Miss Waseca County Sleigh & Cutter

Miss Waseca County Sleigh and Cutter 2011 is Rachel Hoverstad. She was born in Waseca, and has lived here her entire life. She is the daughter of Tom and Janice Hoverstad. She is a senior at Waseca High School. After graduating, she plans to attend a 4-year college and pursue a degree in education or medicine.

Rachel is involved in many school activities. She is in tennis, cheerleading, and golf. She participates in band and choir, including marching band, and show choir, and is a piano accompanist for the choir. She has been involved in Sharri's School of Dance for the past fourteen years, and will return again this year. Rachel is also a leader in marching band, and is a Link Crew Leader. She was accepted into National Honor Society, and will be tutoring math students this coming year.

Other than school activities, Rachel is very involved in her church. She teaches Sunday School, helps with children's sermons, sings or plays her trumpet, and is an active member of the youth group, 3rd Gear. With 3rd Gear she volunteers for many community service projects and has gone on mission trips. She also is on the leadership team of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serves as a huddle leader during their Junior Clinic for 4th-8th graders each summer. Being an FCA huddle leader and teaching sunday school are a big part of what gave Rachel her passion for working with kids.

Her passion for children drove her to choose a platform that would help children. Her platform is Unique and Beautiful - Helping children who have physical disabilities. Rachel has a brachial plexus injury, called Erb's Palsy which is a form of Cerebral Palsy. She has nerve damage in her right shoulder which makes it so that she cannot straighten her arm, or raise it above her head. She has been a patient at Gilette Children's Hospital, which is partnered with the Miss America Organization, and Rachel is excited to have the opportunity to give back through Children's Miracle Network. Rachel has had a rough time through out her life learning to be comfortable with her injury. Her biggest goal as Miss Waseca County Sleigh and Cutter is to help young children to see their disability as so much more than a hindrance. She wants them to see that their injury makes them who they are, and makes them a unique person. She also plans to give other children an experience of what it is like to be disabled in partnership with the Advocates for Developmental Disabilities. Rachel hopes to share what she has learned in her own personal struggle with young children struggling with their own injuries.

About the Pageant

Miss Waseca County, Sleigh & Cutter is a closed pageant. To compete, you must be a graduate of or current student in the Waseca County School District (Waseca, Janesville, or New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva) or the Waterville Elysian Morristown school district.

Contact Information
Amanda Kanewischer, director: amanda@wasecapageants.com
Website: www.wasecapageants.com

Committee Members: Jennifer Burt, Christy Barnett, Shelly Cooper, Sharri Rocca, Molly Kopischke