Contestants picked for Drake University's Beautiful Bulldog Contest
DES MOINES, Iowa — Thirty contestants have been selected for Drake University's 46th Beautiful Bulldog Contest, including the 2024 runner-up and a hopeful newcomer.
Almost 100 bulldogs from across 17 states entered themselves into the lottery, hoping for one of the coveted 30 spots. Several families gathered at Olmsted Center for the drawing.
Thor took home runner-up and best costume in 2024 and returned this year for another chance at the crown. Nancy Pietz says the experience was great last year, but this year she's focused on the prize.
How to watch Iowa teams in NCAA basketball tournament
'Winning it. First runner up last year. This year we got it,' said Pietz. 'We've got to one up ourselves and we got a win and hopefully we'll be able to put together another fantastic costume.'
Last year, Thor was dressed as a Viking and rode around in a special boat equipped with a fan and snacks.
Deliliah started as a foster dog for Emily Monroe, but a few years ago she officially joined the family. After spending time socializing Deliliah and getting her comfortable, Emily says she wants her to see as much as she can.
'Just letting her kind of, shine, get the spotlight a little bit. I mean, being a rescue, I want to give her the full experience,' said Monroe. 'I figured this, what a better way to find out, just do it, have the attention on her.'
Monroe is enjoying the experience for herself as well, a Connecticut native who moved to Iowa several years ago, she's excited to experience a special Iowa event and all of the festivities that come with it.
The 46th annual Drake Beautiful Bulldog Contest takes place on April 21 at the Drake Knapp Center.
Metro News:
Contestants picked for Drake University's Beautiful Bulldog Contest
CISS to end weather amnesty due to rising costs
Des Moines man accused of beating family members with 30 lbs. dumbbell
UPDATE: Missing Ankeny teen found safe
Man critically injured after being hit by vehicle in northeast Des Moines
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever
Texas WCWS final win sets ESPN record with most-watched College softball game ever ESPN reported that the decisive Game 3 of the championship series averaged 2.4 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million, making it the most-watched NCAA softball game ever. The Texas Longhorns made history at the 2025 Women's College World Series, capturing their first-ever national championship and setting new television viewership records across all three games of the finals. ESPN reported that the decisive Game 3 of the championship series averaged 2.4 million viewers and peaked at 2.7 million, making it the most-watched NCAA softball game ever. Games 1 and 2 also broke records, each averaging 2.1 million viewers—the highest ever for the opening two games of a WCWS final. Game 1 peaked at 2.8 million viewers, while Game 2 reached a peak of 2.6 million. The all-Texas matchup between the Longhorns and Texas Tech Red Raiders marked the first time since 2004 that both championship participants hailed from the same state, reviving the storied rivalry from their Big 12 days. The series spotlighted a marquee pitching showdown between Texas ace Teagan Kavan and Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady. Kavan, who entered the finals with a perfect 3-0 record against Canady, extended her dominance to 5-0 after two more victories in the championship series. Fans were treated to a dramatic three-game set. Game 1 delivered a classic pitchers' duel, featuring a controversial obstruction call and a bizarre game-winning hit for Texas in the sixth inning. The Red Raiders bounced back in Game 2, capitalizing on Texas errors to force a decisive Game 3. In the winner-take-all finale, the Longhorns erupted for five runs in the first inning, forcing Canady out of the game. A grand slam sealed Texas' commanding victory and their first national title in program history.
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
NCAA settlement could mean big changes for walk-on college athletes in Colorado and across the country
A $2.8 billion settlement between the NCAA and former student-athletes will soon allow schools to pay players directly. The Oregon State Beavers line up on offense during a PAC 12 conference game between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Oregon State Beavers at Folsom Field in Boulder. Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images But what does that mean for athletes who aren't on scholarship? Walk-ons often chase the dream without a scholarship or even a guaranteed spot. But now, thanks to the NCAA settlement, that dream might come with a paycheck. "I was surprised. It's crazy. That's a lot of money," said Nano Watson. Watson is a walk-on football player for the Colorado Boulder, grinding without financial support. Under the new settlement, walk-ons may be grandfathered in -- giving them a better shot at scholarships and even direct compensation. "That gives me an opportunity to, you know, earn a scholarship -- a better opportunity. I've been working on trying to get a scholarship these past two and a half years." Watson says the impact is deeply personal. Tuition has been a challenge, and the financial strain is something his family, especially his father, has shouldered. "My dad is really helping me out, paying for school and stuff. So, not necessarily me, but for my family. And, you know, I just want to give back to my family too, because they put me in a position to be here." CU Athletic Director Rick George issued a statement, saying: "... We are prepared to participate in revenue sharing with all of our student-athletes up to the prescribed cap utilizing athletic department funds. While the financial burden is significant and there are substantial obstacles ahead, I'm confident that the foundation we have in place will set us up for success." This may be new territory for many college athletes, but stars like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are already navigating the new world of NIL deals and national exposure. From unpaid walk-on to potential paycheck, Nano Watson -- and thousands of athletes like him -- may soon see real change. The NCAA settlement takes effect this summer, and schools like CU are already preparing to lead the way. Colorado State University also stated that they've been preparing financially to support their athletes on social media.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
Will Victoria Cameron Become The NCAA's Newest Track And Field Star At Nationals?
Victoria Cameron (center) was second in the women's 100 meters at the NCAA West First Round in ... More College Station, finishing in 11.01 seconds. Victoria Cameron wasn't supposed to be here. At least, that wasn't the plan initially, with the Tarleton State University sophomore hardly envisioning a future at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships coming out of Stephenville High School. Didn't matter that Cameron came up just seven-hundredths of a second short of Sha'Carri Richardson's Class 4A 100 meter record at the UIL State Outdoor Championships in May of 2023. Nor did it matter that anyone with eyes could see she had an innate ability to run fast. Cameron had already committed to play soccer at Tarleton State, just a couple miles down the road from where she grew up. And two years ago, she was committed to it. But then, maybe a month before her college start – or maybe as she put her hands on the fence overlooking the pasture at home where her family's favorite cow grazed – things flipped. 'I realized I couldn't really leave track,' said Cameron, who lives about four miles from her college campus, in a town of just over 20,000. 'Like, there was this attachment to it.' What a decision that turned out to be. As Tarleton State made its full-fledged transition to the NCAA Division I in July of 2024, Cameron exploded as a track athlete in 2025, reaching indoor nationals in March before another national qualification came in May. '(I) just want to put my hometown college on the map,' she said. Cameron enters the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon with the eighth-fastest wind-legal time in college at 11.01 seconds, securing that effort at the NCAA Division I West First Round in College Station. Still, there's a star quality that seems to encircle her. Take a moment from regionals, for instance. Cameron was recognized inside a restaurant …in College Station, Texas. 'It just makes me happy to have seen that,' she said. 'Like, if my name's out there, my college's name is out there.' That being said, Cameron currently splits her time between two sports. This fall, she logged 230 minutes in 18 games with the Tarleton State's women's soccer team, scoring a goal and generally cutting her teeth in the collegiate game. A few years ago, University of Kentucky track and field legend Abby Steiner did the same. On the track, however, Cameron is an exceptional sprinter. From her first outing at 100 meters at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in March to her most recent performance at the Regional Championships – a timeline spanning six meets – Cameron only got better with time, clocking progressive performances of 11.33, 11.25, 11.05 and 11.01 over her last four meets. In the same venue where she won a state-championship winning 100 meter time of 11.35 seconds in 2023, Cameron ripped off a wind-assisted 11.09 inside Mike Myers Stadium. A few weeks later, in Denton, Texas, she ran a wind-legal 11.22. 'I love seeing my times go down over time,' she said. 'Nothing feels better than having a PR so, I don't know, my love for the sport just kind of helps put everything in place.' In May, Cameron was named the WAC Conference's women's track athlete of the year. This weekend will mark the first time over the outdoor season she will race outside Texas. The bigger question lies in wake: Will she be able to break 11 seconds? Cameron is on the cusp of a barrier that few women in college history have ever reached. Her career best 11.01 is 71st in U.S. history and she's just outside the NCAA's top 25 all-time performances. 'As soon as I got to the line, I had an overwhelming feeling of just being able to lock in,' Cameron said of her race. 'And then when I came out of the blocks, I kind of knew I was behind, but the biggest key to that race was just having patience throughout it all.' That being said, the college sophomore isn't perfect. In the prelims at indoor nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia, a poor start hindered her first 20 meters and she suffered at the line, running 7.38 seconds–a little over two-tenths off of her career-best 7.16. Cameron said her focus this spring has been about fixing those issues. She's been working on block starts and her reaction time. While the first variable is physical, the second is in some ways mental. 'My reaction time over the season has proven to be a hit or miss – either I'm last out of the blocks, or I'm right up with everyone,' she said. 'So I could definitely improve.' Tarleton State sophomore Victoria Cameron qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the ... More women's 100 meters at the NCAA West First Round in May. It would be unfair to say that Cameron is the favorite heading into nationals. Four women enter NCAAs with season bests under 11 seconds – TCU's Indya Mayberry, LSU's Tima Godbless, Ohio State's Leah Bertrand and Florida State's Shenese Walker – while Cameron would have to secure two nearly perfect races across two rounds to claim victory. But there's no doubt she's chasing the moment. On Thursday, she'll bring the Tarleton logo to Tracktown, a revered site for track and field greatness. 'As my coach would say, 'I don't want it to be a 'Tarleton-Question-Mark,' I want it to be a 'Tarleton-Exclamation-Point,'' Cameron said. 'That's the goal here.' Leaving her indoor performance behind her, Cameron insists anything can happen this weekend in Eugene. The first objective is reaching the final. The second will be to give herself a shot to win it. 'I believe really anything is possible within track and field due to the fact that it's not a very forgiving sport,' she said. Indoors, the girl with the fastest time ended up false starting, so anything can happen. So you just gotta give it your all and believe that you're going to win it before you run it. Nationals begins on Wednesday starting at 1:30 p.m. at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. You can follow live results here. Men's and women's competition will alternate days, with the men's first round action beginning on June 11, the women's first round following on June 12 and then men's and women's finals taking place on June 13 and June 14. The women's 100 meter first round will kick off at 5:15 p.m. PST on June 12. In the men's competition, Minnesota is looking to win its first national team title since 1948.
