future.

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Every morning I wake up by my cat, Sophie, meowing at my bedroom door to let her in. Which means that it is time to get out of bed! Before I leave the house for school I always grab an orange to eat before heading out to get on the bus. I live on a ranch 22 miles north of Belfield. Calving season has come upon us which means long nights and many calves that will be branded in May. My family runs 280 cows and it can be quite hectic at times. Every night we don’t eat supper until 8 o’clock. This is a warning if you are ever at my house.

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My family really reached out to God when I was born. I was born 10 weeks premature weighing 3lbs. 4oz. and in the NICU for 3 months. The doctors and nurses thought I was going to have severe cerebral palsy or wasn’t going to live. If it wasn’t for the prayers and the strength God has given me I would not be where I am today. My parents, two brothers, and I continue to spread the word of faith. Every Wednesday I attend Bible study with many other girls. For Valentine’s Day our study group made Valentines for the elderly. I also share my faith by serving on mission trips. These mission trips to Oklahoma and Wyoming serving on reservations have continued to teach me about my faith. On the mission trips I have cleaned up in their communities, painted houses, and have taken care of children. Coming back from the mission trips I continue to help out my church by volunteering at the Belfield Food Pantry providing food and supplies to families in need. I end every day by listening to Christian music. This allows me to reflect on how my day went and prepares me for the day to come.

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After being crowned Miss Upper Missouri Valley, I have been preparing to compete in June and have been taking in every moment possible. Raising money for CMN, getting sponsors, and working on paperwork has been just a few of the preparations. I have been given the opportunity to make an appearance with Miss America, Cara Mund, at the Make-a-Wish Benefit in Dickinson visiting, signing autographs, pictures, and making another wish come true for a child that was diagnosed with a life threatening medical condition. I have quite a few more appearances that I will be attending which include father daughter dances, fundraisers, and many more community events. I have been presenting my platform to the community and preparing for the talent portion of the competition.

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I continue to present my platform, “Caring for Foster Children,” filling bags with hygiene and comfort items for children going into new foster homes. I want the children to know that they are still loved even if they have lost everything they have been close to. My 4-H club, Silver Spurs, have written encouragement letters that were inserted in the bags with items. I love being able to present my platform because it gets my community involved. I have received donations for the items from businesses, friends, and family. I hope that one day these children will have a family to love as much as I love mine.

I have also been preparing my talent, Ukrainian Dance. Since I was 4 years old, attending Ukrainian Dance Camp at Dickinson State University learning about Ukrainian culture was something I always looked forward to over the summer. I will be dancing Poltava, wearing the national costume of Ukraine. I can’t wait to perform this dance to represent my heritage.

My favorite part about being involved in the Miss America Organization is being a positive role model for younger girls. A little girl I babysat four years ago for two summers brought the biggest smile to my face. She came up to me and asked if I was raising money for CMN. With the answer “yes I am” she gave me a bag filled with money that she received by selling little chapsticks she made with her friends. I could not be more blessed by this girl’s kind heart.

I can’t wait to build more friendships, continue serving my community, and spreading the word about my platform.

-Miss Upper Missouri Valley 2018, Danyka Malkowski

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