Fitz was crowned on Feb. 25 during the annual Coronation Ball at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House.
Brianna M. Fitz, 20, is crowned the 2012 Grand Colleen.It’s a float fit for a queen, well, almost.
Holyoke’s Grand Colleen, Brianna M. Fitz, will have her own gazebo while riding high atop the colleen float with her court in this year’s Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade.
“We’ve created a garden scene for this year’s Holyoke colleen float with real flowers and bushes ... it’s very colorful. Brianna will be sitting inside the gazebo and her court will be sitting outside in front of her,” said Daniel Tierney, who has overseen the construction of the colleen float since the earliest days of the parade.
Fitz, of Holyoke, who was crowned on Feb. 25 during the annual Coronation Ball at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House, said her selection as this year’s Holyoke Grand Colleen is a dream come true.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed about ever since I was a little girl watching the colleens in the parade. I remember the Holyoke colleens visiting my grammar school, Blessed Sacrament in Holyoke, and I thought they were so amazing and that is was such a wonderful accomplishment for them,” said Fitz.
“And, now, I’m especially looking forward to returning to my school and to visit with the young students there today,” she added.
Fitz, a junior at Boston College, is majoring in psychology with a minor in sociology. Enrolled in the college’s pre-med program, she is planning on pursuing a career as a physician and working for Doctors Without Borders. She is currently an emergency medical technician and an intern with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Fitz, 20, will be joined on this year’s float by her court: Kelli A. Laramee, 21, Allison B. Lapointe, 18, Juliette R. Chenier, 17, and Kelly W. Donahoe, 22, all of Holyoke, who were selected from among 16 contestants during the 58th Annual Colleen Pageant held earlier this year at Holyoke High School.
According to Kathryn Dulchinos, colleen coordinator on the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, it wouldn’t be a parade without the colleen.
“The parade is all about colleens and floats, so I think the colleens are the best part of the parade,” said Dulchinos.
“Not everyone may remember each parade, but people do remember who the colleen was,” she added.
Dulchinos said Fitz won the hearts of judges with her answer to the same question all potential colleens were asked at the Coronation Ball concerning the best attribute that the Holyoke colleen should possess.
“My answer was inner beauty. A colleen should be a good, kind, loving person who is very compassionate. I remember what my father pointed out to me about the fairytale ‘Cinderella’ – that she may not have had the nicest clothes, but that Cinderella was a nice person, who was kind and loving, and that even when her step mom did horrible things to her, Cinderella was very patient and tried harder. And that inspired me over the years,” said Fitz.
“I just feel so honored and grateful to be part of this wonderful tradition,” added Fitz about being selected as this year’s Holyoke Grand Colleen.
And, she’s looking forward to returning to Ireland as part of a trip provided by the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Committee to their colleen.
“My grandfather came from Ireland and I still have some aunts, uncles and cousins living there. I’ve gone to some of their weddings and my brother was even christened in Ireland,” said Fitz.