Congratulations Madison Hall, 2017 Elks Rodeo Queen!!
My name is Madison Hall and I am honored to be the 2017 Elks Rodeo Queen Candidate representing VTC Enterprises. I am 17 years old and currently a junior at St. Joseph High School. At St. Joseph’s I am Junior Class Vice President, President of the Interact Club (sponsored by Rotary to help students develop leadership skills and learn effective ways to take action for making a difference locally and internationally), and a member of the Make-A-Wish Club (which fundraises for and spreads awareness about the Make-A-Wish Foundation). I am also a student athletic trainer and a varsity cheerleader (I have been cheering competitively since I was five years old).
After being injured while participating in sports and going through months of physical therapy, I wanted to help other people in the same position and became interested in safe sports conditioning and physical therapy. I initiated an arrangement at St. Joseph’s where I was able to shadow the school’s athletic trainer, and I have since developed that arrangement into a program that can be followed by other students.
Setting goals and seeing progress and results gives me a lot of satisfaction. I love sports and am especially passionate about football, and though I know I won’t play professionally I would like to make a career associated with the game. After high school my goal is to attend the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) to major in athletic training and hopefully serve as a student trainer on their football team. From there my plans are to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy at Baylor University in Texas. After completing my academic studies, my dream job would be to work as an athletic trainer for the Dallas Cowboys Football Team.
Ten years ago at the Elks Rodeo auction my family purchased and gifted me with an experience called Rodeo Princess for a Day. And so I was able to accompany all of the queen candidates for what was supposed to be one day but turned out to be for the entire Elks Rodeo week-end! I knew then that I wanted to run for the Rodeo Queen title when I was old enough, and when that week-end was over John Glines told me that one day he would run my campaign too!
I feel honored to have been chosen by VTC Enterprises to represent them in the 74th Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo Queen Contest. VTC does so much for our community, working alongside individuals with disabilities to assist them in reaching their personal and work-related goals. For decades my grandparents Jim and Teresa Diani have been friends and supporters of VTC, sometimes visibly and often quietly. And now I am so happy to also be a part of this organization. I would like to especially thank my Mom, Melissa Diani-Parker, for her unwavering encouragement and support. I am also grateful to my sister Emily Parker, all of my wonderful family and friends, John Glines for being true to his word ten years later, and the entire VTC staff and individuals for their support and warm welcome into the VTC family.
The Dream Began 2007
In 2007, Madison’s parents bought her an opportunity to be “Princess for a Day”, with the Elks Rodeo Queen Candidates. She loved it so much that she dreamed of running for Elks Rodeo Queen someday and asked John Glines to promise to run her campaign. Promises were kept and dreams came true for Madison 10 years later as she became the 2017 Elks Rodeo Queen.
On behalf of the staff and clients of VTC and the entire Diani family we are honored to announce that with your overwhelming and generous support Madison Hall, on behalf of VTC, was crowned the 2017 Elks Rodeo Queen. Together we raised $290,000, the largest amount ever raised by a single organization during a Queen campaign.
VTC’s mission is “To assist youth and adults with disabilities or other limitations in choosing and achieving their life goals” and we have been so blessed to have experienced firsthand the generosity of so many with their time, effort and money to help VTC make a difference in the lives of those they serve.
Words escape us on how to express our sincere gratitude to everyone as we hope you are as blessed as much as we have been to be a part of such a giving community. A simple THANK YOU just doesn’t seem enough but please know that it comes from a sincerely grateful VTC and Diani family.
