At the 2012 AutoZone Liberty Bowl Football Classic, held Dec. 31 in Memphis, Tenn., Falcon High School senior KaSandra Swanson represented her school as an AutoZone Liberty Bowl Queen. Swanson earned the honor after being voted homecoming queen on Sept. 28, 2012.The AZLB has been held annually for 54 years as a college football game, according to http://autozonelibertybowl.org. In partnership with St. Jude Childrenís Research Hospital, its goal is to bring awareness to finding a cure for childhood diseases such as cancer, the website states.Swanson said that, in addition to their part in the festivities at the football game, the AZLB queens received a tour of St. Jude. ìWe got to talk to some of the representatives (at the hospital) about what they were doing and how they were helping the community,î she said.As one of 139 AZLB queens to participate and one of four from Colorado, Swanson said, ìI think it was a great opportunity for me and all the other girls not only because you get to see what the other people (queens) are doing to help children but also the impact it has on the community at large.îSwanson said that participants were chosen from homecoming queens across the nation who had helped out their community in some way. She said she recently worked with DrÈaís Dream, an organization that sends dance therapists to hospitals to work with children who are in-patients.At the game, the AZLB queens took part in the pregame and the halftime shows, she said. ìWe walked onto the field for the pregame show and then lined up on the sidelines during the national anthem,î Swanson said. ìIt was awesome to see that little girl (from St. Jude) stand in front of the crowd and sing. She was 6 and had been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer.îDuring the halftime show, Swanson said that the AZLB queens stood in front of the feature vocal group, ìThe Temptations,î while they performed.To be able to attend the AZLB, Swanson said she had to raise more than $1,000; she received contributions from family and friends as well as local businesses, including Auto Pros of Falcon, Falcon Collision Center and P & D Maintenance.
