Kara has served on the Program Book, Golf Tournament, Colleen Pageant, Pub Crawl and Colleen Reunion Brunch committees. She is currently co-chair of the Raffle committee, chair of the Budget/Audit Review committee and is involved with the JFK Award Reception.

Kara was born and raised in Holyoke, attending Blessed Sacrament Grammar School and Holyoke Catholic High School. At Holyoke Catholic, she was an All-Western Massachusetts soccer player for Gaels teams that reached two Western Mass. finals, capturing the title and reaching the state final in 1987. Kara still stands as the school’s fifth all-time leading scorer.

She went on to be a four-year letter winner for nationally ranked teams at Springfield College, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English. Upon graduation, she became involved with coaching, taking positions at both Holyoke and Dean Technical high schools.

Kara is also a graduate of the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Holyoke program for individuals who have a genuine interest in serving the community and its organizations as volunteer leaders. She subsequently became an ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce.

Kara’s roots with the parade run deep. Her grand uncles William and Cornelius Lunney were members of the first Parade Committee, with William serving as Parade President in 1952 and ‘53.

She recently purchased her first home in Holyoke and is a manager with Holyoke Liquor Mart. Her parents, William and Mary (Scollard), and brother, Owen, are Holyoke residents as well. Kara’s youngest brother, Andrew, lives in Wasilla, Alaska.

Kara embraces the award, is humbled to be included among such a select group and looks forward to marching in another place of honor.

She dedicates her march this year to the deceased members of the Shanahan, Scollard, Mannix and Lunney families.