By Larissa Moon
What started out as an electronic newsgathering class assignment ended up being the title of Days of ''47 Queen and a $3,000 scholarship for a surprised BYU student.
Jennifer Winn, majoring in broadcast journalism, thought the Royalty Pageant would be a good class project to sign up for. She didn''t even turn in her application until the day before it was due. It was just for a grade.
'I turned in my application for homework and ended up winning,' said Winn, who is from West Jordan.
As it turns out, Winn had competed in the pageant the year before and finished in the top ten. She did not think she would go straight to the top this year.
However unexpected, she is queen, which is not a life of roses except for the ones she holds. Ever since winning the pageant May 15, Winn and her two attendants, Camille Perkins and Jennifer Dolan, have been busy practically every night.
'We speak at two sacrament meetings every Sunday,' Winn said.
They also speak at luncheons and even Young Women activities, not to mention the parades and every single Days of ''47 activity. Winn had to take a leave of absence from her job just to fulfill her duties as queen. Attendant Camille Perkins quit her job in order to follow her queen wherever she may go.
This is not the first time Winn has garnered the stage limelight. Five years ago she was city royalty for West Jordan and one of her passions is acting. Last year she was in the Performing Arts Club 'Faking Reality,' and before that she appeared in 'Heaven Can Wait' at Hale Center Theater. But her talents do not stop with a pretty smile and the ability to act.
Winn was a competitive figure skater for eight years, medalling for five consecutive years in the Utah Winter Games. An astounding feat considering she is the oldest of 10 children who each actively pursue their own hobbies.
'We all have our own area that we excel in, and we pull together to make it work,' said Winn.
The Days of ''47 Royalty pageant is produced by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, who say the pageant attracts Utah''s finest young women. To enter the pageant, the contestant must be a direct descendant from pioneers who entered the Salt Lake Valley prior to May 10, 1869, the day the railroads were joined at Promontory Point. Lucky for Winn, she came from such a pedigree in order to complete her homework.