Honors For Two At Dyker Heights Miss Norway Of Greater New York Competition

Rutgers University junior, avid skier, and Children’s Miracle Network dance marathon boogie-er Lauren Benson was crowned Miss Norway of Greater New York 2015 last weekend in Dyker Heights, according to The Brooklyn Paper. The 21-year-old communications major and Gamma Phi Beta sister secured the title on March 28 of this year — the Norwegian Immigration Association-sponsored contest’s 60th — over 11 other competitors of Norwegian descent.

The paper says Benson impressed the judges at the Norwegian Christian Home and Health Center with talk of her sorority’s charitable efforts (“We had a dance marathon where we danced until we couldn’t stand anymore,” she said of a benefit held last year that raised $170,000 for cancer research and children’s hospitals), her carrying on tradition through participation in winter sports, and her serendipitous birth date of February 12, 1994 — the first day of the 1994 Winter Olympics held in Lillehammer, Norway.

Also honored at the ceremony was 23-year-old special education teacher Britt Henricksen, who was named the contest’s first ever Miss Heritage of Greater New York for her exceptional knowledge of Norway’s cultural traditions. “It’s really special to be here,” she gushed to the paper.

As for Benson, she’ll be traveling to Norway this summer courtesy of the contest sponsors — but not before serving as special guest at Bay Ridge’s 17th of May Parade, held on Norwegian Constitution Day.