Blog: Dynamite Dad Contest Continues to Grow

It's been a crazy last few days pouring through 140 entries in the 2nd Annual Dynamite Dad Contest.  We (The Marriage Resource Center) started the contest last year as a last-minute effort to raise awareness about the impact of fathers' involvement in the lives of their children.  It was the 100th anniversary of Father's Day, too.

Like most non-profits, we operate on a shoe-string budget so a contest that got kids involved seemed like the best possible way to stretch the dollar while reaching a lot of people with our message. My parents (MRC Co-Directors Bill and Anne McKenna) agreed, and I called my friend Lexi Schafer and we got a plan together. The rules were simple: in 100 words or less finish the following: "My dad is awesome because. . . "

Well, the entries were really awesome not to mention the Dads! Little did we know just how much kids would get into this and how much men would be impacted by their children's little poems and pictures.  The moms' responses were equally precious.

One mother sent us a handwritten letter which said: "Every dad should know how special he is in his child's life.  Thanks for doing an event like this. We had so much fun working on this [project]." We knew then that we were on to something big.

Last year we were excited to get 35 entries which represented kids from home school, private school, and public school from all parts of the county.  We posted a ton of pictures and videos of each child reading his entry to his/her dad on www.ourcarroll.com as well as YouTube. That was pre-Patch, of course!

This year's goal was to double the participation and we were overwhelmed to have a three-fold increase. Imagine 140 kids who were not under duress writing to tell us about how awesome their dads were! It was good therapy for all of us to read through these entries which came from 1st through 12th graders all across the county. The judges laughed, sighed, and sometimes teared up as they worked their way through the piles.

One theme came through loud and clear: kids do not care what their dad does for a living or what he drives or even what he looks like. They care that he spends T-I-M-E with them and helps them do "stuff" together.  It’s the little things that make kids feel loved, safe and valued.

In the end, we had to pick some winners (there are 7 this year) because we promised we would. These winning dads and their kids are invited to the Dynamite Dad Awards Ceremony this Tuesday, June 14, 6 p.m., at TownMall, Westminster.

There will be a Ravens coach and team chaplain there, balloons, pictures, Tracey Tiernan, Shine 95.1 morining DJ,  and the Chick-fil-A cow, too.  Susan and Debbie at the mall have been just super to work with. The general public is also invited to be a part of this special program, so please join us.

Here's the complete list of winners and over the next few days, you'll get to read the actual winning entries.

*Dynamite Military Dad: Joe Nefflen, Westminster, nominated by Juliana, Jessica, and Victoria Nefflen 

ELEMENTARY

*Dynamite Dad: Ron Blizzard, of Westminster, nominated by Kaitlyn Blizzard

Runner-Up Dad: Joe DiMaggio, Finksburg, nominated by Dominick and Joseph DiMaggio

Honorable Mention Dads:

Greg Miller, Westminster, nominated by Nathan and Sarah Miller

Dave Sensabaugh, Taneytown, nominated by Annie Sensabaugh

Brian Hale, Westminster, nominated by Emma Hale

5TH GRADE

*Dynamite Dad tie: Patrick Dorman, Westminster, nominated by Amelia Dorman;            Gordon Zeberlein, nominated by Kristin Zeberlein

Runner-Up Dads: Thomas Harbin, Westminster, nominated by Alex Harbin

Honorable Mention Dads: Glen Shirley, Westminster, nominated by Elizabeth Shirley,

Mike Granata, Finksburg, nominated by Colleen Granata,

Robert Fette-von Koeckritz, Westminster, nominated by Heather and Christopher Fette-von Koeckritz

MIDDLE SCHOOL

*Dynamite Dad tie: Timothy Rhanis, Westminster, nominated by Darian Rhanis; Jim Zablosky, Finksburg, nominated by John, Grace and Faith Zablosky

Runner-Up Dad: Sean Murphy, Manchester, nominated by Quinn and Keely Murphy

HIGH SCHOOL

*Dynamite Dad: Ken Emerick, Eldersburg, nominated by Ryan Emerick

Runner-Up Dad: Barry Davis, Westminster, nominated by Starr Davis