Melissa Smith is Miss Cornucopia 2009.
In the middle of Cornucopia Day festivities, Smith, 20, the daughter of Jill and Randy Smith, was crowned as the festival queen before a small crowd Friday afternoon by Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke.
“I feel great!” Smith said afterward, clutching her bouquet and decked out in a formal gown and her Miss Cornucopia sash. “Cornucopia Days is something I’ve gone to since I was a little girl. I’m from Kent, and I grew up in Kent.”
Asked if she was ready to keep up with the many festival activities she’ll be expected to attend, Smith was all enthusiasm, especially about one activity.
“We get to square dance,” she said. “I’ve never done that!”
In addition to the $3,000 scholarship that her title grants, Smith also received the contest’s $500 Community Service award, sponsored by the Kent Police Benevolent Association.
Smith, a Kentwood High School grad and 2009 graduate of Highline Community College, is planning to attend Washington State University, majoring in communications.
Crowned as princess in the event was Tina Chen, 17, who will be a senior at Kent-Meridian High School next year. With the honor goes a $1,000 scholarship to the college of her choice.
“This will open up so many doors to volunteer,” said Chen of her princess title. “I am very excited to be working with the Kent Lions Club. And I get $1,000 for college!”
Also winning an award was contestant Megan Vermillion, 18. The 2009 Kentridge graduate and daughter of Dana and Mark Vermillion won the contest’s Academic Award from the Kent Lions Foundation. Megan Vermillion is planning to attend Whitman College in Walla Walla, to pursue her dream of becoming a surgeon.
Also competing were:
• Savannah “Savvy” Diaz, 18, is the daughter of Melinda and David Diaz and is a 2009 graduate of Kent-Meridian; and
• Amenpreet “Amy” Khela, 18, a 2009 Kentwood graduate and daughter of Gurder Khela.
Cooke bounced between being a presenter and a cheerleader during the event, whooping up the crowd and extolling the abilities of the contestants.
“These young women are so mature and have their eyes set on the future, to help us all in the community to be better,” Cooke told the crowd, before opening the stage to the official coronation. “Let’s rock!”
Andi Lanxon, a longtime volunteer for the Miss Cornucopia Contest, gave the young women high marks for their abilities, and willingness to undergo an intensive selection process by multiple committees. They’re evaluated on their academics as well as interview, public-speaking and community-service abilities, she noted.
And this year, similar to what used to happen at earlier Cornucopia festivals, the queen and her court will be part of the Cornucopia Grand Parade Sunday. The procession starts 2 p.m.
“I think they all deserve it,” Lanxon said.
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