Miss Deaf Ohio Pageant 

Hello!! My name is Teresa Kathleen Gasaway, Miss Deaf Ohio 2005-2007. I have lived in Hilliard, Ohio for 22 years. I feel it was a great honor to represent Hilliard at the pageant. I just celebrated my 22 birthday few days ago. My parents are Kathy and Terry Gasaway. I am named after them. Also, I have an older brother.

Originally, I was mainstreamed in the Dublin Schools deaf education program, and then decided transferring to Ohio School for the Deaf in 1999. I graduated from OSD in 2002. While at OSD, I was elected twice as the Class 2002, Class President. Also, I was Vice President for Student Body Government for one year. I lettered four years on the Varsity Volleyball, captain of the volleyball team for two years, lettered for two years in Varsity Cheerleading and was an editor of the Yearbook staff. Some of my other awards include, being a recipient of the Ohio House of Representatives Resolution for the Marie Jean Phillips ASL Poetry Award; my poem was titled- "Where Should I Go?" It was second place in the nation for the Marie Jean Phillips ASL Poetry Award. In 2001, I was a YWCA Bright Futures Honoree.

Horses are a huge interest of mine. I ran for Franklin County Horse Royalty two years in a row. I was third runner up twice, and also Miss Congeniality. In 1992 through 2002, I won numerous awards in Showmanship, Horsemanship, Western, and English riding in local and statewide competitions. I was Franklin County Representative for Ohio State Fair for my 4-H club, Young Riders and three times I performed in horse shows. In these events, I won an award for being in top 5 for the State of Ohio. In All American Youth Horse Show, I continued to win in top 10 and then during my last year, I won second place and 9th place champion in the national competition.

When I first attended college in 2002-2003, it was at the Columbus State Community College, where I played on the volleyball team. Our team went to the 2003 NJCAA National Finials Tournament, where we placed 5th in the nation. Right now, I'm attending to Gallaudet University with a major in elementary education. I received the Cum Laude President's Academic Award.

My hobbies are horseback riding, wakeboarding, reading, drawing, and playing volleyball. I am member in Ohio Association of the Deaf, was in 4-H Young Riders club, and Women's rights in Student Body Government as in Student Advisory Network at Gallaudet University.

During the recent Miss Deaf Ohio Pageant, the contestants were Stephanie Kesterke, Jacqueline Hanna, and I. We shared our talents and platform speeches and received feedback in positive ways from others. We were not afraid to share them all. We went to workshops to learn how to be leaders. We all would be leaders no matter if we won or not. During the Pageant evening, Jacqueline Hanna won Miss Congenially. I won the best platform speech and the best talent. Stephanie Kesterke won the best evening gown. Jacqueline Hanna is Second Runner up, and Stephanie Kesterke is First Runner Up. Both Jacqueline and Stephanie did wonderful jobs and I hope they try again to be Miss Deaf Ohio in 2007.

Being Miss Deaf Ohio is a great honor for me. I look forward to being an ambassador and spokesperson for deaf people in the state of Ohio and the Ohio Association for the Deaf. I am excited to represent all of Ohio at the Miss Deaf America Pageant next July in New Orleans, Louisiana.