2025 Grand Colleen

Melanie Elizabeth Fleming is a senior at Fitch High School in Groton. She is involved in several organizations where she shows her commitment to the Groton/ Mystic community. During her time at Fitch High School, Melanie has been awarded the Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Book Award, is in the top 25 of her graduating class, is a member of the National Honor Society, holds the position of secretary of the Keyettes Club, is a cellist in the string orchestra and is a student representative to the Groton Board of Education. Melanie is also a Bronze and Silver Award Girl Scout, which was a result of over fifty hours of community service. She is a competitive dancer at Dancers Ink in Mystic and an Ambassador Girl Scout in Troop 63176. Melanie will be attending The University of Connecticut in the fall and will be majoring in marketing at their Storrs, main campus. Melanie loves the St. Patrick’s Day season every year because she is able to spend quality time with her family and friends by enjoying the annual Mystic Irish Parade, share family stories, and decorate her house with her mom with shamrocks and passed down Irish decorations that make the entire house feel like a walk down memory lane.

Emma Forde is a senior at Fitch High School. During her time at Fitch, Emma received the Endicott Book Award, ranked in the top 25 of her class, and became a member of the National Honor Society. She has been a captain of the Fitch High School soccer team and Fitch High School track team for 2 years. Emma has volunteered at the Mystic Irish Parade for many years, a tradition that connects her to her Irish roots. In 2018, Emma visited Ireland, where she reconnected with family and learned about her heritage. She feels connected to her roots with her love of storytelling. which she inherited from her grandad. Emma will attend Western New England University in the fall, where she plans to major in Marketing and play soccer. Emma has always cherished the Mystic Irish Parade as a way to bring together friends and family while celebrating her pride in Irish culture.

Elizabeth (“Ellie”) Sarah Zuro is a senior at Stonington High School. She is the Vice President of the National Honor Society, a four-year student government representative, and Co-President of the peer mediation group. She has received Academic High Honors all four years. She is a four-year starter on the varsity girls lacrosse team where she received All-State Second Team, All-Star ECC, and Defensive Player of the Year awards. For the past seven years Ellie has volunteered with her church youth mission program. She plays first chair viola in the Thames Valley Youth Symphony at Connecticut College. She grew up around storytelling which inspired her love for writing and literature. She loves hearing the stories from her grandparents and learning about their Irish traditions. She traveled to Dublin in 2018 where she heard storytellers, visited Trinity College, and enjoyed learning about her Irish heritage. She plans to attend a four-year college and double major in psychology and political science.

Kelly Margaret Turley is a senior at Marine Science Magnet High School. She enjoys being a member of the National Honor Society, a Student Council Officer, Student School Ambassador, and a Peer Tutor. She has been awarded the Excellence in AP Chemistry, ECE Marine Science, and Science Distinction Awards. Kelly has been a competitive swimmer for the Mystic Hammerheads, setting 14 speed records in multiple strokes for her age group at one time. She is currently in her fourth year of playing varsity tennis for Fitch High School. She attends and volunteers at St. Patrick’s Church, helping with youth programs, altar serving and additionally she volunteers at the New London Community Meal Center, helping to prep and serve food to those in need.  She has always enjoyed walking in the parade with St. Patrick’s Church from a young age, wearing Kelly green, Irish step dancing, and spending lots of time with her large extended family. She will be visiting Dublin for the first time during Spring Break. Kelly will be attending Northeastern University in Boston to pursue a dual major in bioengineering and biochemistry.

Maerin Lyon is a senior at Fitch High School. She is a four-year member of the Fitch Varsity Girls soccer and softball team.  She has been awarded several ECC awards for sportsmanship. She is currently a member of the Environmental club and National Honor Society. Her hobbies include playing softball, cooking, baking and going to the gym. She has volunteered and march in the Mystic Irish Parade since she was little. Participating in the parade has instilled in her a deep sense of pride in her Irish heritage and culture. She noted that the Mystic Irish Parade fosters a sense of community and has allowed her to maintain a connection with her roots and give back to the community she lives in. Maerin plans to attend a four year college.