The new Miss North Dakota, eligible to compete for the Miss America title, will be crowned June 12 in Williston, N.D., in a competition featuring three titleholders from Grand Forks.
The Miss Grand Forks Scholarship Pageant in January awarded three "Miss" titles in the 17-to-24 age category to Beth Dennison, Miss Grand Forks; Emily Burkland, Miss Eastern Dakota; and Stephanie Erickson, Miss Empire.
Twenty young women in all will compete in Williston for Miss North Dakota, beginning with two nights of preliminaries, June 10 and 11, that will include talent, interview, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit, evening gown and on-stage question.
The current Miss North Dakota, Katie Ralston of Carrington, N.D., will crown the new Miss North Dakota on June 12. All three nights of competition will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Williston High School auditorium.
B. Michael Quale, who produces the Miss North Dakota pageant, has announced that guest performers will be Sheila Zinke, Miss North Dakota 1978; Tessie Jones, Miss North Dakota 2009; JC Labar; the Miss North Dakota Dancers; and the winners of the North Dakota Youth Pageant.
ADVERTISEMENT
Three related events also are open to the public. A freewill offering ice cream social with entertainment at Williston's Harmon Park from 12:30 to 2 p.m. June 12 will benefit Relay for Life and Miss North Dakota scholarships. There will be a gala the evening of June 11 and the Awards Brunch the morning of June 12.
Here is a list of Miss North Dakota candidates, their titles, their hometowns, and their talent and platforms.
- Lydia Barkie, Miss Williams County, Williston, N.D.; vocal; Beyond the Bell -- Promoting After School Programs.
- Shelby Bohnekamp, Miss Badlands, Milnor, N.D.; vocal; Everyone is Beautiful -- Eating Disorder Awareness and Prevention.
- Sarah Borgen, Miss Dakota Country, New Rockford, N.D.: monologue; Lending a Hand: Volunteerism.
- Emily Burkland, Miss Eastern Dakota, Grand Forks; classical piano; Arts Advocacy -- Leading with Creativity.
- Beth Dennison, Miss Grand Forks, Glencoe, Minn.; dance; Leading by Example: A Child's Guide to Becoming a Volunteer.
- Stephanie Erickson, Miss Empire, Fargo; classical piano; Empower and Inspire -- Become a Mentor.
ADVERTISEMENT
- Amy Frauenberg, Miss James River Valley, LaMoure, N.D.; vocal; Family Farms, Strong Communities.
- Laura Harmon, Miss State Capitol, Grand Forks; vocal; Stepping Stones: Steps we Can Take for a More Sustainable Future.
- Alexis Hoffman, Miss Red River Valley, Fargo; dance; Taking Every Breath for Granted: Asthma Education
- Whitney Nelson, Miss Prairie Rose, St. Thomas, N.D.; tenor saxophone; Students and Service: Encouraging Community Involvement While Building Character.
- Brittany Noltimier, Miss Fort Abercrombie, Penn, N.D.; dance; Save a Life -- Become an Organ Donor.
- April Oestreich, Miss Dickinson, Dickinson, N.D.; clogging; Keep Reading: The Importance of Reading.
- Becky Parker, Miss Peace Garden, Williston, N.D.; vocal; Keeping Music Education Alive in Schools.
- Cherisse Parker, Miss Williston, Williston, N.D.; vocal; The Fight Against Domestic Violence.
ADVERTISEMENT
n Abigail Polries, Miss Carrington, Sykeston, N.D.: vocal; An End to Abusive Relationships.
- Stephanie Richter, Miss Oil Country, Williston, N.D.; dance; Go Red! Love your Heart.
- Rosie Sauvageau, Miss West Fargo, Fargo; vocal; Bridge the Gap to End Discrimination.
- Jaci Stofferahn, Miss Northern Lights, Fargo; vocal; A Healthy Weight for Life: Strong Body, Mind, and Soul.
- Ashleyana Teske, Miss Williston State College, Epping, N.D.; piano; The Magic of the Family Meal.
- Stephanie Tollefson, Miss Fargo, New Rockford, N.D.; vocal; More than Sad: Suicide Prevention & Awareness.
Tickets and more information are available at the Williston Convention and Visitors Bureau; call (701) 774-9041. Tickets are $12 for preliminary nights and $18 for the final night, or $35 for all three nights.
Meanwhile, contestants are being sought between ages 14 and 24 for the 2011 Grand Forks Scholarship pageants. If you are interested in competing for a "Miss" or "Teen Miss" title, contact the pageant director, Caroline Brost, at missgrandforks@yahoo.com . Interested 2011 sponsors are also needed.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Miss America Organization has provided $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance to more than 12,000 young women who competed in its state and local competitions throughout America, a news release said.
As a not-for-profit organization, The Miss Grand Forks Organization is dedicated to providing a competition for North Dakota's most accomplished young women, to give them an opportunity to gain character building experiences and scholarship assistance while showcasing public speaking skills and talent.
