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Homestay Program Accepting Applications

The Czech Heritage Foundation Homestay Program funds student “Ambassadors” to live with a host family for three weeks in or near Prague, and host a Czech student from that family later in the same summer.More than one hundred high school students have received scholarships since the educational program began in 1983. The Homestay Committee is now accepting applications for summer 2017 participants.  For more information, and to apply, click here.

Scholarship winners announced at annual picnic

Left to right: Elijah Wolter, Ashley Pudil, and Erika Serbousek. (photo/Cindy Hadish)The Czech Heritage Foundation awarded three $1,300 scholarships during the annual picnic on August 9 at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.Erika Serbousek of Iowa State University, Ashley Pudil of Loras College and Elijah Wolter of the University of Chicago were all deserving recipients, said Lee Thornbloom, who chairs the scholarship committee.Scholarship winners with CHF Scholarship Committee Chair Lee Thornbloom. (photo/Cindy Hadish)During the picnic, Bonnie Rohlena and Donna Gruntorad paid special recognition to Marj Nejdl, who so generously volunteered her time and talent to provide the exquisite artwork for the new Czech Heritage Foundation logo and the new Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Pageant logo.Czech Master Folk Artist Marj Nejdl, left, and Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Co-Director Bonnie Rohlena. (photo/Cindy Hadish) New Czech Heritage Foundation logo by Master Czech Folk Artist Marj Nejdl.New Miss-Czech Slovak Iowa Pageant logo by Master Czech Folk Artist Marj Nejdl.Members of the Czech Royal Court were introduced at the picnic, as well. The picnic is an annual get-together for members of the Czech Heritage Foundation, their families and friends.chf royal court

Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa earns top three at national pageant

wilber trio

Ashley Pudil, Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa, was awarded second runner-up during the 30th Annual Miss Czech-Slovak U.S. pageant on August 7 in Wilber, Nebraska. She also took home the Sokol Award for her Moravian folk dance in the talent portion of the event.  Ashley is the daughter of Kevin and Denise Pudil, and is pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Creative Writing, and Spanish at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. Her Czech heritage comes from both sides of her family, who originally lived in Brumov, a village in Southern Moravia and Southern Bohemia.

Left to right: Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Co-Director Bonnie Rohlena, Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Ashley Pudil, and Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Co-Director Donna Gruntorad. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa is sponsored by the Czech Heritage Foundation. See more photos from the pageant and the Wilber Czech Festival here.

Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa 2015/2016 and Miss Czech-Slovak US 2nd Runner Up Ashley Pudil. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Celebrating the 4th of July with the Royal Court

The Czech Royal Court participated in the July 2 Freedom Festival Parade, where the Czech Heritage Foundation float won an award, and in the Belle Plaine parade on July 4, where Bonnie (Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Pageant Co-Director) and Marvin Rohlena's red wagon was well-received. Our thanks to float-maker Tim Pfeifer for another great entry at the Freedom Festival!  (photos/Cindy Hadish)parade kolachesparade groupparade by museumparade lindaparade bp courtparade bp bonnie

Houby Days Festival 2016

Celebrate the coming of spring at the annual Houby Days Festival May 20-22 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Check out the schedule so you don't miss your favorite band, the parade, or any of the weekend's events!

Friday, May 20, 2016

Time Event Location
5-7pm Taste of Czech & Slovak NCSML
5-6pm Sheila Stevens Street Stage
5-10pm Artisan & Food Vendors 16th Avenue
5-10pm Carnival 16th Avenue
5-10pm Evan Stock Band Kosek Bandstand
6-7pm The Distractions w/ Ben Holey Street Stage
7-8pm Sheila Stevens Street Stage
8-9pm The Distractions w/ Ben Holey Street Stage

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Time Event Location
8-11am Egg & Houby Breakfast withRon Johnson Accordionist The Red Frog
8,9,10,&11am Rides to Mt. Trashmore Information Table
8-12:15am Czech Plus Band & Czech Heritage Singers Kosek Bandstand
9am-8pm One Day Artisans in the Park Sokol Park
9am-10pm Artisan & Food Vendors 16th Avenue
9am-10pm Carnival 16th Avenue
9am-10:15pm Joshua Payne Street Stage
10-11am Houby Days Parade 16th Avenue
10am-5pm Plant Sale 16th Avenue
11-11:30am Domaci Czech Folk Dancers 16th Avenue
11am-12pm Reagan & Gracie Street Stage
11am-2pm Sparkles/Sprinkles the Clown 16th Avenue
11am-2pm Mark Brown/Busker Sykol Park
12-1pm The Distractions Street Stage
12-3pm Houby Contest Registration Information Tent
12-4pm Kids Make and Take The Create Exchange
1-1:30pm Domaci Czech Folk Dancers Kosek Bandstand
1:30-2:45pm Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa Pageant NCSML
1:30-4:30pm Riverbottom Ramblers Band Street Stage
2-3pm Accordian Club Kosek Bandstand
3-3:30pm Maypole Dance Kosek Bandstand
3:30pm Introduction of Royalty Kosek Park
3:30pm Mushroom Contest Winners
3:30-4:30pm Mushroom Entries Display Lion Bridge Brewery
4-7pm Silbertaler Musikanren Kosek Bandstand
5-8pm Mockingbirds Street Stage
7-8pm Summertown Kosek Bandstand
8-9pm Abby Hayward Kosek Bandstand
9-10pm Witness Kosek Bandstand

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Time Event Location
8-11am Egg & Houby Breakfast withRon Johnson Accordionist The Red Frog
9-11am Czech Heritage Band Kosek Bandstand
9-11am Dan Johnson & Company Street Stage
9am-4pm Artisan & Food Vendors 16th Avenue
10am-4pm Plant Sale 16th Avenue
11am-12pm Crown Prince & Princess Kosek Bandstand
11am-12pm Joshuah Payne Street Stage
11am-12pm Cabbage Roll Sykora Bakery
11:30am-1:30pm Childrens Games 16th Avenue
12-1pm Svetlusky Youth Ensemble 16th Avenue
12-2pm Polka Kings of Walford Kosek Bandstand
12-3pm Cedar County Cobras Street Stage
12-3pm Sparkles/Sprinkles the Clown 16th Avenue
12-4pm Kids Make and Take The Create Exchange
12-4pm Carnival Inspiration Place
12-4pm Houby Photo Boards 16th Avenue
2-3pm Rockwell Collins Ensemble Kosek Bandstand
2-3pm Eulenspiegel Puppet Show 16th Avenue
3-4pm Heritage of the March Bunny Band Street Stage
3-4pm Witness Kosek Bandstand
3:15pm All Ages Costume Walk 16th Avenue