St. Patrick’s Committee will present annual awards at gala

AGAWAM — Three Agawam residents will be honored with prestigious awards from the Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee at its annual coronation gala on Feb. 8.

The committee will present the awards at the gala where four colleen contestants will learn which one of them will be crowned the 2025 Agawam colleen. The committee’s 23rd colleen coronation will take place at St. Anne’s Country Club in Feeding Hills. It will begin with a cocktail hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 6 p.m. Tickets for the Saturday event are $55 for adults and $30 for children under 12. Tickets can be reserved by emailing agawamstpatricks317@gmail.com.

Here are brief biographies each award recipient:

Anne Sullivan Award — Judith Kennedy Christian

Judith Kennedy Christian will receive the Anne Sullivan Award. It’s presented to a female committee member who epitomizes the values represented by Anne Sullivan, who was born in Feeding Hills in 1866 and became the companion and teacher to Helen Keller.

Born in Springfield to Matthias and Doris Kennedy, Christian began her nursing career at Massachusetts General Hospital before returning to Springfield and eventually settling in Agawam with her husband, James Christian. Agawam residents for 54 years, they have raised seven children and are proud grandparents of 10. Throughout her life, Christian has remained a devoted and active volunteer, leaving a lasting impact on the community she loves.

Before starting her own family, she dedicated her time to Brightside and Mont Marie, where she was known for baking apple pies to support fundraising efforts and assisting foster children. She also contributed countless hours to St. John’s Church and St. Thomas the Apostle School, helping with the cleaning of the church and convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Her passion for service extended to the Girl Scouts, where she has volunteered for more than 30 years. Christian’s involvement began with her eldest daughter’s Brownie troop at Phelps School. Today, she remains an active and beloved member in her granddaughters’ troops.
Christian also has been a steadfast supporter of youth and high school sports, cheering on her children and grandchildren. Her dedication has been tireless, from volunteering at fundraisers to working in concession stands to chaperoning events to assisting with locker room duties during Piranha swim meets and Springfield Turnverein gymnastics competitions.

After her granddaughter Hope became Agawam’s 2023 colleen, Christian joined the committee. She is dedicated to preserving and celebrating Irish heritage and traditions in her community. Christian, whose love for her Irish roots is evident in all she does, lives by the values symbolized by the shamrock — faith, hope and love.

Her legacy of love, service and unwavering dedication continues to inspire those around her. Christian said she’s incredibly honored to receive this award and to march in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade.

Parade Marshal — Todd Arslanian

Todd Arslanian will serve as the Agawam parade marshal for the 2025 Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade. This award is presented to an Agawam resident who has contributed to the growth of the Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee.

Born in Springfield, Arslanian is a 1981 graduate of Cathedral High School. For the past 43 years, he has been an auto and heavy truck mechanic who owned and operated Century Towing Service. While working at the towing service, he met his wife Michelle and it was love at first sight. They will celebrate 29 years of marriage this June. Arslanian is the proud father of two children, Meg, a member of the 2018 Agawam colleen’s court and a hairdresser, and Joe, who is following in his dad’s footsteps as a truck mechanic.

Arslanian is proud to celebrate his Irish roots in Agawam. His family comes from the McDonnells and Malones in the Ventry area of County Kerry, Ireland. His aunt, Vera Conway, was a long-time member of the committee and proudly shared her Irish heritage with all. Her dedication to the committee inspired him to join the committee in 2018. A member of the float building committee, Arslanian has been involved in building several award-winning floats. An active committee member, Arslanian recently joined the board of directors.

Vera Conway Citizenship Award — Dawn DeMatteo

Dawn DeMatteo will receive the Vera Conway Citizenship Award. It’s presented to a person who has made substantial contributions to the community. The award is named in honor of Vera Conway, a longtime committee member who died in 2022.

The daughter of Phill and Carole Schneider of Hampden, DeMatteo is a 1988 graduate of Minnechaug Regional High School. A Feeding Hills resident for 27 years, she has been married to David DeMatteo for the past three years. She has two children, Madison and Matthew Dube, and two “bonus” children, Kelsey and Josh DeMatteo. DeMatteo has been an early childhood educator for 33 years, the past 21 at Smart Start Preschool in Agawam where she is currently the director.

While raising her children, DeMatteo started volunteering for numerous youth sports and various activities, including Sacred Heart softball bookkeeper, coach, concession stand; Agawam Little League coach, board member, concession stand coordinator; Agawam Youth Wrestling score and clock keeper for tournaments; Agawam Youth Field Hockey coach and board member; Agawam Youth Tackle and Flag Football board member and concession coordinator; Suburban Amateur Football League registrar and board member; Agawam High School football, softball, field hockey and boys and girls basketball scorekeeper; Wreaths Across America participant at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam with the AHS football team.

During the coronavirus pandemic, DeMatteo drove to Franklin to get COVID-19 test kits for the entire Agawam school community and volunteered to deliver Meals on Wheels. She is co-founder of the autism resource center at the Agawam Public Library and has coordinated the community Christmas tree lightings at the Veterans Green and at Granger School. With her husband playing Santa Claus, they have brought holiday cheer to their community as well as to Baystate Noble Hospital and organizations such as the Springfield Thunderbirds and the Girl Scouts of America.

DeMatteo has been a member of the Agawam School Committee for seven years. She also is a member of the building committee for the new high school.