AGIF Miss Michigan

Eva, Alhan, Librado, Maribel, and me at Youth Luncheon

I traveled to Flint, Michigan for the State Conference for four days. My only competition was Ms. Lansing, Maribel Tyler. Even though we were running against each other, we befriended and we had a good sportsmanship. There, a few members of the Youth forum attended, including Ms. Michigan of 2008-2009, Eva Martinez, Alhan, Mr.National 2008-2009, former Mr.National of 2007-2008 , Librado Lugo, and Lorena Galvan, Miss Teen Detroit 2006-2009. We had a wonderful time socializing and discussing the various obstacles the Youth forum are facing(details will be on another post).

The Tyler's, Eva, Alhan, my mother, Francisca, and me waiting for the results.

Maribel and I were interviewed and then it came down to the competition. I volunteered to present my speech first before I succumbed to my nervousness. I delivered my speech and it went well. Maribel then presented hers, and then we were asked to step out for the judge's evaluation.

We then returned to the room with our parents. My mother has been both mom and dad, so she scorted me, while Maribel had both parents on each arm. We settled and the 1st runner up was announced...Maribel Tyler. It took a few seconds to grasp that I had won the Ms. Michigan title. I gave a gratification speech and then Eva crowned me and gave me the title sash. I also receive a dozen roses and a trophy. Maribel also received a trophy and a dozen roses



Afterwards, members of all forums that had won positions had to recite the Oath. For the State Youth Forum, Librado was elected President, Eva as Vice President/Chaplin, Alhan as Sergeant At Arms,Lorena as Secretary, and me as Parliamentarian.

I will be traveling to Corpus Cristi, TX, for the National Conference on August 3,2009. I have good faith that everything will go well and that I will return home as AGIF Ms. National of 2009-2010.

AGIF Miss Detroit

Ricardo Ramirez, Lorena Galvan, Ms. Teen Detroit, Alhan Vazquez, Mr.Detroit, AnaRosa Mendoza-King, Ms. Detroit, and me.

I became familiar with AGIF in 2006, when my cousin Lorena Galvan was being crowned as Miss Teen Detroit. From then on, my brother Alhan and I became interested in this organization. It was not until 2008 when Alhan,my mother,and I became members of the forum.

The annual youth scholarship competition requires a 3.0 or higher GPA, community involvement, list of honors/awards, and extracurricular activities. The most important part of eligibility is that those who apply MUST write a speech on an whatever topic they desire, as long as it is appropriate and NOT personal, such as an applicant's life, family member, etc. Prior qualified speech topics include teen pregnancy, diversity, and importance of Hispanic education. The speech limit is 3 minutes when it is presented at local, state, and national competitions. Before each presentation, selected judges are to interview the candidates, inquiring them with a range of questions. Sixty percent of the total score is from the speech, twenty from poise/personality, and twenty percent based of academics/community involvement.Mr.Detroit 2008-2009

Alhan competed for Mr. Detroit in May of 2008, and won.The scholarship money was $500. From then on, he competed form Mr. Michigan and won again, earning another $500. His victory in this competition led him to have an all paid expense trip to Denver, Colorado for the National conference,about a week long. There, he was able to meet many important people, including a rally where then running for president, John McCain,spoke. Alhan was running against Mr. Kansas, and won, which was a scholarship of $1,000. With the titles as Mr. Detroit, Michigan, and National of 2008-2009, Alhan won a total amount of $2,000.All this money will be used for his college expenses at University of Detroit Mercy.

His victory inspired me to compete then upcoming year.On May 9,2009, friend Ricardo Ramirez won Mr. Detroit and I won as Ms. Detroit. My speech involved how women's approach to portray society's ideal female image have dramatically changed in our history.

American GI Forum:The History

I am a Youth Member of the American GI Forum. This organization is one that encourages education for all studetns and it's geared to Hispanic students. AGIF has provided various scholarships for over 20 years to those in need for higher level education.This is a brief explanation on how AGIF derived.

Dr. Hector P.Garcia

Dr. Hector P. Garcia believed in the American dream and lived it. He was a man who passionately quoted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and applied such texts to the outcast minorities of society.He inspired Mexican Americans to educate themselves in democratic principles, then worked to apply those principles to all people through his organization, The American GI Forum.Dr. Hector P. Garcia saw the flagrant deprivation of rights of Mexican Americans and spent his life working to effect positive change.

Pvt. Felix Longoria

Dr. Hector Garcia's efforts impacted this country on a national level more than once. The American GI Forum first became well known in one Texas case that reached the front page of the "New York Times" and the national radio broadcast of Walter Winchell-the Felix Longoria incident in 1949.When the wife of a Mexican American World War II hero was refused the use of a funeral home to wake her deceased husband in Three Rivers, Texas (told by the funeral home director "the whites won't like it"), the teamwork of Dr. Garcia and Senator Lyndon B. Johnson laid Longoria to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. The incident also forged a personal and political relationship between Garcia and Johnson that was especially advantageous for Mexican Americans during LBJ's presidential years.

For more information on AGIF and/or Dr.Garcia, visit

www.amerricangiforum.org

www.justiceformypeople.org