Being named Junior Miss an ‘awesome surprise’

At the March 11 Post Falls Junior Miss competition, 23 young ladies were asked to think on their feet. Contestant Jenny Cornutt, 17, was prepared to answer a question on a serious topic as the other girls had, such as what she thought of the death penalty. Instead she was faced with a peculiar query: If there was a candy bar named after her, what would it be called and why?

Cornutt didn’t miss a beat. She explained to the audience of 600 that the “Cornutty” bar would combine her nutty and sweet qualities. The judges must have liked her answer, because not only was she crowned the 2006 Post Falls Junior Miss, she also received a category award for poise.

Cornutt, a Post Falls High School junior, will bring that composure along as she competes at the state competition in October. Contestants in the annual scholarship competition are judged on scholastics, interview questions, fitness, poise and talent. Besides being Cornutt’s first competition, it was her singing debut as a soloist in front of a crowd.

She performed a song in French, “Vois Sur Ton Chemin,” which translates loosely into “See on Your Way.” Cornutt is in her third year of French study.

The 23 contestants practiced their opening act routine for several weeks prior to the event and were required to participate in a community service project. This year’s group visited the Children’s Village, Coeur d’Alene’s home for neglected and needy children. The girls pitched in with cleaning chores and a garage sale.

Alison McArthur, chairwoman and director for the Post Falls Junior Miss, said that Cornutt went “above and beyond” during their work with Children’s Village and throughout the Junior Miss preparations. Cornutt interacted well with the other girls and baked cookies to share at the group practices.

“Jenny was just a little go-getter,” she said. “She was really excited to help out. She always had a smile on her face and is very sincere.”

McArthur has been involved in the Post Falls event for several years and was a contestant herself in the 1987 Kootenai County Junior Miss contest. She believes that the participation can transform a young girl’s life.

Cornutt, the daughter of Doug and Judy Cornutt of Post Falls, will receive a $1,000 college scholarship and an additional $250 prize for poise. Her future plans include attending Gonzaga University and possibly studying to be a pediatrician.

“School is really important to me,” she said.

She maintains a grade-point average above 4.1, received a presidential award for academics, and is listed in “Who’s Who Among American High School Students.” She was a junior class homecoming princess and was nominated for the National Youth Leadership Forum.

Cornutt also plays on her school volleyball team, where she was voted most inspirational. She is active with her church youth group and helped it with construction and cleaning of a mission building in Mexico last summer. She ranks that trip and her Junior Miss adventure as the “most rewarding” experiences she’s had in her life so far.

Cornutt is a Post Falls native and enjoys scrapbooking with her sister and spending time with friends, family and dog.

“My family and friends are really important to me,” she said.

Several of her close friends were in the Junior Miss contest as well, which made Cornutt feel it was more about fun than competition.

“I really had never thought of me winning,” she said. “I didn’t expect it at all. It was an awesome surprise, and I was so happy.”