Wanted to say congratulations for being Ms Wheelchair California. Look forward to seeing all of the wonderful ladies in Rockville! Even though we might be competing for the same title, it is not about the title but what we can do to promote our cause to all of the Nation! Good luck!

Hi Shannon- I just wanted to introduce myself since I won’t be able to meet you at the National Pageant. I am the state coordinator for Ms. Wheelchair Washington Pageant, and I met your state coordniator at the Abilities Expo last month in Anaheim. I was there for work and fun. You have a great state coordinator and I red your platform and profile on blogpsot.com, You have done a lot of great things. I was Ms. WC Washington 2006 and I had a great year. I am sorry I won’t be there to meet all of you this year. Good luck in all you do and have a wonderful time at the Ms. Wheelchair America pageant. It was one of the best weeks of my life!

Best of luck!
Tammy Wilber
Ms. Wheelchair Washington State Pageant Coordinator

I wish you the best of luck!

Read your profile on blogspot.com as well. Wow, you’ve accomplished so much more than most others! Best of luck in DC.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you in advance to the great state of Maryland. I look forward to meeting you. I know that we will all have a great time during the week of Nationals. Good luck and most importantly have fun!!!

Ms. Wheelchair MD

Shannon,
Congratulations on the honor of being Ms. Wheelchair California 2008! I hope your journey has been as much of a blessing as mine has been! I wish you the best of luck in the Ms. Wheelchair America competition and I am looking forward to meeting you!

God Bless
Brandee Ponder
Ms. Wheelchair North Carolina 2008

Hi Shannon, I’m Rose, Ms. Wheelchair Virginia. I like adventure too! I recently went motor biking. Are you geared up for week of fun as we complete? I look forward to meeting you. Have a safe and enjoyable rip.

My name is Angie Wilkerson: I was Ms. Wheelchair Virginia 2005-2006, second runner-up at Ms. Wheelchair America 2006 and also was awarded the People’s Choice Award. To all contestants, congratulations! As you get ready for MWA I know you are probably very excited and nervous at the same time. I wanted to share these pieces of wisdom based on my experiences and advice I received. You will be glad if you do all of your preparation before going to MWA (prepare & practice speeches, etc.), once you arrive pace yourself- don’t wear yourself out- get your rest and eat well- take care of yourself, enjoy every moment of the experience, take lots of pictures, try to meet and spend time with each contestant- you will be so inspired and enriched by doing so, you are all amazing and special…don’t compare yourself to anyone else- just be the best you that you can be, think of your fellow contestants not as competition but rather as members of a team with the same mission as you. May you all support, encourage, educate, and inspire one another. Have the time of your life and congratulations again to each of you on your achievements.
God bless,
Angie Wilkerson
MWVA 2005-2006

Hi Shannon!
I’m Ashlee Allington Ms. Wheelchair Utah! I just wanted to say good luck! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for all of us, and I look forward to meeting you!

Ashlee

Hi Sweetie,
Just some happy wishes here from your hubby. Have a great time at the pageant - be yourself and you can’t help but shine from within! You’ll always be my shining star. I wish I could be there with you but those folks at the CA Bar probably wouldn’t pass me if I did that. I love you.
Dom.

Shannon
saw you on KCRA news this morning.
what an inspiration you are too all
you brought tears to my eyes. I wish there were more people like you. Lots of luck in the upcoming pageant.

Shannon,
Your appearance on KCRA News this morning was great! I am very proud of you and Wish You Luck at Nationals. Just remmember you are already a winner! You hold the title to the biggest economy state. I will be thinking of you all week. Best of Luck!
Susan Rotchy (Ms Wheelchair California 07)

Hi Shannon! Saw you on KCRA Channel 3 News on Saturday- you rocked your interview! Best of luck at Ms. Wheelchair America- I’ll be cheering you on from afar. Take care and have fun!

Hi Shannon,

You are such an inspiration to everyone around you! I will be cheering you on from CA!

Best wishes,
Natalie

Shannon- Congratulations on your title of Ms Wheelchair California. You have a very busy and exciting week ahead of you in Rockville Maryland. Embrace every moment of this once in a lifetime opportunity and open yourself up to learning from all of the amazing women around you. Best of luck! I look forward to meeting you next week.
Autumn Grant
Ms Wheelchair America 2007
Ms Wheelchair Massachusetts 2006
Ms Wheelchair Massachusetts State Coordinator

Looking forward to meeting all you young ladies on Monday at the hotel. Have a good trip to Maryland

Deborah Barnes
Ms Wheelchair DC

Shannon,
Have a great time this coming week and we are all cheering for you in California!

Gary Rotchy

Shannon ~
Yay You! We are so very thrilled 4U! We will be holding you close in our hearts & prayers, knowing you will be blessed as well as be a blessing throughout this trip! Our love to you & Dom! Ann & Don Arneson, Davis CA

To sing Shannon’s praises adequately, I’d have to compose a symphony with full orchestra, a dozen or more soloists, at least two choruses of singers, and a music hall the size of the Greek Theater at the University of California at Berkeley! That gal sure knows how to get things done and done well! Go, Shannon, Go!

Shannon,

I wish you a wonderful week at Nationals, full of memories and meaning, with much to be happy about… Know this - you are all already winners, so just let your natural beauty shine through!

xoxo
Kristen McCosh, MWA 2008

Shannon, Good luck from me and Rodger. I hope you are well and would love to see you soon.

XX

Hi Shannon! I just want to wish you well at the pageant this week. I hope to see you on Saturday. It was so nice spending time with you last week at the AHEAD Conference. God bless! - Fran

Hello Shannon,

In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure, a year in the life?
This exact question from one of my favorite songs from the musical RENT began running through my head from the moment I recieved the title of Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee. How would I measure this year? And now I know I am measuring it in every lesson taught and learned and every friendship made.

I am looking forward to a great week here at Nationals. Thank you for being a part of how I will measure this year.

Kasondra, Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee 2008

Shannon, we think that you are one of the most courageous young women we know. Congrats from Pete and Lil (Andy’s folks).

Shannon,
Congratulations on making it to the national competition! You’re a great ambassador for people with disabilities and a great ambassador for Christ. We’re rooting for you!

Jonathan

I wish you all the best. We’re all very proud of you. Have a great week.

Best wishes! And have lots of fun and make new friends!

Dan

amigaaaaaaaaaaa
Im so proud of you!!!! desde Asunción te mando un beso enorme, te quiero mucho,un abrazo
best wishes
good luck and lots of blessings!!!

Hey,
It was great meeting u this weekend.. U’re an amazing lady.. Best of luck.. I voted for u Ur fellow RPCV

Dear Shannon,

i am so proud of you and always inspired by you.

i’m sure that those who meet you will be touched and blessed by your contagious and genuine smile and laughter.

You are beautiful inside out! We see your heart!

Enjoy each encounter and challenge in the journey! SHINE, Shannon!

Looking forward to seeing and hearing your experience when i get a chance to visit you in Northern Cal.

May God bless all of you with strength, courage, joy, peace, love and His Presence always.

Love,
: )

Dear Shannon,
Congratulations! I am so very proud of you. I want you to know how sorry I am that I did not make it to the hotel. I had unexpected company. They left at 5 and I quickly started on my way to Rockville but after I was half way there, I realized I would never make it in time, so I turned around. I looked on line this morning only to discover you are first runner up. That is awesome. I do hope we can keep in touch. Send me an email when you have a moment. God Bless! - Fran

WOW,Shanon! You are amazing! We, the Peace Corps Paraguay community is so proud of you.

Keep up your great spirit!

Abrazos calidos desde el Paraguay!

Shannon,

It was such a pleasure to get to know you and your husband this past week at Nationals! Congratulations on being named 1st Runner Up, and please continue to keep up all of your great advocacy work in California…

xoxo
Kristen McCosh
MWA 2008

Hi, Shannon,
Congratulations on being 1st runner up in the 2009 Ms. WC America Pageant. You are delightful & an inspiration to all. However, I do wish I could have heard you sing in Chinese!!! It was a wonderful experience for me because I shared it with my granddaughter, Ashley, and my daughter, Ashley’s Aunt Terri. What an outstanding group of women with which you shared the stage. Best wishes to you in all your future plans. Yours truly, Carole Lerch, Martelle, Iowa

Shannon,
I was my pleasure meeting and spending a whole week with you. Congratulation and I will be looking for you at the Rose Bowl Parade.
Nadia

You and Dominic are both amazing, and John and I are so glad we had the opportunity to share MWA with you.I have no doubt you will change the world, and breakdown stereotypes across the globe. We look forward to seeing you in the Rose Bowl parade.

Congrats on being 1st runner up!

congratulations on being first runner up! May you continue your great success!

Shannon,

I, too, was a PCV in Latin America. I now volunteer with a different org that send teens to Latin America to volunteer in the summer. The organization, however, is not willing to accept volunteers in wheelchairs and I am trying to change their policy, but am getting no support. They claim that it’s too much of a liability and that they wouldn’t be able to accomodate the volunterr. (I think it’s BS!) What advice do you have for me?

Thanks,

Tara

Hi Shannon. We met at Capitol Action Day. I’m interested in Ms. Wheelchair CA. Would you email me? Thanks, Lindsey