Feb. 22, 2010
CHICAGO- Former UIC cross country and track and field student-athlete Kerry Brennan (Orland Park, Ill./Sandburg H.S.) was named the Queen of the 55th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade of Chicago this past Sunday, Feb. 21 at the Stephen M. Bailey Auditorium in the West Loop.
Brennan, who competed as a distance runner for the Flames from 2004-2008 and is the older sister of current UIC cross country and track and field runner Mary Brennan, was selected for the prestigious honor from a group of over 100 contestants.
She is the second consecutive former UIC student-athlete to earn the distinction of being named Queen of Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade. Last year former UIC volleyball libero Julie Popp was the parade's Queen, while Brennan served on the Queen's Court.
Prominent Chicagoans of Irish heritage served as judges of the Queen contest and considered qualities such as grace, sincerity, beauty, poise, personality and wit in their selection of the queen and her court.
Brennan will be prominently featured during famous Chicago traditions surrounding the celebration of St. Patrick's Day. The Queen, her Court and the Shannon Rovers Bagpipe Band will visit Chicago's City Hall and personally deliver a parade invitation to the Honorable Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago. They will also deliver invitations to other civic and political leaders to march at the front of the parade.
In addition to their participation in the Downtown Chicago Parade on March 13, the Queen and her Court will also represent the Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee at a variety of events throughout the year, including the renowned dyeing of the Chicago River green that same day.
For more information and photos of Kerry Brennan as the Queen of the St. Patrick's Day Parade of Chicago, visit chicagostpatsparade.com.
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