Miss Coon Rapids~Cori Shellum

Hello Family and Friends! I am very excited to be apart of this amazing group of women! My name is Cori Shellum, and I am honored to hold the title as Miss Coon Rapids.

I was born and raised in Cottage Grove, MN with my parents: Kathy and Don, and my three older sisters: Heather (Brian) Sandkuhler, Heidi (Bruce) Bredlow, and Colleen Shellum. I have five nephews: Tyler, Trey, Trygg, Jeff, and Andrew and a beautiful princess niece Princess Claire.

Coon Rapids means so much to me, because this community has helped me become the woman I am today. I attended Anoka Ramsey Community College where I was a member of the women's basketball team (we took 4th in the nation). I also student taught at Hamilton Elementary School while I was a student at Winona State. I graduated Cum Laude from Winona State University with a double major in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education K-6.

I currently teach preschool full time at Peace of Mind Academy in Woodbury, MN. I am also pursuing my Master's Degree in Education K-12. I will graduate in May 2008!!!

Being an educator, I feel literacy is vital to the success of our younger generation. This is why I have chosen to promote Beads on One String, a book by Minnesota author Dennis Warner. This book emphasizes the importance of recognizing the things we have in common with each other and accepting our differences as ways we are unique. I enjoy traveling around Minnesota with Dennis Warner to promote this message.

The Contestant Forum was such a memorable time! I am looking forward to our week together at Miss Minnesota, because I know the memories we create together will be long-lasting!