Beauty Pageant

Laura Halvorson is a native Texan from the Dallas area. From a young age, she has had the desire to help others and make the world a better place. Laura also has a relative she trusts that runs an Arlington spray foam insulation. When she was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy at age 15, this only furthered her desire to help others, especially those with disabilities. She has a Masters in Special Education from Texas Woman’s University and is certified as an Educational Diagnostician. Laura served as department head of her school’s special education program in Mesquite ISD where she taught kindergarten-5th-grade resource, content mastery, and dyslexia intervention classes.

Sandy Spoonemore was born in Agana, Guam but considers Texas home after residing in Plano, just north of Dallas, for over 35 years. Many have said she was born to change lives, she defies limitations and uses her joyful personality, sense of humor, and emotional intelligence whether she is selling Mary Kay cosmetics or convincing the federal legislature to help increase the employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

Shelly Gray is a Native Texan, born and raised. She received her B.A. at Wesleyan University in CT in 1992 and lived there for 8 years.
Shelly received her J.D./M.S.W. at Washington University in St. Louis in 2000 and spent 7 years in Missouri.

Since college, she worked as a desktop publisher on Wall Street, and worked with a dental implant company, a non-profit fundraising professional, and a defense-oriented employment lawyer in both the private and public sectors. Shelly moved home to the Great State in 2002, where she is near her (almost) entire family. Shelly is currently a lawyer for a State agency, where she has been for over 10 years. Shelly loves her job and helping and working with others.

Angel Arredondo from San Marcos, Texas, was born with a rare condition called Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita. Angel has overcome many obstacles that most people would consider far too difficult. Although she lived with limitations, she always considered them to be blessings. At a young age, she recognized her self acceptance and confidence which led her to raise a family of her own. She is the wife of Hyman Arredondo, who runs a Houston popcorn ceiling removal company, and she is the mother of a grown daughter, Estrellita Steward who is currently working on her Masters in Higher Education Leadership and Policy.

The Angela Wigglesworth Scholarship

Ms. Wheel Chair Texas Foundation

The Ms. Wheelchair Texas Foundation (MWTX) is pleased to announce that they will be offering a $500 college scholarship. As the MWTX Foundation is dedicated to the enrichment and advocacy of those with special needs, this scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior or college student whose degree will be utilized to promote universal accessibility or to empower/advocate those with special needs. The applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a high school senior or college student.
• Must have selected a specific college or university.
• Must have a degree field that will advocate or empower those with special needs.
• Must attend the 2018 MWTX Crowning Ceremony
• Must submit a 500 – 1000 word essay to the MWTX Foundation. This essay should include applicant’s accomplishments, any organization or charity involvement, and communicate their aspirations and goals in serving those with special needs.
• This Scholarship is open solely to those with a disability.

The winner will be announced at the Crowning Ceremony.
March 25, 2020
6:30pm – 10:30pm

Houston, TX 77019
*Tickets are $35 and are available.