Streiber School fifth-grader Sarah Clapp was crowned "Future Colleen" for her essay in which she said, "To me being the colleen means acting as a positive role model and leader. The colleen should be smart and involved in school activities and volunteer in the community."
By MARY ANN BAIL
CHICOPEE - "Brenda Guiel called me," recalled Michelle Pete, vice principal at Streiber School, "and said 'I've got an idea for you. The Parade Committee would like to try an essay contest about what does being the Colleen mean to you? What do you think?'"
"I told her, that would be great," said Pete, who in 1991 reigned as colleen herself.
Together, Pete and Principal January Wilson organized the contest held for fourth- and fifth-graders at Streiber. It garnered 11 entries.
The Chicopee colleen and her court read and chose the winning entries, and on March 15, they visited the school, escorted by Superintendent of Schools Richard Rege, to announce the winners.
Guiel, a member of the Chicopee St. Patrick's Parade Committee, introduced this year's colleen, McKenzie Vershon, and the members of her court, as well as Tim O'Grady, a Chicopee police officer and a fellow committee member.
Ashley Sanocki, a member of the court who was named Miss Congeniality, announced each girl's name. As they came forward, Rege presented them with certificates of participation, while the other members of the court, Taylor Berube, Laura Gibb, and Kari Ribadeneyra, handed them bouquets of long-stemmed green carnations.
Then, the third-prize winner's name was announced, Justice Delany, a fourth-grader, followed by the second-prize winner, fifth-grader Kandra Nelson. They each received glittering Claddagh pendants.
The first-prize winner was Sarah Clapp. She was crowned by Vershon and Pete placed her sash over her shoulder: "Future Colleen."
"To me being the colleen means acting as a positive role model and leader. The colleen should be smart and involved in school activities and volunteer in the community," were the fifth-grader's opening remarks in her winning essay.
Clapp, who was speechless that morning, was looking forward to marching in the parade near the colleen's float. "I would be honored to be crowned the "Future Colleen," she concluded in her winning essay. "I would make the city of Chicopee proud to have me represent us in the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade."
Her mom, Tracy Clapp, said, "Last night she was so excited and nervous," adding that it was a great experience for her and "a great way for her to get involved in the community."
Other participants who were honored at this award ceremony were Lisette Ayala, Julianna Beaulieu, Kallista Gallagher, Julianna Segura, Stephanie Trzcinski, Hailey Vega, Kelsey Bennett, and Olivia Szumski.
O'Grady, for whom parade day begins when he lines up the Chicopee contingent at the beginning of the parade and ends when everyone has gone home, remarked that this was an "opportunity for the girls to get involved at a younger age and to maybe see themselves as colleens when they got older."
He thinks the potential for this contest to go citywide is a good idea, but "it's not up to me," he said. He nodded his head to Guiel and Pete. "It's up to them."
Pete said with a big smile, "I hope so!"