The following 10 candidates will compete for the 2008 Miss Nisswa title at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa.
Hosted by the Nisswa Area Women of Today, pageant tickets are $5 at the door and include a cake and punch reception immediately following the pageant.
The new Miss Nisswa, her court and Little Miss Nisswa will participate in Winter Jubilee festivities Feb. 15-17, including the parade Saturday afternoon, Feb. 16, in downtown Nisswa.
Miss Nisswa will receive a $2,000 scholarship and many gifts. Nisswa Princess will receive a $1,400 scholarship; and Second Princess will receive a $1,100 scholarship.
Miss Congeniality will receive $300 and gifts. Essay and interview winners each will receive $250.
There also will be gifts for all contestants and Little Miss participants.
Sarah Avenson
Brainerd High School
Parents: Randy and Sheila Avenson, Brainerd
Hobbies and interests: Snowboarding, wakeboarding, snowmobiling, archery, piano, cooking and anything that has to do with the outdoors. I love to play softball and work out at the YMCA doing yoga and pilates.
Future plans: To attend Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in July and pursue a career as a chef. My goal is to eventually open and manage my own fine dining restaurant.
Heather Meier
Brainerd High School
Parents: Jeff and Patty Meier, Nisswa
Hobbies and interests: I like to horseback ride, snowmobile, snowboard, ski, wakeboard, go fishing, boating, swim, run in track, play volleyball, basketball, cook, go mini golfing, read and work at Bethany Good Samaritan Nursing Home.
Future plans: I plan to attend Central Lakes College for the Licensed Practical Nurse program. After I have completed this program I plan to start the Registered Nurse program and, hopefully, have my RN by the time I am 20. I have already taken college classes required through the high school per medical terminology and human biology (both college credits).
Sonya Hills
Brainerd High School
Parents: Mike and Cheryal Hills, Brainerd
Hobbies and interests: I enjoy playing tennis and golf in the summertime. I also love going camping and fishing with my family and friends. I am involved with debate and Student Congress, as well as Key Club. In my free time I like to bead bracelets, make my own pillows and curtains, and decorate my bedroom.
Future plans: I plan to attend a four-year college or university in the fall of 2008. Although I am yet undecided on which college I will attend, I know I will be majoring in either architecture or mathematics.
Nicole Cain
Brainerd High School
Parents: Barb and Gerry Cain, Nisswa
Hobbies and interests: Animals, being with friends and being out on the lake in the summer.
Future plans: To attend Central Lakes College for two years to get my generals, then plan to join the FBI.
chelsea Collette
Brainerd High School
Parents: Tim and Barb Collette, Nisswa
Hobbies and interests: One of my biggest passions in life is for music. I have been in choir since I started kindergarten, and I began piano lessons with my grandma when I was 4 years old. I have also participated in my church choir at St. Francis. When I was a sophomore, I auditioned for the A Cappella Choir and have been a member for the last two years. This year I was selected by our director to be the choir manager. I am also part of a select group of singers called Windfall.
Another important element in my life has to do with animals. I have two cats, two dogs and a horse that mean everything to me. For two years, at the beginning of high school, I worked at a boarding and training facility for cats and dogs. I also do some volunteering at HART animal shelter in Brainerd working with many different breeds and ages of dogs and cats. In addition, I have shadowed veterinarians from Garrison to Staples.
I also love being outside. In the summer my family goes camping often and we always find time to go swimming, biking and fishing as much as possible. When winter arrives, it's time for ice fishing, snowmobile riding, and ice skating in front of my grandma's house on North Long Lake.
Future plans: I have been a part of the PSEO program through Central Lakes College in Brainerd for two years. By the time I graduate high school, I will have completed my Associate of Arts degree. Next fall I plan to attend Bemidji State University to finish my Bachelor's degree majoring in biology. After that I am hoping to be accepted into the school of veterinary medicine at the University of Minnesota/St. Paul campus. Once I have completed all of the necessary schooling and the required internship work, my ultimate goal is to move back home to Nisswa and start up my own clinic.
Mary Petersen
Brainerd High School
Parents: Ron and Bev Petersen, Nisswa
Hobbies and interests: Captain cross country running, captain gymnastics, track and field, senior Class Cabinet president.
Future plans: Go to Hamline University and major in biochemistry to become an orthopedic surgeon. I will also be running track there.
Sammy Mraz
Pequot Lakes High School
Parents: Monte and Chrissy Mraz, Nisswa
Hobbies and interests: Softball, SADD, Interact Club, Youth As Resources (YAR), 4-H, hospital volunteer and piano. I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, shopping, going to movies, running and dancing. Oh, and I love summer.
Future plans: I plan to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in the fall to major in pre-medicine and become a pediatrician.
Katrina Ritter
Brainerd High School
Parents: Rick and Alice Ritter, East Gull Lake
Hobbies and interests: I like to play tennis and work on cars. I work at Buffalo Wild Wings, and have for a few months now. I like to swim, and run in summer. I've played piano for 11 years and sing in the Brainerd A Cappella Choir.
Future plans: I'd like to go to college at either Bemidji or Duluth for a nursing major, but eventually become either a fitness trainer or an RN.
Savannah Thomsen
Pequot Lakes High School
Parents: Wayne and Peggy Thomsen, Nisswa
Hobbies and interests: Art, dancing, cosmetology, working at The Fine Line Salon & Spa, singing, photography, volunteering, working with my family's ministry, running my own business, and attending snowmobile and dirt bike races.
Future plans: To attend the cosmetology program at Aveda Institute in Minneapolis to become a licensed stylist, to work at a prestigious salon in the metro area, and eventually save up enough money to open my own salon.
Cierra Johnson
Brainerd High School
Parents: Sherry and Charlie Johnson, Merrifield
Hobbies and interests: I have participated in tennis, track and karate. I am enrolled in a journalism class and, of course, I enjoy writing very much. I also like to run and swim, especially in the summer.
Future plans: I plan to attend a college for writing after high school and major in journalism. My ultimate goal is to publish my own books and write for my favorite magazine. I'm also thinking about joining the Peace Corps for a couple of years.
