Where are they now? Catch up with Jackalyn Velasquez Prosak, 2003 queen

“The festival never ends for me,” Jackalyn Velasquez Prosak says. Jackie, a Polish princess, was named International Festival queen in 2003 but hasn’t left the International Festival in her past. She’s still a huge presence — she’s a trustee for the festival, a member of the Princess Pageant Committee (overseeing the talent portion of the princess pageant with help with the reigning courts) and continues to dance with Alma de Mexico.

Jackie Velasquez Prosak (top), the 2003 Lorain International Festival queen, rides in that year's parade with her court, (from left) Ana Rivera, Kelly Rupp and Sara Pedraza. (Photo from the Black River Historical Society.)

“My experience of the festival never ends because I have a passion for maintaining my heritage and giving back to my home city and as long as I am able, I will continue to do so,” Jackie says. “The festival is much more than a weeklong celebration. It is a lifetime of pride.”

“After my crown days, I graduated from Lorain Southview High School in ’04 and John Carroll University with a B.A. in History and Religion in ’08 and am currently employed as a youth minister with Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Litchfield, Ohio, where I work with junior high and high school religious education programs. ”

“Being a mixture of Polish, Mexican and a little Hungarian, I had quite a big decision to make when deciding to be a princess. I chose to represent my Polish side since both sides have that heritage, although I figured that I would represent the other nationality the following year. It was an opportunity of a lifetime when I was given the title of Lorain International queen in 2003 and an honor that can never be topped. I traveled and participated in over 30 festivals, parades and events with my court, across the state of Ohio as well as in our own backyard, and those memories will be with me always. All the friends I made and the people I met are experiences that have impacted my life for the better.”

“The Lorain International Festival is a celebraton of diversity, community, pride and family history. Throughout my life my family has been involved in the festival with marching with the parade, dancing with Alma de Mexico folk dancers, and being members of the Mexian American Citizens’ Club and the United Polish Club. Being a princess was an experience I will treausre forever and see that it truly displayed the pride I had in my diverse ethnic background.”

Jackie Velasquez Prosak dances with Alma de Mexico ethnic dancers at International Festival 2008. She and Alma de Mexico will be dancing again at this year's festival, Saturday (June 27) at 5 p.m.

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