Jennifer Connolly & Aspen Kahoush: Miss Lehi 2024 Interview

Miss Lehi 2024 Jennifer Connolly and First Attendant Aspen Kahoush share their pageant journeys, community service platforms, and the traditions shaping Lehi, Utah.

Jennifer Connolly & Aspen Kahoush: Miss Lehi 2024 Interview

Miss Lehi 2024 Jennifer Connolly and First Attendant Aspen Kahoush share their pageant journeys, community service platforms, and the traditions shaping Lehi, Utah.

Jennifer Connolly & Aspen Kahoush: Miss Lehi 2024 on Community, Pageantry, and Youth Leadership

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Who Are Jennifer Connolly and Aspen Kahoush, and Why Does Their Story Matter?

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Episode Overview

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Roles in Lehi

Time Periods Discussed

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Primary Topics Discussed

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Episode Highlights

Key Stories from the Interview

From Lonely Gap Year to Community Platform

A First-Time Competitor's Surprise Victory

Fifth Time's the Charm

A Parade Encounter with Unexpected Meaning

Healthcare Roots Inspire Educational Mission

The Hidden Work Behind the Crown

A Teen Band Night Dream

Historical Insights About Lehi

Community and Legacy Themes

Memorable Quotes

Related Lehi Topics

Photo Opportunities for Historical Archive

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Jennifer Connolly Aspen Kahoush Miss Lehi 2024 Interview - Roots & Branches of Lehi Podcast

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An in-depth conversation with Miss Lehi 2024 and her First Attendant about their journeys through the Lehi pageant, their community service platforms, and the traditions shaping one of Utah's fastest-growing cities.

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In this episode of Roots & Branches of Lehi , host Ryan Harding sits down with Jennifer Connolly and Aspen Kahoush —Miss Lehi 2024 and her First Attendant—to explore the story behind their pageant journeys, their community service platforms, and their deep roots in Lehi, Utah. Both young women were born and raised in Lehi, shaped by its schools, neighborhoods, and the unique blend of small-town warmth and rapid city growth that defines modern Lehi.

Their conversation highlights not only the excitement of pageant night but also the unseen preparation, personal growth, and community commitment that come with representing their hometown. Jennifer's platform, The Front Porch , focuses on building social connection and reducing loneliness—an issue she personally experienced during her gap year. Aspen's platform, Beyond a Bandage , draws from her healthcare-oriented upbringing and passion for pediatric nursing, teaching first aid in approachable, empowering ways.

Together, they offer a window into the service-driven heart of Lehi's royalty program, the city's vibrant calendar of events, and the powerful role young leaders play in strengthening community ties. Their stories matter because they reflect the evolving identity of Lehi—where longtime families, new residents, and rising generations all contribute to a shared sense of belonging. Through parades, service projects, and everyday interactions, Jennifer and Aspen embody the values that have shaped Lehi for decades: connection, volunteerism, and pride in a community that continues to grow while holding tight to its roots.

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Jennifer Connolly & Aspen Kahoush

Jennifer: Miss Lehi 2024; community service advocate. Aspen: First Attendant to Miss Lehi; first aid educator.

2000s–2020s (their childhoods through present day)

Ryan Harding

Every homeowner starts somewhere. Whether you are just beginning to dream, getting financially ready, or already touring homes — this simple tool helps you understand your next best step.

Jennifer shares how loneliness as a new graduate—working and staying in her room—led her to listen to podcasts about conversation and eventually create The Front Porch, a platform dedicated to building social connection and helping others overcome isolation in a growing city.

Aspen had never competed in a pageant before. She describes being "so starstruck" when her name was called as First Attendant, saying "me? What?" It was her first year ever competing in any pageant, making the achievement even more meaningful.

This was Jennifer's fifth pageant overall and her third time competing specifically for Miss Lehi. She was so overwhelmed when crowned that she didn't even hear her name called—she was "on cloud nine." Her first instinct was to hug Hope, a fellow contestant standing beside her.

During a recent parade, Jennifer approached a family for a photo who had been cheering for "the queens." She later learned they were relatives of Miss Bluffdale's first runner-up—a small moment of connection that "made their day" and illustrated the far-reaching community bonds these roles create.

Aspen grew up in a healthcare family and has wanted to be a pediatric nurse from a young age. Her platform, Beyond a Bandage, involved becoming certified in first aid skills and meeting with local first responders to make safety education approachable and less scary for the community.

Both women describe the intensive preparation: weekly workshops, interview practice, dance prep, fitness training, and evening gown coaching. Aspen was surprised by how many resources were provided, noting she "didn't expect to be so prepared" and felt Lehi's program excelled at readying contestants.

While preparing for Miss Lehi, Jennifer asked many teens what event would get them to attend a city function. Independently, many said "a band night." She is now working to host a teen band night, using her position to create the exact kind of social gathering she wished for during her own gap year.

Through the eyes of two young women who have grown up in Lehi, this interview reveals how the city's traditions, events, and institutions continue to evolve:

Jennifer and Aspen's conversation reflects broader themes about youth, service, and identity in modern Lehi:

This episode connects to the broader Roots & Branches of Lehi archive. Explore these related topics to deepen your understanding of Lehi's history and community:

To enhance this community profile, consider adding these visual elements to the historical record:

Chapter 1: Welcome

Ryan Harding: Welcome to Roots and Branches of Lehi, the podcast where we get to know the faces, stories, and lives that make up our community. I'm Ryan Harding, and I started this podcast as a way for us all to connect with the people we live alongside. Growing up in a small town, I learned that connections go beyond blood. They're built through shared experiences, friendships, and the moments we celebrate together. Each week, we'll sit down with someone new from Lehi to share their unique story, their passions, and what they love most about living here. So whether you've been here for years or just arrived, join us as we deepen our roots and reach out to our branches one story at a time.

Chapter 2: Meet Jennifer & Aspen

Ryan Harding: Welcome Jennifer and Aspen to Roots and Branches of Lehi. Excited to have you both here. Let's go ahead and introduce you guys first here. Aspen, let's start with you.

Aspen Kahoush: Perfect. I am Aspen Kahoush. I am the first runner up. My platform was Beyond a Bandage First Aid.

Ryan: Awesome. And you grew up in Lehi?

Aspen: Grew up in Lehi. Lived here my whole life.

Ryan: And you just graduated too?

Aspen: Yep. Just graduated from Lehi High School.

Ryan: Awesome. Jennifer, go ahead.

Jennifer Connolly: Awesome. I'm Jennifer Connolly. I am the current Miss Lehi. My platform is called The Front Porch. It's about building a sense of community and social connection to try and help reduce the amount of people who are experiencing loneliness.

Ryan: And you grew up here too?

Jennifer: Yeah. Born and raised.

Ryan: And schooling?

Jennifer: I graduated in 2021 from Skyridge and right now I'm at UVU.

Chapter 3: Crowning Moments

Ryan: Talk to me about the moment you were crowned Miss Lehi and that you were crowned first attendant. How did that feel? How long had you been working towards this? Aspen, you want to go first?

Aspen: Yes, I'll start. I was so starstruck. This has been my first year competing in a pageant. Never done anything like this before. And so when they called my name, I was like, me? What? But no, it was amazing and just a great experience. Great experience. Loved it. On cloud nine.

Ryan: What about you, Jennifer?

Jennifer: This was my fifth pageant. It was my third time competing for Miss Lehi. And when I got crowned, they had said contestant number one, and I didn't even hear my name. I was on cloud nine. I was gone. I was out of it. And the very first thing I wanted to do was hug someone. So I immediately turned to Hope who was standing next to me and I just clung on to her and I don't remember much after that to be honest.

Ryan: How long have you been in pageantry?

Jennifer: I'd say I've been watching since I was like eight. I did not compete as a teen but I've been competing for three years now. Since 2022.

Chapter 4: Service with Purpose

Ryan: Tell us about your platform or cause that you ran on.

Jennifer: Yeah. So mine was called the Front Porch. Well, is called the Front Porch. It still exists. I'm still doing stuff with it. It's to build social connection and a sense of community. And I got into this because during my gap year between high school and college, I felt super lonely. All I did was go to work and then come home and stay in my room. And I felt like I didn't know how to talk to people. And so I started listening to podcasts on how to talk to people. And I decided that this needs to be what I do for the rest of my life. And so that's what I've been doing. And I've been trying to spread that and get people out of their comfort zones and come to community events.

Ryan: That's awesome. And has that been going well?

Jennifer: Yeah, it has. We've been really busy. It's been great.

Ryan: And Aspen, tell us about yours.

Aspen: So my platform is Beyond a Bandage—the importance of first aid—and so I grew up in a healthcare family. From a young age, I wanted to be a pediatric nurse. So I thought what a better way to start on educating myself for the future but also helping others. So I chose teaching first aid. A lot of my prep was becoming certified in these skills myself and meeting with our first responders and different things like that, sharing tips and making the subject seem a little bit more approachable and not as scary.

Chapter 5: Life in Lehi

Ryan: What do you like most about Lehi? Jennifer?

Jennifer: I like the amount of diversity we have here. We have small town and then we have big tech and we've also got some stuff over at Thanksgiving Point. And so I feel like there's so many different people you can talk to. But I think even with the amount of different people we have around here and the different values they have, we can still be able to have the city feel like home.

Ryan: What about you, Aspen?

Aspen: Oh, love Lehi. I love our community and how everybody is just so close together and connected. I think that's something that's very unique to Lehi city. It is the best.

Ryan: Has anything surprised you about the community now that you're more involved?

Jennifer: I felt like with my community service initiative with the Front Porch, I already knew a fair amount of the events that are happening in Lehi but now I've realized just how many there are because I'm always getting invited to them. There's a few of them like weekly. And it's just opened my eyes to how much is happening in Lehi.

Jennifer Connolly & Aspen Kahoush: Miss Lehi 2024 Interview