ALBANY — Mayor Kathy Sheehan introduced the five 2019 Albany Tulip Queen finalists at a press conference in Washington Park today. While only one of these remarkable young women will be crowned the 71st Albany Tulip Queen, all five will work together on community service and literacy advocacy initiatives as the 2019 Albany Tulip Court.
These young women were chosen from a pool of dozens of nominees by a committee of local leaders through an extensive interview process based on their volunteer service, commitment to the local community and leadership skills. The 2019 Tulip Queen will be crowned at the Lakehouse Stage at Tulip Festival presented by Citizens Bank on Saturday, May 11 at noon by Mayor Sheehan, 2018 Tulip Queen Sawyer Cresap, and Chad O’Hara of B95.5.
The finalists are:
Emily Barcia-Varno, Age 22, Glenmont
Barcia-Varno is a recent graduate from The College of Saint Rose completing a bachelors degree in marketing. She currently works in the New York State Department of Civil Service. She has volunteered through Saint Rose, worked with local soup kitchens, Ronald McDonald House, and worked in Panama helping to preserve native orchids. Her hobbies include working with kids, dance, theatre and traveling. As a member of the 2019 Tulip Court, Barcia-Varno hopes to be a role model for the community and use superheroes as a way to connect kids to their inner super powers.
Isabella Burnett, Age 19, Albany
Burnett is currently a sophomore at the College of Saint Rose earning her bachelor of fine arts degree. She currently works at Follett Bookstore and in the summer as a Girl Scout camp counselor. Burnett volunteers her time at the senior living community Holiday at the Atrium and as a street cleaner through the College of Saint Rose. She enjoys camping, hiking and boating. As a member of the 2019 Tulip Court, she plans to promote literacy using her focus on art to help connect communities and to work for better environmental health in our community.
Parneet Kaur, Age 19, Green Island
Kaur is a freshman at Siena College working towards her biology degree. During High School she was the recipient of the Multicultural Student Achievement Award from the University at Albany. She volunteers with Regional Food Pantry and Ronald McDonald House. Kaur has a passion for dance and music and her goal is to open up a dermatology office. As a member of the 2019 Tulip Court, her goals are to promote diversity through the sharing of multicultural art and to help build confidence and independence for younger women in the city.
Megan Morrill, Age 23, Latham
Morrill is a graduate of the University at Albany and is currently working towards publishing her first novel. Her volunteer experience ranges from the Ronald McDonald House to the March of Dimes, and she was a Key Club Committee Chair for Albany Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital. She enjoys photography, ice skating, rock climbing and writing. She was a three time winner in the Colonie Art League for photography and was a member of the Tau Sigma Honor’s Society. As a member of the 2019 Tulip Court, Morrill’s goal is to raise awareness for craniofacial conditions and to help provide children in local hospitals a broader selection of books.
Michaela Schramm, Age 18, Loudonville
Schramm is a freshman attending the University at Albany working on her Accounting degree. At the University at Albany, Schramm plays club field hockey and is a proud member of Delta Sigma Pi. She has volunteered at the Center for Disability Services, Regional Food Bank, worked as a tutor and as a coach. In her free time Schramm enjoys spending her summers lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons at a local pool, crafts, hiking, and spending time with her family. As a member of the 2019 Tulip Court, Michaela plans to use her math talents to help connect reading and math as well as to explore different cultures through the literacy program.
For more information on the Albany Tulip Queen & Court, visit www.albanytulipqueen.com. Media partners for the 2019 Tulip Queen program include B95.5, WVCR and WSG.
The 71st Annual Albany Tulip Festival presented by Citizens Bank will be held May 11 and 12. For more festival information call 518-434-2032 or visit www.albanyevents.org.
