Pictured, from left to right, are John and Agnes Burke Award winner Mary Bednarz, Parade Marshal Kathy Tobin Martin, Paul G. Caron Award winner Dianne Sullivan Caron and Mary B. Troy Award winner David Elia.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
SPRINGFIELD — The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade may still be a few months away, but the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee is gearing up in preparation for it.
The committee named its four 2025 award winners during an announcement party on Dec. 9 at the Thomas J. Sullivan Banquet Hall.
According to Kerri Sullivan, the president of the Springfield St. Patrick’s Committee, the four awards are given to people who are heavily active in the community in some way.
“Community service is a big underlying aspect of our awards,” Sullivan said. “Everybody who was picked is involved in the community and gives back to the community in some way.”
The committee’s winners this year include Kathy Tobin Martin for parade marshal; Mary Bednarz for the John and Agnes Burke Award; Diane Sullivan Caron for the Paul G. Caron Award; and David Elia, David Stevens, and the Springfield Putnam High School Carpentry Department for the Mary B. Troy Award.
Sullivan told Reminder Publishing in an interview that Putnam’s Carpentry Department will be building the floats this year for the parade. She noted that this is an important part of the parade because students learn about the Irish heritage and how to hone their carpentry skills.
“They’re using their skills that they’re learning to build a float that goes down the parade route at one of the biggest parades in the United States,” Sullivan said. “It gets them thinking that maybe like carpentry isn’t just all about building houses or fixing things; they can make something that’s like a monument, something that’s really outside of the box of what they’re used to doing.”
Aside from the award announcements, the committee is also in the process of choosing their 2025 colleen. According to Sullivan, they are accepting applications through Dec. 21, and then preliminaries will be conducted at the Springfield Lodge of Elks 61 on Jan. 4 with morning interviews and an evening portion.
Five finalists will then attend The Colleen Coronation Ball at The Cedars in Springfield on Feb. 8.
Sullivan said those applying will have to be a female of Irish descent between the ages of 17 and 22. They also have to be single, at least a junior in high school and must be a resident of either Springfield, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Palmer or Wilbraham. Residents from other towns may be eligible and must reach out to the committee to see if they are.
Those interested in applying for colleen must answer questions in their application, like how has the Irish heritage shaped who you are today; what are some contributions you have made to your local Irish community and school; and how would family members describe you in three words.
Sullivan said the names of the applicants will be anonymous when the committee starts choosing who should be finalists.
The eventual colleen will receive a tiara and up to two round trip tickets to Ireland that must be used before Jan. 1, 2026. She and her court will also receive an Irish wool sweater, a scarf, sash, jewelry and will ride a top the themed float at the parade.
Sullivan contextualized this honor, which has been a part of the Springfield St. Patrick’s Parade Committee’s fabric for over 50 years.
“It’s a great experience for girls, you know, whether they try out and make it or if they try out and don’t make it because, you know, all the girls get the opportunity to share their story and share their heritage with the judges, and with other people,” Sullivan said of the colleen process. “They’re really role models and ambassadors for the Irish community and just the community in general, because you have these five accomplished young women who are proud of themselves and proud of their families and their heritage.”
Readers can follow updates on this process by visiting the Springfield St. Patrick Committee’s Facebook page: facebook.com/SpringfieldStPatricksParadeCommittee. The application is also available here: https://tinyurl.com/39fhsu7v.
