Whiz Kids: Ciara Galligan and Krissy Kopans

Names: Ciara Galligan and Krissy Kopans

Age: 18

School: Yorktown High School

Accomplishment:  The Civic Internship students organized a volleyball tournament that raised funds for Yorktown's food pantries.  

Key to Awesomeness:

On the first day of May with cerulean sky and burgeoning trees, the fruit of Krissy Kopans and Ciara Galligan’s work was a volleyball tournament organized for the community to benefit its needy members.

The benefit sport event was the brainchild of Galligan and Kopans, who are enrolled in the Civic Internship program at Yorktown High School and serve as interns of The Yorktown Democratic Committee.

“After getting involved in local government, we decided that a unique way for a local political organization to truly benefit the community would be to run an event that helps all Yorktowners regardless of political affiliation,” Galligan and Kopans said. 

The two interns were responsible for organizing and executing plans of the tournament, including enlisting volunteers, advertising, and contacting pantries.

“The internship with the YDC permits opportunities that are unique and challenge the students to grow,” said Patricia Mulligan, the mentor of the YDC internship program (and also the mother of Galligan). “We are showing that politics doesn’t always have to be about politics. Politics can be about just helping people, and so the girls are learning an invaluable lesson.”

The volleyball tournament was hosted by Don and Karen Peters on the fields of that they own.

“The girls have done a great job organizing this,” former Yorktown Town Supervisor Don Petes said. “The Yorktown food pantry is a good cause.”

Contributions of the tournament participants generated net proceeds of $300, and additional $200 from pledges is expected. The total sum will be donated to food pantries of Yorktown - The Community Food Pantry at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, , and ’s Food Pantry.

“Particularly at a time when things [on pantry shelves] are low, this is really helpful," said The Reverend Claire Woodley-Aitchison, Rector of St. Mary’s. “We appreciate it very much.” 

Kopans, a National Championship figure skater, received a platinum U.S. figure skating award for competing at nationals and being a senior level figure skater. She will major in Marine Biology and continue skating at the University of Delaware.

For the past five years, Galligan has been the event coordinator of Dennis M. Mulligan Memorial Foundation, a-not-for-profit organization that provides scholarships to students in need. Galligan intends to major in Communications at Roger Williams University in the fall.

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Nominations for Yorktown Patch’s Whiz Kids can be submitted to Plamena Pesheva plamena@patch.com and Christine An christinean.patch@gmail.com

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