Longtime Volunteer in Seekonk Schools Receives Public Service Award

In accepting the award, Mrs. O’Halloran thanked the many parents, volunteers and educators she had worked with throughout the years. She said that, “it was a privilege and a pleasure to work beside so many dedicated parents and educators.””

The Seekonk Library Trust honored Colleen O’Halloran as the recipient of the fourth annual Sharon St. Hilaire Community Service Award on Saturday, June 20. Ana Saul-Sykes, a member of the Board of Directors of the Library Trust presented Ms. O’Halloran with the award at the opening ceremony of the Seekonk Meadows Summer Solstice Celebration.

Mrs. O’Halloran was nominated by Melissa Mello, a member of the Guidance Department at Seekonk High School. In her letter of nomination, Ms. Mello wrote of the level of commitment and involvement shown by Colleen O’Halloran as President of the Seekonk High School Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). Ms. Mello wrote that she has encountered Colleen O’Halloran volunteering in one capacity or another at all hours of the day. As PAC President, Mrs. O’Halloran coordinates the volunteers at the concession stands during sporting events, organizes numerous bake sales during elections, plans large-scale events for students such as Post-Prom parties, coordinates fundraising activities such as clothing drives, and is present for numerous school events such as the recent Credit for Life Fair.
In accepting the award, Mrs. O’Halloran thanked the many parents, volunteers and educators she had worked with throughout the years. She said that, “it was a privilege and a pleasure to work beside so many dedicated parents and educators.”

The Seekonk Library Trust is an independent charitable organization that was created to raise funds for Seekonk Public Library and it played a pivotal role in the creation of the Seekonk Meadows. The Directors for the Library Trust established the award in 2011 as a way to recognize individuals who have had a long career of extraordinary service to the people of the Town of Seekonk. The award is named for its first recipient, Sharon St. Hilaire, who had served as library director for over thirty-three years. The award itself is a large Simon Pearce crystal glass bowl engraved with the words, “St. Hilaire Community Service Award,” the recipient’s name and the date of the presentation. Previous winners of the award are Janet Parker, Robert McKenna and Donna Euell.