Olson attended Regan Elementary School in Regan, North Dakota, a one-room building which had an enrollment of approximately 15 students. Olson was the only student in her class. After the school’s eighth grade graduation in 1997, Olson attended Saint Mary's Central High School in Bismarck, North Dakota and continued her wrestling career - often, the only female competing!.
Claiming the local title “Mission Peace Garden,” Olson promoted a platform for the early detection of breast and cervical cancers, which she titled the “Power of Prevention.” Prior to her crowning as Mission North Dakota, Olson was first runner-up in the 2005 Mission North Dakota pageant and competed in a national “Sweetheart” contest. As Mission North Dakota she spoke to approximately 15,000 students in 80 schools. In 2001 Olson moved to Moorhead, Minnesota to attend Concordia College, graduating in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology, summa cum laude.
She studied abroad at James Cook University in North Queensland, Australia and also visited Tanzania, East Africa.
In Africa she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and toured schools and clinics. Olson ran cross country her junior year and later participated in a marathon.
After graduation, Olson took the position of Field Epidemiologist with the North Dakota Department of Health in Bismarck. As an epidemiologist she investigated over 60 communicable diseases in the state of North Dakota, and also gave presentations to health care providers.
Currently, she is a health educator for Olmsted County, Minnesota.
In the future Olson would like to attend dental school, practice family dentistry, and work on an American Indian reservation. On June 10, 2006, Olson was officially crowned Mission North Dakota. As Mission North Dakota Olson participated in nearly 1000 speaking engagements, visiting approximately 80 schools and 15,000 students, promoting the early detection of breast and cervical cancers, as well as participating in the “Eat Smart, Play Hard” campaign.
All these speaking events were held while she was still employed full-time as an epidemiologist.
Don"t be afraid to try for new things because it can lead you in some pretty unexpected directions.
