Colleen McCarrick

Posted by TeamCharlie on August 9, 2008 under Kids are Heroes, Wags for Hope | Be the First to Comment

A few months ago I noticed a sign at the Wendy’s in Frederick next to the Sheetz.  It read something about Colleen McCarrick being some sort of Heisman Trophy finalist.  It was a bit confusing because I am used to Heisman Trophies being awarded to male college athletes.  However, I forgot about it after a while as I had other things on my mind.  In my recent Internet search for local Frederick heroes to help emcee Kids are Heroes Day, somehow I tripped over that name again.  After further digging I realized that I knew her mother Susan, as she was an early applicant for the Wags for Hope program.  I discovered that Colleen was quite accomplished, as she was one of six female finalists for the 2007 Wendy’s High School Heisman award.  This obviously clarified the sign I saw earlier.  According to www.wendysheismanblog.com, ”The award honors both male and female high school students who excel in academics, athletics, and student leadership.”  She was selected for this honor among 32,000 students nationwide.  But this was not all I discovered.  She has achieved other accolades, but one article I uncovered caught my eye.  According to the Gazette, she started something called the “Kids’ Theater” when she was 12.  The cast of her plays consist of actors under the age of 18, and the proceeds go directly to a charity of her choosing.  This year’s goal was to raise money to buy a $3000.00 exercise bike for a friend who “has a lot of orthopedic issues”, according to his mom.  After uncovering all this I felt that she was a perfect candidate to be one of our hosts for Kids are Heroes Day.  I reconnected with her mom and they both agreed that she would be there.

Well Colleen’s big night was last night.  We went up to Middletown High to check out her production of “Enchanted Sleeping Beauty”.  I was amazed to see upwards of 40 kids involved in the play, all donning period costumes.  The set was great and the play was very enjoyable.  I was so impressed that it was all put on by high school kids and younger.  My choice of emcee couldn’t have been better.  Colleen is an adult version of many of the heroes we recognize today.  Part of the “perks” of being involved with Kids are Heroes is meeting people like Colleen.