On the day of the Miss Deaf Wisconsin Pageant on March 15, 2008, we provided different activities
for our community. We started off with our committee chair, Andy Altmann, who was in charge of the
Silent Auction to raise funds to send Miss Deaf Wisconsin to compete in the National Association of
the Deaf Miss Deaf America Pageant in New Orleans this summer. During the Silent Auction, we
introduced our presenters, Tom and Kathryn Harbison, who provided information about "Community Leadership"
and we had Joel Mankowski who provided information about "Interpreting Licensure". Then
after our wonderful presentations in the afternoon we all took a break to attend the fundraising
Spaghetti Dinner taken care of by Janet Kunz, Karen Dishno and her daughter Maris. We all had
a great time socializing and eating a delicious dinner.
After dinner, we started our Miss Deaf Wisconsin Pageant with Kim Durrah who got these two wonderful
contestants Wendy Arendt and Audrey Kludtke ready for the pageant. We started off with our Master of
Cermonies, the former Miss Deaf Wisconsin 1999-2001, Jessalyn Frank. She introduced the three
judges; Ron Byington, Lee Milton, Lindalu Fox-Wheeler who all worked hard to judge these wonderful
ladies. We also had our score keepers Jennifer Grueneberg and Scott Baughman who were busy adding up
the scores for each event. We were also grateful to have two interpreters Colleen Keating and
Heather Ford who took time out of their busy schedules to interpret for the pageant.
The result of each event during the pageant:
Best Platform Presentation: Audrey Kludtke
Best Talent Performance: Wendy Arendt
Best Evening Gown: Wendy Arendt
Runner Up: Audrey Kludtke
Miss Deaf Wisconsin 2008-2009: Wendy Arendt
We also do not want to forget these wonderful people who were involved in helping with the Miss Deaf
Wisconsin Pageant. As Director of the Miss Deaf Wisconsin Pageant, I want to thank each of the
committees and volunteers from the bottom of my heart for working hard before and during the pageant
as without your help we would not be successful.
Thank you to these wonderful people who helped with the pageant:
Karla Gunn who originally was planning to help the Pageant Director; Denise Johnson, by promoting,
sending flyers, and many other projects along with her Jr. NAD students from Wisconsin School for the
Deaf; however, her baby son had decided to come into the world 8 weeks early. We want to
congratulate her and her husband on the birth of their son.
Karen Dishno for supporting the director for several months and doing the fundraising dinner to raise money along with her daughter Maris.
Amy Keim for supporting the director, working with the former Miss Deaf Wisconsin Jessayln Frank, and for putting up with her husband Jerrod's crazy schedule in preparing the pageant.
Jennifer Grueneberg for gratefully helping with the registrations and keeping scores.
Sarah Peeks who was keep in touch and help the Director by doing a project for the pageant.
Janet Kunz who did a bunch of stuff for the Director helping with Karen Dishno with dinner, taking
care of the regristion with Jennifer Grueneberg and doing bunch of errands.
Andy Altmann who not only took care of the Silent Action but also helped the Director by getting
access to Wisconsin School for the Deaf, making sure the director, committee, and contestants were
comfortable at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, and doing bunch of other errands as well.
Scott Baughman not only did the score keeping but also used his muscles to move and carry things during the pageant.
Lindalu Fox-Wheeler who helped lead the judges but also helped the Director with the Miss Deaf Wisconsin Pageant program book.
Tom, Kathryn Haribson and Joel Mankowski for preparing and providing the presentation.
I want to mostly thank Kim Durrah for keeping the contestants prepared by providing inputs/feedback,
and working with the Director for three days. I know she was so exhausted from all this hard work.
Leslie Riggs for working with the WAD president and the pageant director for posting on WAD website,
sending out information, and doing a bunch of other stuff as well.
I also want to thank most of all for our Wisconsin Association of the Deaf President Jerrod Keim
supporting me every step of the way for four months in planning this pageant. He also did so much
errands on the day of the pageant.
We also can't forget the Wisconsin School for the Deaf for allowing us to use the dorm for the
contestants, and the committee to spend the nights and using the gym for the pageant. We also want to
thank the WSD staff and powerhouse staff for preparing our event and keeping us safe during the
weekend.
Most of all, we want to thank sponsors and boosters for supporting the Miss Deaf Wisconsin Pageant.
Again, thank you for being you and I cherish your support as always.
Denise Johnson
Miss Deaf Wisconsin Director 2008
