photo by: Stacy Greenwood/Contributed

Autumn Bertels, left, of Lawrence, was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Kansas on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Isabel Einwich, center, of Bel Aire was named Junior Miss Wheelchair Kansas, and Mia Gaumer, right, of St. Mary’s was named Little Miss Wheelchair Kansas.

A University of Kansas student earned the title of Miss Wheelchair Kansas 2025 this month during the organization’s 20th anniversary celebration.

Autumn Bertels, who is originally from Nortonville, was crowned on March 16. The other contestants, Magda Carlos-Trevino of Olathe and Jessica Soderlund of Beloit, were also recognized during the ceremony.

The Miss Wheelchair Kansas organization, which aims to empower women and girls who use wheelchairs and to advocate in support of disability rights, celebrated its 20th anniversary with its crowning ceremony in Lawrence, as the Journal-World reported.

Bertels suffered a spinal cord injury that paralyzed her from the chest down after a car accident when she was 8 years old. Since then, Bertels has attended KU, where she will graduate in May with a degree in molecular, cellular and developmental biology. She plans to get a PhD and pursue ethical stem cell research for spinal cord injuries.

During her time on campus, Bertels founded the student group AbilityKU, which works to advocate for students with disabilities. During her year as Miss Wheelchair Kansas, she hopes to share that same message across the state to advocate for better accessibility at all universities.

photo by: Earl Williams/Contributed

Autumn Bertels, who was named Miss Wheelchair Kansas 2025.

The organization also named two new junior titleholders. Isabel Einwich of Bel Aire will serve as Junior Miss Wheelchair Kansas 2025. Einwich, who was born with Spina Bifida, participates in a variety of adaptive sports and participates in multiple clubs at her high school, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School. Mia Gaumer of St. Mary’s, who was born with Congenital Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy Type 1, will serve as Little Miss Wheelchair Kansas 2025. In her community, Gaumer has been an ambassador for the Hog Ball Tournament, and she does adaptive ballet classes.

All three titleholders will strive to educate, advocate for and empower all people with disabilities in Kansas in the coming year. Bertels will represent Kansas in the Miss Wheelchair America competition later in August, when she will compete for the national title alongside 24 other women.

Last year’s Miss Wheelchair Kansas, Tamara Blackwell, was selected as Miss Wheelchair America for 2024.