Miss North Dakota 2010 Katie Ralston

Katie Ralston
Carrington, North Dakota
Age: 22

Education:
Carrington High School
Minnesota State University - Moorhead

Platform Issue: Walk this Way: The Path of Leadership

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Master's degree of Science in Counseling and Student Affairs

Talent: Musical Theatre Vocal - "One Hundred Easy Ways"

Scholastic Honors: Dean's List, Student Leader of the Month, National Honor Society

Career Ambition: To work in student support services at a University

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Fargo Pageant

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization

Miss North Dakota 2009 Tessie Jones

Tessie Jones
West Fargo, North Dakota
Age: 21

Education:
West Fargo High School
Minnesota State University - Moorhead

Platform Issue: Life Awareness: Improving Mental Health & Preventing Suicide

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art & Design - Photography

Talent: Piano

Scholastic Honors: Honors Apprentice Scholar; Special Honors Student; National Pre-Teen Scholarship Winner

Career Ambition: To operate and own a photography business

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Dickinson/Miss Badlands

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization

Miss North Dakota 2008 Ashley Anne Young

Ashley Anne Young
Grands Forks, North Dakota
Age: 20

Education:
Red River High School
North Dakota State University

Platform Issue: Stop Bullying in Schools: Saving the Spirit of a Child

Scholastic Ambition: Doctorate in Musicology and Vocal Performance

Talent: Operatic Vocal

Scholastic Honors: - Challey Music Scholarship - Fine Arts Honor Student - Member of the NDSU Concert Choir

Other Accomplishments: Playing the role of Mabel in the "Pirates of Penzance".

Career Ambition: College Professor of Music History and Vocal Training

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Grand Forks

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota

Miss North Dakota 2007 Annette Olson

Annette Olson
Balwin, North Dakota
Age: 23

Education:
St. Mary’s Central High School
Concordia College – Biology

Platform Issue: Power of Prevention: Early Detection of Breast and Cervical Cancer

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a Doctorate in Dental Surgery

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Concordia Excellence Scholarship; Dean’s List; Lilly Grant recipient for Cooperative Education

Career Ambition: To practice dentistry in rural Midwest

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Peace Garden

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization

Miss North Dakota 2006 Jacqueline Marie Johnson

Jacqueline Marie Johnson
Fargo, North Dakota
Age: 20

Education:
Fargo North High School
Gustavus Adolphus College—undergraduate, Chemistry and Psychology

Platform Issue: Importance of Blood Donation: The Gift of Life

Scholastic Ambition: To attend Medical School

Talent: Cello

Scholastic Honors: National Merit Semi-Finalist; Freshman Chemistry Student of the Year at Gustavus Adolphus College; President’s List, Gustavus Adolphus College

Career Ambition: To become a Pediatrician

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Red River Valley Scholarship Organization

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization

Three Nouns that Can Describe the Contestant: Energetic, Fun-loving, Spontaneous

Miss North Dakota 2004 Ashley Ford

Ashley Ford
Cavalier, North Dakota
Age: 21

Education:
Cavalier High School
University of North Dakota – junior – Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communications;

Platform Issue: Parkinson’s Disease: The Painful Prison

Scholastic Ambition: Obtain a degree in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society; Dean’s List; Honor Student

Career Ambition: To become a professional singer

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota State Potato Queen

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization

Three Nouns that Can Describe the Contestant: Country Singer Third Generation Titleholder Fisher Lady

Miss North Dakota 2003 Sara Schelkoph

Sara Schelkoph
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Age: 23

Education:
Home School
University of North Dakota Graduate

Platform Issue: Nurses For Our Nation

Scholastic Ambition: To obtain a master of science degree in nursing

Talent: Lyrical Ballet

Scholastic Honors: Summa Cum Laude; Senior Honors Thesis; Who’s Who Among University College Students

Other Accomplishments: Senior Honor Thesis, “Breastfeeding: Teenagers’ Attitudes and Beliefs”, presented at Sigma Theta Tau’s regional conference in Fargo, ND and International Conference in Indianapolis, IN

Employment: Registered Nurse

Family: Father is a chemist/research engineer. Mother is a homemaker. She has six siblings: Jon, 25; Andrew, 21; Peter, 18; Susanna, 17; Rebecca, 15 and Elizabeth, 14.

Career Ambition: To become a professor of nursing

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Fort Abercrombie

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization, Williston

Miss North Dakota 2002 Stacey Thomas

Stacey Thomas
Bismark, North Dakota
Age: 19

Education:
Century High School
University of Mary

Platform Issue: Special Olympics

Scholastic Ambition: DDS, Orthodontist

Talent: Jazz En Pointe

Scholastic Honors: Dean’s List; Harold Schafer Leadership and The National Dean’s List

Other Accomplishments: National Honor Society; Presidential Scholarship; Presidential Fitness and Academic Awards

Employment: worked at a dance studio, and a cleaning and restoration company

Family: Father is a business owner. Mother is a realtor and receptionist. She has one sister, Amber, 21.

Career Ambition: To become an Orthodontist

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Fort Abercrombie

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization, Williston

Miss North Dakota 2001 Jillayne Mertens

Jillayne Mertens
Motley, North Dakota
Age: 19

Education:

Staples - Motley High School
North Dakota State College of Science

Platform Issue: Bone Marrow Donation Registry

Scholastic Ambition: Music Performance/Mass Communication

Talent: Vocal/Violin

Scholastic Honors: Mad Hatters Theatrical Scholarship; NDSCS Athletic Scholarship; HS Honor Student

Other Accomplishments: Four year superior rating at State Music Festival; performed Copeland with University of Minnesota Opera; accompanist NDSCS Choir, 1st place Talent contest State Fair

Employment: Waitress and telemarketing representative

Family: Father is a Teacher. Mother is a Teacher. She has one brother, Beau 16.

Career Ambition: To be a Sports Reporter or Professional Musician

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization, Williston

Miss North Dakota 2000 Carrie Ann Haberstroh

Carrie Ann Haberstroh
Lisbon, North Dakota
Age: 21

Education:
Lisbon High School
Harvard University

Platform Issue: Alzheimer’s Disease

Scholastic Ambition: To Graduate with Honors, and a Scandinavian Language Citation

Talent: Classical Piano

Scholastic Honors: VES Honors Program at Harvard; Photos Published in Harvard Photographic Art Journal; North Dakota All-State Academic Team

Other Accomplishments: North Dakota State Discus Champion 1998; IFYE Ambassador to Norway; Regional and State Art and Music Awards

Employment: Lifeguard; Swimming Instructor; Model

Family: Father is an Aerial Crop Sprayer and Rancher. Mother is a Homemaker, Teacher, and Model. She has one sister Laura, 18.

Career Ambition: Advertising

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Red River Valley

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization, Williston

Miss North Dakota 1999 Kay Picconatto

Kay Picconatto
Minot, North Dakota
Age: 21

Education:
Surrey High School
Minot State University

Platform Issue: Literacy for Life

Scholastic Ambition: Graduate with BS in English Education

Talent: Vocal

Scholastic Honors: Presidential Academic Achievement Scholarship; Third Place in campus COUP; High School Valedictorian

Other Accomplishments: MSU Elite Singers; Praise Team Leader; Coordinator of Minot Adult Volunteers

Employment: Deck the Walls Interior Decorating; Schlatsky Deli; Minot Country Club

Family: Father is Retired Military, School Counselor, and Real Estate Agent. Mother is a Kindergarten Teacher and Piano Teacher. She has one brother, Michael, 25 and one sister, Sharon, 23. She also has two adopted brothers, Jonathon, 25, and David, 20, and one adopted sister, Laura, 21.

Career Ambition: To teach English in DODDS Program

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Dakota Territory

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Organization, Williston

Miss North Dakota 1998 Sonja Marie Gedde

Sonja Marie Gedde
Fargo, North Dakota
Age: 19

Education:
Fergus Falls Senior High School
Concordia College

Platform Issue: Freedom Through Choice: Teenage Sexual Postponement

Scholastic Ambition: Complete a double major in English Education and Communications and a double minor in Physical Education and Health Education; studying abroad at Oxford University in England, focusing on English Literature

Talent: Instrumental -- Piano

Scholastic Honors: Dean's List; recipient of Concordia College Faculty Scholarship; campus discourse competition winner; High school sports valedictorian; member of the National Honor Society; "A" honor roll 4 years

Other Accomplishments: College choir section leader and accompanist; Hugh O'Brien Leadership Award; Voice of Democracy Award; Church Youth Days committee chair; high school newspaper editor; varsity volleyball, track, soccer and cheerleader; all-state choir member

Employment: Law library assistant; print and runway model; clothing sales associate

Family: Father is an ELCA ordained minister serving Red River Valley Hospice as Director for Mission Support. Mother is a development director for the Red Cross. She has one sister, Erika Lundberg, 26, and one brother, Adam, 22.

Career Ambition: Complete BA and MBA in English Education and Communications, eventually instructing at the collegiate level.

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Fargo Scholarship Pageant

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Pageant, Inc., Williston

Miss North Dakota 1997 Roxana Saberi

Roxana Saberi
Fargo, North Dakota
Age: 20

Education:
Fargo North High School - 1994
Concordia College - Graduate

Platform Issue: Cultural Appreciation

Scholastic Ambition: To pursue a master's degree in broadcast journalism

Talent: Classical Piano

Scholastic Honors: Summa cum laude graduate; college honors program; Dean's List; Alpha Society; AP Scholar; Scholarships: CBS Westinghouse, Japanese American Citizens League, Dollars for Scholars, Concordia Music, Sue Simpson Piano

Other Accomplishments: Campus TV - PR director/producer/anchor/reporter; campus newspaper reporter; college soccer letter; Toastmasters Club; Lambda Delta Sigma Sorority; High School Homecoming Court; Key Club member; high school letters: academics, soccer, dance team, orchestra, Future Business Leaders of America; Dance Team Member of the Year; Who’s Who Among American High School Students; Piano Guild Diploma; volunteer: ND Flood of 1997; foreign refugees; homeless shelter; French camp counselor; children’s museum; 1996 presidential election; nursing home; youth tutor; soccer coach; college orientation leader; piano accompanist for church and college events

Employment: TV broadcasting intern; Concordia College Media Center; French instructor; Area Woman magazine reporter; communication office assistant.

Family: Father is an author and instructor. Mother is a physician. She has one brother, Jasper, 21

Career Ambition: To be a foreign news correspondent

Local Competition Sponsor: Miss Fargo Scholarship Pageant

State Competition Sponsor: Miss North Dakota Scholarship Pageant, Inc., Williston