Sullivan is the daughter of Patrick Sullivan, the city's director of parks, buildings and recreation. She and her court will march in next month's Holyoke St. Patrick's parade.
Colleen Meghan Sullivan is seen surrounded by her court. Standing, form left, are Martha Crowley, Eileen Barrett, Mariah McNamara and Nora Garrity.SPRINGFIELD – The second time was the charm for Springfield Colleen 2012 Meghan Sullivan.
The Elms College freshman was crowned Colleen on Feb. 11 at The Cedars Banquet Hall on Island Pond Road.
“I’m just so excited. It’s a wonderful way to show my pride in my Irish ancestry,” said Sullivan, daughter of Patrick and Nancy Sullivan.
Sullivan entered the Colleen contest last year, but did not win. She decided to try again this year and beat out 19 other contestants.
“I was really surprised, but so honored,” she said.
There were 20 contestants in the initial round before five finalists were chosen.
“The girls answered a questionnaire and then had a one-on-one interview with the panel of judges, and then they were brought before the audience for a question-and-answer session,” said Mollie Bresnahan, an organizer of the event, sponsored by the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee.
Bresnahan said the five finalists went through another round of interviews and questions in front of an audience of 250 guests. The judges are community members who are not members of the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee.
“It was a very successful event,” Bresnahan said.
Sullivan's court includes Springfield residents Martha Crowley, 17, and Nora Garrity, 18, both Cathedral High School students; Mariah McNamara, 18, a student at Central High School; and Eileen Barrett, 21, of Ludlow, a student at Lasell College in Newton.
Sullivan and her court will march in Springfield’s St. Patrick’s Parade on March 16 and the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on March 18.
“It’s going to be a blast. I have gone to the parade every year and I’m a proud resident of Springfield. I’m excited to march through downtown and excited to be in the Holyoke parade as well,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan was also the winner of the $500 Mossie and Kathleen Murphy Scholarship.
Her father, Patrick Sullivan, is the city’s director of parks, buildings and recreation management.