NSU Student Wants To Be Ms. Wheelchair America

The contestants are nominated based on their community achievement, as well as, the needs of people with mobility impairments.

"I was asked by my professor is there going to be a swimsuit competition. No. It's not about that. It's more about what we have on the inside and not on the outside," said Elizabeth Reeve.

Elizabeth Reeve has not always been confined to a wheelchair, just a few years ago she was working to help the disabled. A long time special education teacher, Elizabeth now Ms. Wheelchair Oklahoma got injured while helping a student out of her wheelchair. She was told by doctors, due to a previous condition, correctional surgery is not an option.

"But, I've been able to accept being in a wheelchair. For a long time, I couldn't. But now I feel like God has a reason," said Elizabeth Reeve.

But, this incident has not slowed her down. Elizabeth is getting ready to graduate from Northeastern State University with her business administration degree.

When denied from sorority life she decided to start her own social group and became founder of Wheelchairs and Friends at NSU. If she goes on to win Ms. Wheelchair America, she hopes to change the way the community looks at the mobility impaired.

"It's the person first not the disability. I'm not a wheelchair person, I am a person that happens to use a wheelchair," said Elizabeth Reeve.

Elizabeth is currently looking for sponsors to help her make it to Ms. Wheelchair America when it is held in Maryland.

Any donations may be sent to: 

Ms. Wheelchair America

549 Cherokee Ave.

Tahlequah, OK  74464

By Margaret Stokes, NewsOn6.com anchor/reporter and Kyle Dierking, Video Journalist. Find more of their stories in our Web Exclusives section.