AGAWAM — Rachel Sills will perform one last — and important — duty as Agawam’s reigning colleen next month when she crowns one of four young women vying to succeed her for 2025.
In early January, the Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee nominated Abigail Drumm, Teagan Fullam, Samantha Machos and Julia Nicosia. One of them will be chosen as colleen at a gala coronation ceremony on Feb. 8. The three runner ups will become the colleen’s court. Brief biographies of them appear at the end of this story.
They will represent Agawam at the 72nd Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade, which is Sunday, March 23. The colleen and her court also will attend numerous events and functions throughout the year, including Agawam’s Memorial Day parade.
An important factor in the colleen selection process is a commitment by the contestants to their Irish heritage. A three-judge panel — independent from Agawam and who live and work in surrounding communities — will select the colleen based on interviews with contestants.
Judges, who will be revealed at the start of the event, will ask about academics, athletics, extracurriculars/volunteer activities as well as interest in a contestant’s Irish heritage. Contestants also will be required to write an essay about a person of Irish descent — living or deceased — who made a significant difference in their lives. The winning essay — which will be read during the ceremony — will be selected by the family of the late William Pfau, a founding member of the committee.
Agawam’s 23rd colleen coronation will take place at St. Anne’s Country Club in Feeding Hills. There will be a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., with the ceremony starting at 6 p.m. Tickets for the Saturday event are $55 for adults and $30 for children under 12. They can be reserved by emailing agawamstpatricks317@gmail.com no later than Feb. 4.
The grand coronation also marks the beginning of “Irish Season” — about a six-week period filled with Irish events and celebrations — that ends in March with the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade.
“We are very excited for our applicants. With four applicants, they all can participate in the Irish Season,” said Abaigeal “Abbie”, Fiore, president of the committee. “We want to share and promote our Irish heritage with the town, so having these young women celebrating their family and heritage is something we cherish.”
The committee was established 25 years ago by a group of people of Irish descent in Agawam who decided to bring out their Irish spirit. Although Agawam is a predominantly Italian community, they wanted to form a St. Patrick’s committee so everyone could celebrate the “Green Season.”
They meet regularly to ensure there’s an annual celebration of Irish culture throughout town while also promoting Agawam economically, culturally and socially. Taking a page from surrounding communities that celebrate their Irish heritage, the committee also created its own colleen program.
In addition to Fiore, other members of the committee include Douglas Reed, past president; Catherine Benson, vice president; Frank Benson, treasurer; Nikolas Fiore, clerk; Tim McGrew and Todd Arsalanian, directors.
Colleen biographies
Abigail Drumm: Abigail, or Abby, a senior at Agawam High School, intends to major in music education with hopes of becoming a high school choral teacher. She serves as president of the Tri-M Music Honors Society and is a member of the National Honors Society and the French Honors Society. Abby also is one of the Dan Kane Singers and is active in the theater community as a member of the Exit 7 Players, the Red Door Theater and the AHS Drama Club. Currently a hostess at Storrowton Tavern. Abby wants to be the Agawam colleen to showcase her Irish family traditions of respect, caring and kindness in the Agawam community.
Teagan Fullam: Teagan, a senior at Agawam High School, is committed to the University of Rhode Island for the fall with an interest in forensics. An honors student, she’s a member of the field hockey team, homecoming and prom committees and the Adventure Club. The captain of the varsity tennis team, Teagan has lettered in varsity tennis and field hockey and has been recognized by the Spanish National Honors Society. A hostess at the Take Five restaurant. Teagan wants to be the Agawam colleen because her Irish heritage means so much to her and her family — it would be an amazing way to honor her nana.
Samantha Machos: Samantha, or Sam, is a senior at Agawam High School. After graduation, Sam intends to pursue a degree in criminal justice with a future career as an FBI agent. She is an AHS Chief who has mentored 9th graders beginning their high school career and has been a member of the soccer team as well as varsity indoor and outdoor track, Best Buddies Club and Peer Leadership. She has volunteered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) suicide walk, Wreaths Across America, the Agawam Police Department’s “Stuff a Cruiser” and the Girl Scouts. Employed as a hostess at Storrowton Tavern and as a babysitter. Sam wants to be the Agawam colleen so she can build self-confidence and showcase her resilience, strength and love of her Irish heritage.
Julia Nicosia: Julia attends Holyoke Community College majoring in child and family studies with the goal of becoming a developmental specialist working with special needs children. Julia has worked as a teacher’s assistant at the Thom Infant and Toddler Services, a dance teacher at Impressions Academy and at EB’s Restaurant. The Agawam High School graduate was on the varsity cheerleading team and the competition team. For achieving a high GPA throughout her four years at AHS, Julia received an Academic A. Part of an adult tap team at her dance studio, Julia wants to be the Agawam Colleen to learn more about the Irish culture and share it with others.
