Mrs. Connecticut is off and running!
Southington Observer 5/29/2009
This Saturday’s “KidsMarathon” event will attract students from
seven state schools to the track at Southington High School, giving newly minted
Mrs. Connecticut Jessica Bruenn another chance to draw attention to her goal of helping kids
stay in shape.Bruenn, a fifth-grade teacher at Strong Elementary School, will attend, along with members of her school’s running club, which she created. The “Kids Marathon” is a national fitness initiative that challenges students to run the equivalent of a 25-mile marathon over time (notall at once), keeping notes on their progress in a “runner’s log.” Bruenn said this event and other similar activities had the potential to keep kids off the couch and staying active.“I don’t want kids to just say ‘I need to exercise,’” she said. “The idea is to get them saying ‘I
want to run around and play tag.’” Unlike the “Miss America” or “Miss USA” pageants, which are primarily full of college-age women, The “Mrs. America” competition is focused on married
women with steady careers. It began in 1978 and the final competition is televised annually.
Another unique element of the Mrs. America competition is that there was no local contest to
win beforehand. Bruenn was able to walk into the recent Mrs. Connecticut competition in Bedford, MA, impress the judges, and walk out with the crown. Though she had been
in some pageants years ago, Bruenn said she got back into the competitions for the chance to
spread her message. “You can do a lot through pageantry. It’s like your own soapbox,”
Bruenn said. “Right now, the CDC [Center for Disease Control] says 1 out of 3 kids are obese.
That alone tells you something needs to be done. We need to be screaming out this.”
Her new title has already brought much more attention to her classroom, which she said
the kids have enjoyed. She recalled one incident where one of students asked another
teacher, “Do you know who this is? She won Mrs. Connecticut!” Staff members at the
school also seem impressed, and have various memorabilia about Bruenn’s pageant victory
on a whiteboard in central office. “I’m very excited she’s taken the initiative to develop a physical fitness club for Strong,” said Principal Linda Lackner. “Her energy and enthusiasm
has been transferred to the students and now they’re happy to run on Tuesdays and Thursdays.” The end of the school year will give Bruenn the chance to devote more
time and energy to various events, including the national competition in July. For now, she said she’s still getting the hang of balancing her new obligations with work in the classroom. “It’s a shock,” Bruenn said. “I haven’t been able to breathe.”
The Kids Marathon
event begins this Saturday
at 9:30 am, at Southington
High School’s track.
http://www.southingtonobserver.com/05_29_09/04.pdf
Friday, May 29, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Jessica's first public Appearance! St. Lukes gernerations in Fashion with WFSB's favorite weatherman Scott Haney
Jessica kicked off her year as Mrs. CT 2009 with an incredible appearance at the St Lukes Fashion Show in Cromwell. Over 300 ladies were in attendance for the fashion show, live auction and raffle to help raise funds for St. Lukes.Jessica had the opportunity to meet and work the room with WFSB Scott Haney and together they had a ball!
With Scott who wouldn't have a ball???
It was really nice to be able attend and watch our new titleholder learn the ropes.
Jessica is going to have a great year as Mrs CT 2009!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Meriden Record Journal Announces New Mrs. Connecticut 2009 Jessica Bruenn!
City woman now wearing pageant crown
By Stephanie O’ Connell Record-Journal staff MERIDEN — Jessica Bruenn wears many hats: wife, mother of two young boys, black belt in karate, actress in community theater and elementary school teacher. Now the lifelong Meriden resident gets to wear a crown. Bruenn was crowned Mrs. Connecticut 2009 earlier this month at the Mrs. Connecticut pageant at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Mass. Also crowned at the event were Mrs. Massachusetts, Mrs. New York, Mrs. New Hampshire and Mrs. Maine.“The Mrs. Connecticut pageantwas a great experience,” Bruenn said. “I had somuch fun. I had done some pageants in high school and I wanted to get back into it.”With a little push from her friends, Bruenn, 33, entered the pageant, which consisted of a panel interview, swimsuit and evening gown competition, and an on-stage question that Bruenn answered without hesitation.“They asked me what type of food best described me,” Bruenn said. “Of course, I said chocolate. It is sweet and reliable and always there for you when you need it. I think that it is me.”Those who know her don’t just think she is reliable, they know. As a mother to sons Clayton and Cohen and wife of the head football coach at Platt High School, Bruenn has managed to volunteer in the community— she’s focused on the fitness of youth by teaching karate classes at the Boys and Girls Club over the summer and organizing a Healthy Habits club at Southington’s Strong School, where she is a fifth-grade teacher. “We are very proud of Mrs. Bruenn,” Strong Principal Linda Lackner said. “She has organized an entire fitness program here at school. We are always focusing on physical fitness and talking about dieting. She is so enthusiastic about everything she does.”Her Healthy Habits club teaches young children the importance of physical fitness and proper nutrition. Bruenn heeds her own advice, hitting the gym six times a week in the months before the pageant.“Soon, one out of three children (nationwide) will be obese,” Bruenn said. “It causes so many health problems. If we can teach them when they are young, then we won’t see so many health problems. The pageant will really help me to get the word out.”Along with her passion for fitness, Bruenn makes room for her love of the stage. She acts in community theater once a year, leaving room for Saturday morning high school football. This year she starred in the Castle Craig Players’ production of “Pinky at Sea” in February.In July, Bruenn will head to Las Vegas for the national Mrs. United States competition. Mrs. Connecticut 2008, Lynette Letsky Piombo, has fallen into the role of Bruenn’s pageant coach, helping her prepare for the national event and organize her appearances, the first of which will be May 21 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. “There is so much to prepare and go over,” Piombo said. “She will be all over the state. Being crowned is like getting a part-time job that you have to juggle. Jessica is the perfect person for the job. She will take is seriously and have a great time doing it.”With everything that she does, Bruenn puts her family above all. Waking up at 5 a.m., shuttling kids to and from baseball games and planning family fun nights once a week take precedence over anything else on her schedule.“Of course we are so proud of her,” her husband, Jason, said. “She works so hard at everything that she does and this is a result of that hard work. It is exciting to watch her on the stage and hearing her name called is the most exciting part.”Bruenn will wear the Mrs. Connecticut sash for a year before handing it off to her successor, who will have some pretty big shoes to fill— in this case pretty high heels.“Jessica is the perfect, perfect woman to wear this crown,” Piombo said. “She is so sweet and approachable and has a down-to-earth aura about her. Some women are in it just to collect the crowns. She is in it to represent the crown and the state.” soconnell@record-journal.com (203)317-2235
By Stephanie O’ Connell Record-Journal staff MERIDEN — Jessica Bruenn wears many hats: wife, mother of two young boys, black belt in karate, actress in community theater and elementary school teacher. Now the lifelong Meriden resident gets to wear a crown. Bruenn was crowned Mrs. Connecticut 2009 earlier this month at the Mrs. Connecticut pageant at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Mass. Also crowned at the event were Mrs. Massachusetts, Mrs. New York, Mrs. New Hampshire and Mrs. Maine.“The Mrs. Connecticut pageantwas a great experience,” Bruenn said. “I had somuch fun. I had done some pageants in high school and I wanted to get back into it.”With a little push from her friends, Bruenn, 33, entered the pageant, which consisted of a panel interview, swimsuit and evening gown competition, and an on-stage question that Bruenn answered without hesitation.“They asked me what type of food best described me,” Bruenn said. “Of course, I said chocolate. It is sweet and reliable and always there for you when you need it. I think that it is me.”Those who know her don’t just think she is reliable, they know. As a mother to sons Clayton and Cohen and wife of the head football coach at Platt High School, Bruenn has managed to volunteer in the community— she’s focused on the fitness of youth by teaching karate classes at the Boys and Girls Club over the summer and organizing a Healthy Habits club at Southington’s Strong School, where she is a fifth-grade teacher. “We are very proud of Mrs. Bruenn,” Strong Principal Linda Lackner said. “She has organized an entire fitness program here at school. We are always focusing on physical fitness and talking about dieting. She is so enthusiastic about everything she does.”Her Healthy Habits club teaches young children the importance of physical fitness and proper nutrition. Bruenn heeds her own advice, hitting the gym six times a week in the months before the pageant.“Soon, one out of three children (nationwide) will be obese,” Bruenn said. “It causes so many health problems. If we can teach them when they are young, then we won’t see so many health problems. The pageant will really help me to get the word out.”Along with her passion for fitness, Bruenn makes room for her love of the stage. She acts in community theater once a year, leaving room for Saturday morning high school football. This year she starred in the Castle Craig Players’ production of “Pinky at Sea” in February.In July, Bruenn will head to Las Vegas for the national Mrs. United States competition. Mrs. Connecticut 2008, Lynette Letsky Piombo, has fallen into the role of Bruenn’s pageant coach, helping her prepare for the national event and organize her appearances, the first of which will be May 21 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. “There is so much to prepare and go over,” Piombo said. “She will be all over the state. Being crowned is like getting a part-time job that you have to juggle. Jessica is the perfect person for the job. She will take is seriously and have a great time doing it.”With everything that she does, Bruenn puts her family above all. Waking up at 5 a.m., shuttling kids to and from baseball games and planning family fun nights once a week take precedence over anything else on her schedule.“Of course we are so proud of her,” her husband, Jason, said. “She works so hard at everything that she does and this is a result of that hard work. It is exciting to watch her on the stage and hearing her name called is the most exciting part.”Bruenn will wear the Mrs. Connecticut sash for a year before handing it off to her successor, who will have some pretty big shoes to fill— in this case pretty high heels.“Jessica is the perfect, perfect woman to wear this crown,” Piombo said. “She is so sweet and approachable and has a down-to-earth aura about her. Some women are in it just to collect the crowns. She is in it to represent the crown and the state.” soconnell@record-journal.com (203)317-2235
Christopher Zajac /Record-Journal Jessica Bruenn runs on the playground behind Southington’s Strong School on Tuesday. Bruenn, of Meriden, is now Mrs. Connecticut 2009.
Jessica Bruenn, in front, leads a group of students in the Healthy Habits Club on a Tuesday morning jog behind Strong School in Southington.Bruenn, a fifthgrade teacher, has been crowned Mrs.Connecticut 2009. Christopher Zajac / Record-Journal
Photo courtesy of Lynette Letsky Piombo Jessice Bruenn, left, wears the 2009 crown as Mrs. Connecticut, accompanied by the 2008 title
holder, Lynette Letsky Piombo.Sunday, May 3, 2009
Meet the New Mrs Connecticut 2009~ Jessica Bruenn!!!
CONGRATULATIONS JESSICA!!!Jessica Bruenn was the winner of This Years Mrs Connecticut 2009 Pageant.
Beautiful, Poised and confident, Jennifer is a mom and teacher, and will be working her platform on Fitness and Kids!
I look forward to working with Jessica as she appears around our wonderful state!!!
Mrs Connecticut 2009 Pageant~ An Elegant and Incredible evening!
Lots of Pictures!!! Everyone had a ball at the New 
England Pageant!!! Held at Hanscom Air force base just outside of Boston, The venue was beautiful with a huge catwalk runway( The ladies got to strut their stuff ala Miss USA!!!), Marine escorts, live music, great MC and over 300 people in attendance!!! Our Directors Kathleen Campbell and Erika Baker did a wonderful job making the ladies feel special.
England Pageant!!! Held at Hanscom Air force base just outside of Boston, The venue was beautiful with a huge catwalk runway( The ladies got to strut their stuff ala Miss USA!!!), Marine escorts, live music, great MC and over 300 people in attendance!!! Our Directors Kathleen Campbell and Erika Baker did a wonderful job making the ladies feel special.Lots of Royalty were in the house, Sheila Strassburg, Lori Donaudy (Who is gorgeous in person!!),Stacy Perrone Peta Mrs CT 1996, Miss Nutmeg CT 2009. Too many to name!!
Outgoing title holders were treated beautifully as they each made thier final farewell with Marine escorts. What an incredible ending.
I could not ask for a better way to end my year as Mrs Connecticut 2008.
Mrs CT 2009 Pageant Rehearsals~ Hanscom Air Force Base
What a wonderful afternoon! I got to see all my pageant sisters from New England and it was wonderful to catch up and reflect upon our year!!!
We also met the 30 ladies who were competing that evening! A lot of laughs and hard work, but the pageant was amazing!
We also met the 30 ladies who were competing that evening! A lot of laughs and hard work, but the pageant was amazing!
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