With the Junkyard Jazz Band providing music, and a crowd festooned in all shades of green, Kellie Meyer was crowned queen of the 2002 St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Meyer, 20, a Kansas University student from Emporia, was one of six candidates.

Kellie Meyer receives applause from the crowd as she is introduced as the 2002 St. Patrick's Day Parade Queen. Meyer was crowned Sunday night at the Flamingo Club, 501 N. Ninth St.

“It’s a shock,” Meyer said. “It’s for a great cause, and it’s really worth it.”

About 200 people attended the coronation and banquet Sunday night at The Flamingo Club, 501 N. Ninth St.

Money raised by the St. Patrick’s Day committee will go to the Infant-Todler Coordinating Council, which assists families with developmentally and mentally challenged children.

The queen candidates help the committee by soliciting items for the auction, promoting the program and helping with events leading up to Sunday’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Meyer is majoring in communications with a minor in public relations, is a bartender at The Wheel, 507 W. 14th St., and is a partner in Whirly Girls, a company that makes sterling silver jewelry.

Julie Love, queen coordinator for the committee, said queens help out at all the events.

“They raise a lot of money for the organization, and they raise money for the auction,” she said.

Phil Bradley, chairman of the committee, said the queen represents the spirit of the parade and the St. Patrick’s Day events, which focus on charity work and bring the community together.

“St. Patrick’s is more than just a celebration of individual heritage of a people,” he said.

Bradley said the smiles on children’s faces during the parade was the main reason he volunteers to help out.

“There’s just not enough parades anymore, or free things like circuses that you can take your kids to,” he said.

Ruthi and Patrick Rapp, Lawrence, were also crowned senior king and queen of St. Patrick’s Day.

The other candidates for queen were:

Courtney Dowty, 22, a sales specialist for Bag and Baggage in Kansas City.

Lisa Forbes, 19, a KU student in communications.

Mary Hayden, 18, a KU student in pre-pharmacy.

Amber Nickel, 25, a KU student and bartender at Red Lyon and Kaspar’s.

Karla Schneider, 29, a KU graduate student.

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 2 p.m. Sunday and runs along Massachusetts Street from South Park to across the river, then turns down Locust Street and finishes at The Flamingo Club.