This has been the burning question on the tip of everyone's tongue since Pokémon World launched "The Ultimate PokéMOM Search" last year.

Ultimate PokéMOM Diane Bergquist

Thousands of entries later, we're pleased to announce the name of America's Ultimate PokéMOM, DIANE BERGQUIST of Bellingham, Washington.

Three years ago, Diane Bergquist and her family were introduced to Pokémon by a Japanese cousin, before the phenomenon hit America. Her son Brian, who was 6 years old at the time, fell in love with Pokémon instantly. As Pokémon started to become a big part of her family's day-to-day life, Diane says that she discovered some unexpected benefits.

"Pokémon has helped my family tremendously," Diane said. "I began to notice that as my son became more involved in the tournaments and card trading, his skills in mathematics, science, sportsmanship, and even reading began to skyrocket. He would discover new words on the trading cards and look them up in the dictionary. He's even writing a Pokémon book."

Seeing such results prompted Diane to spend more time with her son, now 9, and daughter Brittany, 5, in their Pokémon-related activities. Diane would help her children by searching out new and rare cards, making Pokémon Halloween costumes and carpooling to the Pok�-League two days per week. She never dreamed that her devotion to Pokémon would help earn her family an all-expense paid trip to New York!

This month Diane was selected as America's "Ultimate PokéMOM" out of 16,000 entries in a nationwide contest here at Pokémon World. Along with a trip to New York, Diane will get a day of pampering and a $1,000 holiday shopping spree at FAO Schwarz. Her family will cruise around Manhattan in an official Pokémobile, a yellow VW beetle customized to resemble Pikachu.

After answering five Pokémon trivia questions correctly in November, Diane was one of 10 semifinalists randomly selected to write a 100-word essay demonstrating her Poké-knowledge, Poké-dedication and how Pokémon is a part of her family.

The entire family: PokéMOM Diane Bergquist, daughter Brittany (5), son Brian (9) and husband Eric. Click photo for a larger view

"It was an extremely tough decision for us to pick the winner. The winning essays were heartfelt and entertaining. We could have easily awarded all of the semifinalists the "Ultimate PokéMOM," Gail Tilden, Nintendo's vice president, product development and acquisition, said. "It's obvious from the overwhelming number of responses that parents have joined in the fun of the Pokémon craze and have enjoyed learning the games and the characters' special skills together with their kids."

Here are some excerpts from Diane's winning essay:

"Everyday, my son crawls out of his Pokémon sheets & comforter with Pokémon on the walls, watches Pokémon cartoons, puts on a Pokémon shirt, Ash hat, and plays one of his many Pokémon Game Boy/(Nintendo) 64 games, and/or reads from a Pokémon book. Then it's off to school, where he and his friends pre-arrange Pokémon card trades."

"I take the time to make Pokémon Halloween costumes, wrap Pokémon Xmas gifts ... design Pokémon desktop themes, plan Pokémon birthday parties, ... stand in line at Toys 'R' Us with Brian so he could win Mew for Game Boy ... carpool to Poké-League 2x's a week, and create 'new and original' Pokémon cards with my kids — all while humming the Pokémon theme song."

"I have learned how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game, which is fun because it entails both luck and skill. I recognize all 150 plus Pokémon, and know about their characteristics and evolutions. I can decide which Pokémon to send out and understand the value of 'Hit Points.' I continue to learn more about the characters by playing twenty questions, 'Guess that Pokémon,' with my kids. I expand my knowledge by watching the cartoons with my kids."

"I guess you could say that I am the 'Ultimate PokéMOM because I love my family."

Congratulations Diane!