(immediately above: Krystal and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco)

Hello, and thanks for stopping by. I am Krystal Penuell, a graduate of Louisiana Tech University . I plan to pursue a career in sales and marketing.

I became involved with the mentally handicapped while in high school. As a cheerleader, our sponsor worked in our school's Special Education department. As a squad, we volunteered our time and we were awarded the "Hometown Hero Award" by the local news media for our work with the Special Education students. When I moved to college, I continued my work through various organizations for the mentally handicapped. As I became involved with the Miss America organization, I decided to align myself with Special Olympics. I was surfing the net one day and was reading information on the Special Olympics Louisiana website. I found a volunteer form online and responded. One week later a partnership was formed between the Special Olympics organization and myself. It has been a fantastic fit. They put me right to work and I am still working as a volunteer for them today. Please click on Special Olympics to see what we are doing.

The Miss America organization encourages us as contestants to find a community service outlet as our platform.

My mission is to help the athletes build self-esteem through the Special Olympics games and for our nation, and our world, to realize the necessity of treating the mentally challenged with the respect they deserve. The mentally handicapped have enriched my life in so many ways and I am working toward the day when society will come to understand, as I do, the many benefits of welcoming them into our lives.