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Reminder Assistant Editor WILBRAHAM Alicia Thomas has been crowned Peach Queen for the 2008 Peach Festival. This was the 23rd year a Peach Queen was chosen. The 17-year-old Minnechaug Regional High School student, who will be a senior this fall, said she decided to compete for the Peach Queen title because she wanted to "inspire the children of Wilbraham and give back to the community that gave so many opportunities to me." Thomas is a staff member of Emeralds, the high school's literary magazine, and participates in the long jump in indoor track and in the triple jump and the javelin events in outdoor track. Outside of school, she volunteers at the ACTS tutoring service and at the Lion's Den Outreach Center. She works as a lifeguard at Spec Pond. "I plan to attend Suffolk University and major in history," Thomas said. "I would love to be a historian." She loves her community too. "I feel the Peach Festival is important to Wilbraham because it showcases the importance of community between Hampden and Wilbraham," Thomas stated. Thomas as Peach Queen isn't the only one who benefits from the Wilbraham Community Association's pageant, however. The queen, the first runner up and the court all receive scholarships in addition to their crowns. Thomas earned a $1,000 scholarship. Sierra Bordenuk earned the first runner up position and a $500 scholarship. Jillian McDiarmid, Kelly Middleton and Amanda Griffiths, as members of the Peach Queen's court, will all receive $300 scholarships. Bordenuk is also 17 and said she decided to compete because she's lived in Wilbraham her entire life and wanted to give something back to the town. "I believe the Peach Festival is important to Wilbraham because it's basically the only event that happens here and it allows everyone to come together and have fun," she said. McDiarmid agreed. "I think the Peach Festival is important because it brings the whole town together and it is fun for the whole family," she noted. "It is something exciting for such a small town." The Peach Queen and her court will be riding in the parade that takes place on the Saturday morning of the Peach Festival, which is taking place this year from Aug. 15 through 17. For more information on the Peach Festival, visit www.peachfestival.org. | ||||||
