Sandra Anderson
"Believe You Inspire"
Sandra Anderson won the title of Ms. Wheelchair Utah on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 in Salt Lake City at the Salt Palace Grand Ballroom. Sandra's platform is "Believe you Inspire."
Kelie Babcock, MWU 2010
"You are unique. Live it. Love it. Rock it!"
Kelie was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Utah 2010 at the State Pageant on November 21. Her platform is: You are unique. Live it. Love it. Rock it! Kelie grew up in Mountain Green and went to school at Morgan High. After graduation in 2001, she attended Weber State University where she earned a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. Her minor was in art and that continues to be a hobby she enjoys as she participates in art shows in the state. She is currently living in Ogden where she works at an Independent Living Center teaching classes to others who have disabilities. Kelie loves traveling and seeing new places - whether its a road trip or a cruise! She has a pet pig named Gilbert and the most amazing family anyone could ever ask for. She sees life as an incredible adventure, and wants to take advantage of every day.
Kimberly Yeoman, MWU 2009
"Building a New Tomorrow by Promoting the Abilities of Every Person"
Kim was born with spina bifida and has been in a wheelchair since she was 15. She is currently working as an outreach and training advocate for the Disability Law Center where she does outreach and education
for all of southern Utah. Kim has a great love of life and for people around her. Her experience of being in a wheelchair as well as her love of people led her to study social work and international development at Brigham Young University. Kim has always been very passionate about music. She enjoys listening to it as well as playing it. She has played the piano since she was five and likes to sing as well. One of her favorite activities is attending concerts. Whether it is a rock concert or the philharmonic orchestra, Kim always has a good time! She also enjoys reading, interior design, exploring southern Utah, and playing wheelchair rugby. Kim is very excited for the opportunity to share her platform, "Building a New Tomorrow by Promoting the Abilities of Every Person," with Utahns of all abilities. She realizes how important it is for people to realize their potential by focusing on their abilities, not weaknesses and looks forward to the privilege of spreading this message across the state.
for all of southern Utah. Kim has a great love of life and for people around her. Her experience of being in a wheelchair as well as her love of people led her to study social work and international development at Brigham Young University. Kim has always been very passionate about music. She enjoys listening to it as well as playing it. She has played the piano since she was five and likes to sing as well. One of her favorite activities is attending concerts. Whether it is a rock concert or the philharmonic orchestra, Kim always has a good time! She also enjoys reading, interior design, exploring southern Utah, and playing wheelchair rugby. Kim is very excited for the opportunity to share her platform, "Building a New Tomorrow by Promoting the Abilities of Every Person," with Utahns of all abilities. She realizes how important it is for people to realize their potential by focusing on their abilities, not weaknesses and looks forward to the privilege of spreading this message across the state.
Ashlee Allington, MWU 2008
"True Beauty is all in the Attitude"
Ashlee has had Cerebral Palsy since birth. She is a second grade teacher with a passion for music (country particularly). Ashlee has a very positive attitude toward life. She is ambitious, independent, and believes she can do anything she puts her mind to. Ashlee is a leader and her attitude is inspiring to those who know her. She is a teacher - in and out of the classroom - and she wants to teach Utahns the true meaning of beauty. Her platform shared with Utahns of all abilities is: True Beauty is all in the Attitude. Each child that enters her classroom is met with a truly unshakeable beauty queen, whose inner beauty will never fade with age. Ashlee teaches by example that, with the right attitude, you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
Rebecca Bierwolf, MWU 2007
"Breaking down the Barriers"
Rebecca has been in a wheelchair since the age of 15 months old, when an auto-pedestrian accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. Thanks to insightful parents, Rebecca was given every opportunity her 4 other siblings had including all of the household chores! At the age of 6 Rebecca was introduced to the violin. Her music studies have taken her around the world including tours to China, Taiwan and Memphis, Tennessee! She has also been a member of very reputable orchestras including The Utah Youth Symphony, Young Artist Chamber Players, the Olympic Medals Ceremony Orchestra, and the Olympic Closing Ceremonies Orchestra. She is a graduate of Weber State University with a degree in Violin Performance. Rebecca is currently a member of the Orchestra at Temple Square. Her platform entitled, “Breaking Through Barriers” is a message she has shared with various audiences around Northern Utah and is aimed at helping people realize they have the ability to overcome obstacles and challenges that inevitably will come into their lives. As part of the Ms. Wheelchair Utah experience, Rebecca traveled to Arkansas to participate in the National Pageant where she was given the honor of First Runner-up to Ms. Wheelchair America.
Meg Johnson, MWU 2006 and Founder
"Creating a New Reality through Service"
Meg Johnson nominated herself for MWU 2005. There was no pageant. No judges to select her as “great.” She selected herself; her motto was jokingly: “I picked me.” She bought her own crown.
She heard about the Ms. Weelchair America Pageant in 2005, when she had been paralyzed for only a year. She found that there was no Utah branch of the national pageant so she applied to go to nationals as an Independent Delegate representing Utah. She raised the $1300 application fee by writing letters to local businesses and having a yard sale. She flew herself and her mom to new York where she was the youngest contestant in age and also the newest to a wheelchair.
She had fallen off a cliff just 16 months prior to competing. In the landing, she had broken her legs, arms, collar bone, and neck...but not her spirit. Meg received the Spirit Award at the national pageant. Upon returning home, Meg and her now husband, Whit, founded and currently direct the Ms. Wheelchair Utah pageant. Meg uses her own motto, "When life gets too hard to stand, just keep on rollin'" to motivate other women in wheelchairs through this pageant, and people of all abilities, as she speaks to community groups and businesses across the United States. Her website is http://www.MegJohnsonSpeaks.com
She heard about the Ms. Weelchair America Pageant in 2005, when she had been paralyzed for only a year. She found that there was no Utah branch of the national pageant so she applied to go to nationals as an Independent Delegate representing Utah. She raised the $1300 application fee by writing letters to local businesses and having a yard sale. She flew herself and her mom to new York where she was the youngest contestant in age and also the newest to a wheelchair.
She had fallen off a cliff just 16 months prior to competing. In the landing, she had broken her legs, arms, collar bone, and neck...but not her spirit. Meg received the Spirit Award at the national pageant. Upon returning home, Meg and her now husband, Whit, founded and currently direct the Ms. Wheelchair Utah pageant. Meg uses her own motto, "When life gets too hard to stand, just keep on rollin'" to motivate other women in wheelchairs through this pageant, and people of all abilities, as she speaks to community groups and businesses across the United States. Her website is http://www.MegJohnsonSpeaks.com
