Rosemarie Rossetti of Gahanna has been crowned Ms. Wheelchair Ohio 2004 — an achievement she said is the first step in her quest to become Ms. Wheelchair America.

The Ohio pageant was held Saturday in Mansfield. Rossetti competed against six other contestants. First runner-up was Melissa Millinovich of Cincinnati, and second runner-up was Jennifer Kilman of Grove City.

The contest included personal interviews and on-stage impromptu questions before a panel of judges. Rossetti also gave a short presentation telling judges about five words that best described her: tenacious, knowledgeable, self-disciplined, ambitious and compassionate.

"I made a 3-minute speech to support that and I focused on the poet Robert Burns," she said. "To paraphrase him: what a gift it would be if we could see ourselves as others see us." Rossetti spoke about how others could see those qualities in her from an outside perspective.

Rossetti began using a wheelchair after an 80-foot tree fell on her while she was riding her bicycle in June 1998. She sustained a spinal cord injury and was in the hospital for five weeks.

Since then, she has regained strength and learned new skills that have allowed her to remain more active than many people who have never had an injury, she said.

Rossetti rides a 3-wheeled recumbent bicycle, kayaks and skis using a specialized piece of equipment called a monoski. She also has tried tennis and golf since her injury.

Rossetti is a professional inspirational speaker, trainer, consultant, writer and publisher. She also writes a monthly column for the Gahanna News.

Rossetti urges people to live by five guiding principles: do something new every day, focus on a hopeful future not on self-pity, believe that the impossible just might be possible, allow more time to get things done and be patient with yourself, and to lower your stress, lower your expectations of other people.

"By living by these five lessons, we are better able to cope with change and change is a part of everyone's life,"

Rossetti said. Rossetti was the first runner-up in the Ms. Wheelchair Ohio pageant in 2002, and she carried the Olympic torch during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Also in 2002, she received the Remarkable Women Award.

In her capacity as Ms. Wheelchair Ohio, Rossetti will make presentations, visit advocacy groups and make public appearances. She also will work to educate the public regarding people with disabilities. Rossetti plans to provide a strong voice for those with disabilities.

"I will make myself accessible to the press at public events and to the legislature," she said. "I will seek out opportunities and I hope to accelerate the funding of my spinal cord research fund."

The mission of the Ms. Wheelchair America Program is select the most accomplished and articulate spokesperson for Americans with disabilities. Rossetti will compete at the national level July 31 in Richmond, Va. Officials estimate that between 25 and 40 states will be represented in the pageant, she said.

Dr. Philip Wood of Columbus established Ms. Wheelchair America in 1972.

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