By Tom Momberg
Flushing resident Christine Colligan was honored with a “Women of Distinction” award by the state Senate last week for her work with the Korean American Parents Association of Greater New York, or KAPA-GNY, and her service to Queens.
Colligan was presented with the award alongside her daughter, Sarah Colligan, before the Senate by state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who nominated her. He recognized Colligan’s support not only to the Korean community, but also to others throughout the borough.
“Ms. Colligan’s core values of family and education are mirrored in the work she has done to improve the lives of the countless people she has touched over the last 30 years, and her work should serve as an inspiration and reminder to us all that there is always a way to help others,” Avella said in a statement.
Colligan implemented programs and services at KAPA-GNY that give parents the resources to better connect with their children’s schools as well as more of a say in what happens there. She continues to hold monthly workshops to establish communication among parents to learn what they can do to further their children’s education.
The Korean immigrant has lived in Flushing since 1984, when she started working as a translator to help Korean-American students succeed in school. In 2008, Colligan launched a program which allowed a group of Korean teachers to visit city schools and learn American teaching practices.
She later served as an ambassador for the Teach and Learn scholarship program, for American college students to teach English in rural Korea. Colligan has supported several pieces of state legislation, and helped advocate for the recognition of the Lunar New Year as a holiday on the Department of Education’s calendar.
Reach reporter Tom Momberg by e-mail at tmomb
