Past Titleholders

Our previous women of achievement...

Amanda Steiner
Lawrence, KS

Miss. Amanda Steiner, 23, enjoys living life to the fullest. Amanda became a quadriplegic in February of 1999, but has not let that stop her from taking full advantage of what life has to offer. She attended the University of Kansas and obtained her Bachelor of General Studies in Psychology. She is currently working on her Master's degree in Industrial Psychology at Emporia State University. Over the years, she has had a strong involvement in the community. Amanda participated in the Key Club, Youth Mentoring, Youth Court, the Youth Team, and was active in Forensics, which gave her experience in public speaking. She has been a Vacation Bible School volunteer and a Girl Scout Day Camp volunteer. Amanda was also selected to attend the 2002 Kansas Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities. She has received academic awards and a Lion’s Club Community Service Award, as well as many scholarships. Amanda is originally from Marion, KS, but currently lives in Lawrence. Her current goal is to work toward complete independence. She hopes to, someday, be doing a job that she loves and that makes her happy. For right now, she is taking full advantage of opportunities that come her way. Amanda enjoys being a very active person and trying new adventures. She loves to travel to new places. She also began scuba diving last year and loves how peaceful it is underwater. Amanda is the oldest of three children. Her family is very important to her. Amanda describes herself as honest, shy, loud, talkative, and caring.

MWKS '08 Platform: “Taking Away Independence: The Trouble with Accessible Parking.”

Read the 2008 Titleholder press release

Visit the 2008 MWKS Event page for more information.  Coming soon!

Amanda Attends National Competition
and Wins Best Platform Award

Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2008, Amanda Steiner, attended Ms. Wheelchair America in July and was awarded the Best Platform Award. Amanda travelled to Rockville, MD on July 21-27, 2008 to compete for the national title alongside 25 other women from across the United States. After a full week of competition, networking, and empowerment, Amanda came away with great memories and the honor of receiving a new award that recognizes the state titleholder with the most exceptional platform speech. Congratulations to Amanda!

The new Ms. Wheelchair America is Michelle Colvard of Texas. Learn more about Michelle on the national website.

Read the full press release

Visit Amanda's page on the Ms. Wheelchair America website

Learn more about our current titleholder & view upcoming appearances

Photos above by John McCosh

Amanda Begins Titleholder Journey, Prepares for Nationals

As Amanda's year as Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2008 takes off, she is preparing for a very busy summer. Amanda will be making various appearances in the coming weeks. To see her current schedule, visit the Current Titleholder page. To schedule a presentation or appearance from Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2008, contact the state coordinator.

Amanda is also currently preparing to represent Kansas at the national competition that will be held in July. Ms. Wheelchair America  will be held on July 21-27, 2008 at the Hilton in Rockville, Maryland. Amanda is currently raising funds for her entry fee and other travel expenses. She is seeking support from the community.
To make a donation, contact the state coordinator.

Lorraine Cannistra
Lawrence, KS

Ms. Lorraine Cannistra, 38, has aspirations to empower people with disabilities from all walks of life. Lorraine, who has had Cerebral Palsy since birth, puts her empowerment in action by leading various seminars on topics ranging from “Living with a Disability: From a Patient’s Perspective” given to hospital staff to “Multilevel Accessibility: A Ramp Isn’t Always Enough” to staff at domestic violence shelters. She also has given seminars about ways to empower people with disabilities to various other audiences. She considers herself to be an advocate on many levels and has had experience with giving testimony at the Capital and meeting with legislators concerning various issues. Lorraine holds a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Bachelor’s degree in English, both from Emporia State University. She also has certification in core mediation from the Kansas Supreme Court and serves as a volunteer mediator at the Johnson County Courthouse. Lorraine has previously worked as an Advocate and Independent Living Skills Trainer at Independence, Inc. in Lawrence, where she currently resides. She has been a volunteer peer counselor and Access Task Force member at Independence, Inc., and is also a part of the Working Healthy Advisory Council. Lorraine sees herself as funny, determined, creative, compassionate, and insightful. She is involved with her church and has entered some poem contests for Christian writers. She has also participated in sports and was even a member of national team selected to represent the US in the International Games for the Disabled held in Belgium in 1986. Lorraine recently had to let go of her service dog, Marshall, whom she had for eight years, but says that he challenged her and helped her to grow into the person that she is today.

MWKS '07 Platform: "Use Your Power!"

Read the 2007 Titleholder press release

Visit the 2007 MWKS Event page for more information.  Coming soon!

Ranita Wilks
Lawrence, KS

Ms. Ranita Wilks, 38, has a passion for promoting career development among all people with disabilities of all ages. Ranita currently works for Independence, Inc. in Lawrence as an Independent Living Skills and Peer Counseling Specialist. She serves as the coordinator for Disability Mentoring Day in Lawrence and has been on the state organizing committee for National Disability Mentoring Day in Kansas since 2002. Ranita is currently a commissioner to the Kansas Commission on Disability Concerns, serves as an agency representative to the Transition Council of Douglas and Jefferson Counties, and is a member of the Access Task Force, a community disability rights advocacy group. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas. While at KU, Ranita participated in the LeaderShape Institute for Student Leaders, was awarded the Journalism Media Management Award for Outstanding Senior in Broadcast Media Management, and won the Kansas Most Inspirational Student Award. Ranita, who sustained a spinal cord injury at the age of four, currently serves as a volunteer peer counselor for people with disabilities at Independence, Inc. and also serves as a volunteer youth mentor and reading buddy at Kennedy Elementary in Lawrence. She describes herself as positive, a progressive thinker, independent, determined, and responsible. Ranita is a huge fan of the artist, Prince, and collects anything associated with the artist. Her philosophy is, “If you never try, you’ll never know what could have been.”

MWKS '06 Platform: "Career Development Opportunities for People with Disabilities "

Read the 2006 Titleholder press release

Visit the 2006 MWKS Event page for more information.

JoAnne Fluke
Ottawa, KS

Ms. JoAnne Fluke, 29, has a dream to encourage others to go and find their purpose in life. She shares this dream with others through her platform and ministry of "Reaching Up, Reaching Out," which will motivate and help equip people to reach their fullest potential through spiritual growth and higher self-esteem. JoAnne, who has had Caudal Regression since birth, has found her purpose in life by speaking to schools and churches throughout Kansas. Upon receiving her title of Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2005, JoAnne was able to expand her advocacy and awareness efforts of the disability community in the state. She spread her passion for life while attending various events including advocacy rallies and community events, as well as visiting local churches, schools, and hospitals. She also has participated in mission trips, including two to Ghana, Africa through a program called Joni and Friends "Wh! eels for the World" and "Mephibosheth." JoAnne attended Baker University from 1994 to 2000 where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion with two emphases in Sociology and Music. JoAnne currently lives in Ottawa, KS and works as a customer service representative at Christian Book and Gift in Olathe. She also recently became a Mary Kay consultant. She enjoys singing and dancing, and has even sung the National Anthem at a Chief's football game. JoAnne describes herself as caring, optimistic, compassionate, energetic, and ambitious.

MWKS '05 Platform: "Reaching Up, Reaching Out"

Read the 2005 Titleholder press release

Visit the 2005 MWKS Event page for more information.

MWKS Returns From National Competition Proud to Have Represented the State of Kansas

JoAnne Fluke, Ms. Wheelchair Kansas 2005, traveled to Albany , New York on July 19-24 to compete for the title of Ms. Wheelchair America . JoAnne spent the week interacting with titleholders from 27 different states, all vying for the national title and the opportunity to represent women who are wheelchair mobile in the United States. Kristen Conners, an independent delegate from Rhode Island, received the title of Ms. Wheelchair America 2006 (see photo at left), while Sarah Whitlock, Ms. Wheelchair Texas, was named as the first runner-up.

JoAnne represented Kansas with a positive attitude and a smile on her face. She succesfully shared her platform of "Reaching Up, Reaching Out" to an audience of about 100 during the speech night. JoAnne truly enjoyed her experience at Ms. Wheelchair America.

Read the pre-nationals press release

Learn more about the 2006 Ms. Wheelchair America

MWKS '05 Attends Local Community Events

Ms. Wheelchair Missouri (l-r) JoAnne Fluke, MWKS 05; Aimee Wehmeier, MWMO 05; and Carrie Greenwood, MWKS State Coordinator pose for a picture before the Ms. Wheelchair MO crowning luncheon.	Big Tent Coalition Rally JoAnne, MWKS 05, speaks to the crowd about her platform "Reaching Up, Reaching Out" at the annual Big Tent Coalition Rally at the Capitol.	KU Barnstorming Game The KU senior basketball players accept a plaque from JoAnne (far left), MWKS 05, at the KU Barnstorming Game at Osage City High School.

JoAnne was definitely busy in early 2005 by attending various events throughout the state. She spoke to students at Eudora Elementary School, helped out with Disability Mentoring Day in Ottawa, and participated on a disability awareness panel at the United Way. She also was a guest at the Ms. Wheelchair Missouri crowning luncheon in April of 2005(see photo).

JoAnne had a busy day on April 27, 2005 when she attended two big events in local communities. She was one of the main speakers at the Big Tent Coalition Rally in Topeka, alongside MWKS '05 Runner-Up, Stacy Ritt (see photo). JoAnne also attended a KU Barnstorming basketball game in Osage City, where she presented a plaque to the KU players (see photo).

Read JoAnne's comments to 13 NEWS (Big Tent Rally)

View a collage of JoAnne's other appearances as titleholder

Carrie Greenwood
Topeka, KS

Ms. Carrie Greenwood started the Ms. Wheelchair Kansas program in 2004. She served as the titleholder in 2004; attended the national competition in Richmond, VA; and is currently state coordinator of the Ms. Wheelchair Kansas program. Carrie is a graduate of Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas where she received her Associates Degree in Design Technology in December of 2003. She currently works for the Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy in Topeka, KS, which is a new non-profit organization that focuses on empowerment programs for youth with disabilities in Kansas. She serves as the Outreach Coordinator, where her duties include conducting community presentations on various topics, networking with other organizations, and creating the graphic design materials for the organization. She also helps to coordinate the programs within KYEA, including the Youth Leadership Forum. Since attending the KSYLF in 2001 as a delegate, Carrie has emerged as a youth leader and voice in the disability community of Kansas. She has had the opportunity to attend national and local conferences and speak to over 50 groups about disability awareness and youth empowerment. Carrie enjoys sharing her story and has a passion for promoting diversity, empowerment, and education amongst ALL people, especially youth and women with disabilities.

Carrie states, "I consider myself to be a very motivated, optimistic, determined person despite of, and because of, my disability. I have had a physical disability, called Arthrogryposis, since birth. Over the years, I have come to see my disability as a positive aspect of who I am. I would not be me without my disability. I want to show the world that my disability is just an aspect of who I am. It does not define me. I happen to be disabled, but I also happen to love contemporary Christian music, going shopping, reading a good book, watching KU basketball, oil painting, and collecting angels."

MWKS '04 Platform: Empowerment of Youth with Disabilities

Read about Carrie's experience at the national competition