C O AI AWARDS - Clowns of America International
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C O A I AWA R DS
Co n v e n t i o n
C lo w n o f
E x c e l l e n c e
By Glenn “Clyde D. Scope” Kohlberger
T he local newspaper report read: “History was made again by Tempe’s own Julie
“Lovely Buttons” Varholdt the week of May 6–9, 2019 in Las Vegas, when she
was awarded the first Convention Clown of Excellence award—also bringing home
eight medals and three beautiful plaques from Clowns of America International.”
In 2010 Julie was the first person to win COAI’s Convention Best in Clown award
while competing at the COAI Convention in Houston, Texas. This year after, receiv-
ing medals in seven out of eight categories in COAI competition in Las Vegas, she
then was qualified to win the Convention Clown of Excellence award.
Nothing slows this woman down when it comes to entertaining. She stilt-walks at
dozens of events each year in her incredible one-of-a-kind costumes that she creates. Julie with her husband, Vance, after the
She can be found at libraries and schools all over the great state of Arizona entertaining awards banquet.
12 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Left to right:: Stilt-walking Julie
Varholdt, as the Queen of all the Insects,
the monarch butterfly. Julie catches forty
winks with her competition awards and
Clown of the Year plaque.
promise to him every time I go out and
entertain. I love what I do, and I do what
I love.”
Is there anything she would like to
share with fellow COAI members and
future joeys of the world? “Take the time
each day to smile, laugh and enjoy your
life,” she says. “Education is a must in
this business we call clowning. Learn as
much as you can from those you look up
with her hand-painted backdrops and convention?” she humbly replied, “I was to and those who inspire you. Have fun
crazy props. Her greatest dreams are honored to be the first Convention Best with everyone you entertain and bring
fulfilled each year when she travels the in Clown winner and more humbled to as many smiles to the masses as you can.
globe to entertain and teach at events have won the first Convention Clown My daddy told me to always strive to
in amazing areas she never thought she of Excellence award. I worked very hard give 110% of yourself, and if you’re going
would see. Julie is an unstoppable force and put in many hours preparing for to do it, do it right, and do it right the
in the world of clowning. this convention and all of the competi- first time!”
When asked, “What does it mean tions. In 2008 Leon McBryde told me Julie now jokingly tells her friends to
to you to have won these awards and to go out there and show them the right call her “Your Excellency.” What’s next
bring home so many medals during one way to clown. I have tried to uphold my on her plate? Anything she wants!
Left: The beautiful plaques and medals Julie won at this year’s COAI Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Right: Julie delivers her hilarious
acceptance speech as Clown of the Year, as Carrie Ray, Merrily Schultz, and Mike Cox look on.
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 13
Awards were presented in sixteen categories
during the 34th Annual COAI Convention
in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recipients were
recognized at the banquet on Thursday, May
9, held at the Texas Station Hotel.
ALL COMPETITION PHOTOS
BY MERILYN BARRETT
Hector Batista
Iliana Mojica Fajardo
14 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Jesse Recker
Julie Varholdt
Sarah Smith
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 15
Andrew Davis
Larry Klobertanz
Jessica King
16 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
John Joseph
Esthefany Perez
a y f o r the
to d
Register C o n v e n tion
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Lori Swink
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 17
Jennifer Galvez
COAI COMPETITION SCORING
Awards are made for the top ten contestants in
each category; however, scoring does not always
result in awards for all ten positions.
In categories with five or fewer competitors,
Maureen Yalenezian
placement is based on percentile achievements.
Contestants may also tie for placement.
18 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Tom King
Contestants who
are sixty-five year
of age or older m s
ay elect to be judg
in the Senior D ed
Gus Lamond makeup and cost
ivision rather th
an other
ume categories. A
clowns will be ju ll types of
dged in this cate
the criteria set for gory using
the various types
Contestants who of clowns.
elect to be judged
Senior Division m in the
ay only enter one
category.
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 19
Julie Varholdt
Brahm’s Lullaby
Jessica King
st
Weather Foreca
Gloria Ster
Fran Etzkorn rett
Fastest Pancake E I Gotto Thin
at k
er
20 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
Something Fishy
Annemarie Prioriello, Nyoka Nixon, Janet Comesky, Denise Lyonnais
Kent Sheets
John Joseph Winner
411
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 21Single
Performance
The Mouse
Sergio Sanchez
The Flowers
Zoilo Melendez
The Ditz
Gus Lamond
22 The New Calliope • July/August 2019Hydrophobic Shielding unit Teapot
Jesse Recker Maureen Yalenezian
Crazy Hat
Iliana Mojica Fajardo
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 23CLOWNS OF AME R I CA I Las Veg 24 The New Calliope • July/August 2019
N TERNAT I ON AL 2019
gas, NV
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 25Group Performance
The Seashore
Terry Cormier, Donald Cormier, Pennie Smith, Lawrence Cruz, Louis Kerr, Gayle Lindeblom, Danny Riggs
Sister Act
Nicholas Reed, Richard Smith, Roger Lutham, Robert Ratajczak, Deborah
The Love is Clean Ratajczak, Charlene Link, Dianna Hale, Gus Lamond, Patti Gaudreau
Esthefany Perez, Hector Batista
26 The New Calliope • July/August 2019Best Catch
Jessica King and Tom King
Storytime
Kent Sheets and Dianna Hale
Look for Santa
Esthefany Perez, Hector Batista, Iliana Mojica Fajardo
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 27Tall Queen of the Butterflies
Julie Varholdt
The Zoo Search Injun
Jessica King Tom King Fit in My Backpack
Maureen Yalenezian
28 The New Calliope • July/August 2019Monkey Bar Pulled Pork Frown Detector
Sergio Sanchez Debrorah Ratajczak John Joseph
Energetic Bunny Butterflies COAI P.D.
Fran Etzkorn Nancy Opatich Jesse Recker
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 29cheek
Jessica King Amanda Wisley Sergio Sanchez
Julie Varholdt Jennifer Galvez Sarah Smith
Maureen Yalenezian John Joseph Iliana Mojica Fajardo
30 The New Calliope • July/August 2019full face
Amanda Wisley Julie Varholdt Jessica King
Sarah Smith Jesse Recker Jennifer Galvez
Iliana Mojica Fajardo Sergio Sanchez John Joseph
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 31John Joseph
Julie Varholdt Phillip Wolfe
Iliana Mojica Fajardo
Zoilo Melendez Sarah Smith
Jessica King
Jennifer Galvez
Tom Cass Lawrence Cruz
32 The New Calliope • July/August 2019Phillip Wolfe
Julie Varholdt Iliana Mojica Fajardo
Jennifer Galvez
Jessica King
Sarah Smith Tom Cass
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 33Phillip Wolfe
Jesse Recker
Julie Varholdt
John Joseph
Tom Cass
Jennifer Galvez
Sarah Smith
Maureen Yalenezian Iliana Mojica Fajardo
Jessica King
34 The New Calliope • July/August 2019INSPIRATION AND HUMOR
By Regina “Cha Cha” Wollrabe, Junior Joeys Director
Hello, fellow Joeys and followers of the Junior Joey help us deal with the tragedies we face
program! in our crazy, hurtful world of pain and
I’m so thankful for the space that is given to me in each sorrow.
issue to share ideas, education, and news. If you are reading We also know that kids and adults
this, I believe it’s because you care about the future of clown- need an outlet to play and have fun. We
ing, and you want to see it continue as much as the COAI bring all of this and more to people who
Board and I do. seek education from COAI. To those of
I’d like to thank all the participants from the 2019 COAI you who have the desire to teach and
Convention who graciously gave to the Junior Joey program pass on this art form to the next gener-
during the auction and the convention banquet. We raised ation, I take my hat off to you. I would
over $1,600 for Junior Joeys! This money will assist kids who need help paying for also ask you to join me in creating a uni-
their memberships, and it will also fund our Pin Program as it begins to take shape. fied effort in helping kids learn about the
art of clowning.
We want to give a great big shout out to Richard Smith for donating his dazzlingly
gorgeous vest right off his back during our banquet. That got a crazy bidding war going We had a meeting at the convention
between two people, and people started throwing money into the bids so that one of with Junior Joey leaders and decided
them could win. I was blown away by everyone’s generosity, knowing they had so much as a group that we needed to meet at a
fun in giving because it was for the Junior Joeys. monthly Zoom meeting online with as
many other leaders and parents as we
Junior Joeys of all ages—and parents, if you are reading this—the people in our can find who want to discuss the future
organization believe in the benefits that clowning gives to young people, and we are of clowning and how to pass it on. We
here to help you. If you want to find a mentor or attend an online meeting or class, or would like to meet on the first Monday
if you need help with your membership fees, please contact me or your Regional Vice on August 5 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
President. Our information is on the I would also like to have leaders connect
inside front cover of every issue of with me on our Junior Joey Facebook
The New Calliope. group so that we can share the link and
Mentoring Junior Joeys and dates for future Zoom meetings. For this
having programs for preschoolers, I will need your Facebook first and last
grade-schoolers, teens, and young name.
adults is what the future of clown- E-mail me at coaijrjoeys@gmail.com.
ing depends on. Clowning will never Tell me your COAI number, full name
die, because comedy is essential for and clown name if you have one, what
humans to survive. As clowns who state you are in, and if you have a Jr. Joey
are passionate about our art form, Program or if you are a parent of a child
we know that there is a history and who is clowning. Please share what year
a standard that we strive for. Yet at you started clowning, attach a photo of
the same time we are involved in a your clown character, and if you would
growing, evolving art form. Theater, like to be a Junior Joey mentor or just
circus, street clowning, carpet clown- Junior Joeys Director Regina Wollrabe and want to gain more skills in teaching Jr.
ing, and hospital clowning are some President Mike Cox watch the fast and furious Joeys so that you can start a program in
of the many different forms of our bidding as Richard Smith conducts an impromptu your area. Lets connect, share, and grow.
art. They help people forget their auction for his dazzling vest, with proceeds going I can’t wait to meet you. TNC
problems for a moment and even to Junior Joeys.
Clowns of America International • mycoai.com 35You can also read
