Annette Olson

Pageant titleholder bio
title=Miss North Dakota 2006
photo=
nationalcompetition=Miss America 2007
location= Baldwin, North Dakota
birthname= Annette Olson
eye color= Blue
hair color=Blonde

Annette Olson 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.” [cite news|url= http://www.kxmb.com/t/schools/12997.asp |accessdate=2007-08-31
title= Miss North Dakota focuses on disease prevention
author=Associated Press
date=June 13, 2006
publisher= kxmb.com ] Prior to her crowning of 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. [cite web|url= http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/60-2007/journals/hr36.pdf |accessdate=2007-08-31
title= JOURNAL OF THE NORTH DAKOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
publisher=North Dakota Legislature|format=PDF] 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. [cite web|url= http://www.cmt.com/shows/events/miss_america/2007/meet_the_contestants |accessdate=2007-08-31
title=Meet the Contestants ]

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. [cite news|url= http://www.kxmb.com/t/schools/12997.asp |accessdate=2007-08-31
title= Miss North Dakota focuses on disease prevention
author=Associated Press
date=June 13, 2006
publisher= kxmb.com ]

Miss North Dakota 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. [cite news|url= http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/06/15/news/state/134831.txt |accessdate=2007-08-31
title= Miss North Dakota is ready to crown successor |author=Associated Press
date=June 15, 2007
publisher=bismarcktribune.com]

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. (Olson’s eyes are actually blue, not brown!)Quotation|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| [cite news|url= http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/06/15/news/state/134831.txt |accessdate=2007-08-31
title= Miss North Dakota is ready to crown successor |author=Associated Press
date=June 15, 2007
publisher=bismarcktribune.com]

Interesting Facts

*Movie: Walk the Line

*Place to visit: Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, East Africa

*Food: Kneophla soup

*Sports Team: Minnesota Vikings

*Has a horse named Dash

*First rodeo competition was riding sheep [cite web|url= http://www.cmt.com/shows/events/miss_america/2007/meet_the_contestants |accessdate=2007-08-31
title=Meet the Contestants ]

References

External links

* [http://www.missamerica.org/competition-info/state-contestants.asp?state=North+Dakota&year=2006&GO=GO%21 Miss North Dakota at the Miss America official website]
* [http://missndorganization.org/ Miss North Dakota official website]

###@@@KEY@@@###succession box
before=Jaqueline Johnson
title=Miss North Dakota
years=2006
after=Ashley Young