Annette Olson
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
 Olson, speaking in Minot, ND (January 2007) | |
| Born |
Annette Olson Baldwin, North Dakota |
|---|---|
| Hair color | Blonde |
| Eye color | Blue |
| Title(s) | Miss North Dakota 2006 |
| Major competition(s) | Miss America 2007 |
Annette Olson (born 1983) was Miss North Dakota 2006 and a contestant in the Miss America 2007 pageant. Claiming the local title “Miss Peace Garden,” Olson promoted a platform for the early detection of breast and cervical cancers, which she titled the “Power of Prevention.”[1] Prior to her crowning as Miss North Dakota, Olson was first runner-up in the 2005 Miss North Dakota pageant and competed in a national “Sweetheart” contest. As Miss North Dakota she spoke to approximately 15,000 students in 80 schools.
Education and career
Olson attended Regan Elementary School in Regan, North Dakota, a one-room building which had an enrollment of approximately 15 students; Olson was the only student in her class. [2] A self-proclaimed tomboy, she liked to catch gophers, work with animals on the family’s farm, and began wrestling competitively. After the school’s eighth grade graduation in 1997, Olson attended St. Mary’s Central High School in Bismarck, North Dakota and continued her wrestling career - often, the only female competing! In 2001 Olson moved to Moorhead, Minnesota to attend Concordia College, graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology, summa cum laude; she studied abroad at James Cook University in North Queensland, Australia and also visited Tanzania, East Africa. In Africa she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and toured schools and clinics. Olson ran cross country her junior year and later participated in a marathon. Eventually, she would like to qualify for the Boston Marathon.[3]
After graduation, Olson took the position of Field Epidemiologist with the North Dakota Department of Health in Bismarck. As an epidemiologist she investigated over 60 communicable diseases in the state of North Dakota, and also gave presentations to health care providers. Currently, she is a health educator for Olmsted County, Minnesota. In the future Olson would like to attend dental school, practice family dentistry, and work on an American Indian reservation.[1]
Miss North Dakota 2006
On June 10, 2006, Olson was officially crowned Miss North Dakota. As Miss North Dakota Olson participated in nearly 1000 speaking engagements, visiting approximately 80 schools and 15,000 students, promoting the early detection of breast and cervical cancers, as well as participating in the “Eat Smart, Play Hard” campaign; all these speaking events were held while she was still employed full-time as an epidemiologist.[4]
Representing North Dakota in the Miss America 2007 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada, Olson performed the Crystal Gayle song “Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” for the talent portion.
Don't be afraid to try for new things because it can lead you in some pretty unexpected directions.— Annette Olson, Miss North Dakota 2006, [5]
References
- 1 2 Associated Press (June 13, 2006). "Miss North Dakota focuses on disease prevention". kxmb.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ↑ "JOURNAL OF THE NORTH DAKOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES" (PDF). North Dakota Legislature. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ↑ "Meet the Contestants". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ↑ Associated Press (June 15, 2007). "Miss North Dakota is ready to crown successor". bismarcktribune.com. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ↑ Associated Press (June 15, 2007). "Miss North Dakota is ready to crown successor". bismarcktribune.com. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
| Preceded by Jaqueline Johnson |
Miss North Dakota 2006 |
Succeeded by Ashley Young |