2024 Grand Colleen
Elizabeth Katherine Gourde


A graduate of Pope Francis Preparatory School in 2019, Elizabeth consistently earned a place on the Honor Roll and was inducted into the Saint Thomas Aquinas Chapter of the National Honor Society. Recognized for her outstanding academic achievement and leadership qualities, she received the Smith College Book Award. Elizabeth actively contributed to her community by working with nonprofits.

Embarking on her higher education journey at the College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, Elizabeth excelled academically, graduating in May 2023 with a BA in English and a concentration in writing, boasting a notable GPA of 3.86. Her leadership skills were evident as she was elected Vice President of her class for four consecutive years and served as the Executive Board president for one year.

Throughout her college career, Elizabeth was the Co-editor in Chief and writer for the BLOOM Literary Magazine. She also had an internship with the Elms Alumni Magazine and pioneered a two-week Poetry and Prose writing workshop at the Care Center in Holyoke. She also worked with Sister Jane Morrissey at Homework House in Holyoke.

A recipient of several awards, Elizabeth earned the Mary Connors Viamari Award in 2020, the Thomas and Mary Smith Fitzgerald Endowed Scholarship the following year, and the Dorothy Fitzgibbon Award for "Outstanding Poetry or Prose" in 2022.

Elizabeth's commitment to service extended beyond academia. In January 2023, she volunteered to rebuild homes with the Saint Bernard Project in Puerto Rico. In March of the same year, she traveled to El Paso, Texas, for a service trip, where she cooked and cleaned in a refugee shelter, gaining firsthand knowledge of the border crisis.

Currently working as a service appointment coordinator for Gary Rome Hyundai, Elizabeth has her sights set on further academic pursuits. She is applying to Boston University with the aspiration of earning a Master's of Arts degree in either prose or poetry. Her long-term dreams include working for a publishing company or in the film industry, recognizing storytelling as an essential part of her identity. Ultimately, Elizabeth envisions receiving her doctorate and fulfilling her passion for literature and education as an English professor.

Elizabeth Katherine Gourde, a proud resident of Holyoke and the beloved daughter of Robert and Kathleen Gourde. Growing up with three brothers—Robert, Matthew, and Raymond—Elizabeth's family roots extend to her Irish heritage, with ancestors hailing from the picturesque counties of Sligo and Cork.

Past Colleens

1955 Kathleen T. O’Sullivan
1956 Mary Monaghan
1957 Maureen Murphy
1958 Geraldine Lawler
1959 Anne Burke
1960 Sheila McCormick*
1961 Susan V. Hobert*
1962 Francine Dillon
1963 Joan M. Riley
1964 Kathleen Kennedy*
1965 Mary Ellen McGinty*
1966 Margaret Shevlin
1967 Janet Kelly
1968 Una Petcen
1969 Deborah Kennedy
1970 Kathleen E. Welsh
1971 Anne Marie O’Brien*
1972 Nancy Rainville

1973 Sherry Lee McFadden
1974 Mary Ann Croke
1975 Martha M. Donohue
1976 Ann Marie Abel
1977 Patricia M. Dean
1978 Katherine M. Quirk
1979 Corinne Baker
1980 Patricia A. Long
1981 Ann P. Dean
1982 Patricia O’Connor
1983 Karen M. Barrett
1984 Alyssa V. Fitzpatrick
1985 Maureen Simonds
1986 Kerry Ann Moriarty
1987 Theresa M. Clark
1988 Ruth Ellen Allyn
1989 Anne Marie O’Connell
1990 Mary Deleva

1991 Christine T. Brill
1992 Candice McKenzie
1993 Heather Bresnahan
1994 Kara Elizabeth Shanahan*
1995 Marikate Moriarty
1996 Shaena A. Smalley
1997 Mary Kate Cartier
1998 Kimberly Lyn Willis
1999 Abby Gordon Woods
2000 Abbey Louise McLaughlin
2001 Elizabeth Ann Cartier
2002 Kathleen C. Joyce
2003 Mary Kate Moynihan
2004 Sheila Maureen Murphy
2005 Carolyn Patricia McLain
2006 Katy Beth Brunelle
2007 Kim Erin Elliott

2008 Ashley M. Reidy
2009 Ashley R. Tucker
2010 Rosalyn C. Chesky
2011 Meaghan Leahy
2012 Brianna M. Fitz
2013 Brieanna M. Gresh
2014 Sheila S. Fallon
2015 Allyson Craven
2016 Meghan N. Ryan
2017 Margaret Walsh
2018 Madelynne Kelleher
2019 Lauren Dulude
2020-2022 Moira C. McDermott
2023 Abby Ross Glasheen

*Denotes Deceased