MWVA

The Ms. Wheelchair VA Board of Directors is proud to
announce that Niki Swann of Heathsville was crowned Ms.
Wheelchair VA on Saturday, March 27th at Woodrow Wilson
Rehabilitation Center in Fishersville, Virginia. The programs
theme “Celebrate Life” showcased the accomplishments of
seven remarkable women who have overcome challenges and
obstacles to achieve and accomplish great success.

Niki is from Heathsville. She is 23 and has been using a
wheelchair since the age of 16 when she suffered a spinal cord
injury due to a motor vehicle accident. Her interests include
19th century British literature, disability studies and
antiques. She is earning her Masters in English Literature at
VCU and teaches composition at Rappahannock Community
College.

Niki's platform for advocacy is "Breaking Down Stereotypes
to Build Opportunities". "Her Motto of Inspiration is Accept
No Boundaries".

First runner up in this year’s program was India Sims from
Crozet; Stephanie Coleman from Green Bay was second
runner up. The Scholarship Award was presented to Lindsay
Spatz from Charlottesville. An award for Ms. Congeniality
was voted on by fellow contestants and was awarded to Niki
Swann from Heathsville.

“Niki Swann will be a wonderful representative for the
Commonwealth of Virginia as the new Ms. Wheelchair VA,”
states Pam Cobler, Executive Director of Ms. Wheelchair VA.
“She will spend the next year traveling the state advocating
for those with disabilities and spreading her platform
message.”

This year’s program was possible because of the generous
support of sponsors including this year’s Diamond Sponsors
Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, and AmeriCorps. For
a complete listing of corporate sponsors, to invite Ms.
Wheelchair Virginia at your next engagement, for
information on becoming a contestant, or for more
information on sponsorship opportunities please visit
www.mswheelchairva.com .

To have Ms. Wheelchair Virginia at your next engagement,
become a contestant, to be a sponsor, or more information
please contact us. To keep up with Niki's engagements and
photos visit her facebook page.You can visit it by going to
http://www.facebook.com and typing in Ms. Wheelchair
Virginia in Search. Ms. Swann will be representing Virginia
at the 2011 Ms. Wheelchair American in Grand Rapids,
Michigan.

Ms. Wheelchair Virginia program is a 501(c)(3) organization
that focuses on the accomplishments of Virginians with
disabilities. The Ms. Wheelchair Virginia program has been
awarded a grant from AmeriCorps, for more information visit
www.americorps.gov. Our mission is to educate, advocate and
raise awareness of the abilities and needs of the disability
community in order to influence attitudinal, architectural,
and social change for all Virginians. Furthermore, our
program?s mission is to inspire and motivate Virginians as
role models of courage and hope. A female wheelchair user is
annually selected as our titleholder to carry out our mission
while representing Virginians with disabilities as well as all
Virginians. The titleholder has a year long reign speaking at
various engagements throughout the state.