Jillian Zucco, 24, of Mattapoisett, was selected as Miss Massachusetts 2017 on Saturday, July 1, at the 78th annual Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant. Competing as Miss Bristol County, she was chosen from among 21 contestants at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester. Zucco was awarded a $12,000 scholarship and will compete at the Miss America Pageant in September in Atlantic City, NJ.
Zucco is a 2016 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth honors nursing program where she was a “Commonwealth Scholar” and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She was named to the Dean’s List every semester in college. She was a member of the UMass Dartmouth Global Health Collaborative and was a Class of 2016 Cabinet member. She was recently honored by the Bristol County Chamber of Commerce at the 49th Annual John S. Brayton Jr. Memorial Community Service Awards Banquet. The Outstanding Community Service Award recognizes volunteer participation of extraordinary nature by an individual or a company. She was recognized for averaging more than 750 hours of community service per year. Her service work includes organizing annual blood drives, food drives, and the annual “Miss Inspirational” program she created to provide a platform for girls and young women with special needs and disabilities to showcase their talents and abilities so that the public can be educated and inspired by them.
She also works with the United Way of Greater New Bedford, serving on its planning committee for the Hunger Heroes project and as a volunteer at its various functions throughout the year. She serves as co-director of the Showstoppers community-service singing troupe and as a volunteer at the Share the Harvest Community Farm in Dartmouth and Gifts to Give in Acushnet. She serves as a cantor at her church and as a volunteer and performer at many community fundraisers and civic events throughout the area. An accomplished vocalist, Jillian performed “Via Dolorosa” at the state competition. She has sung the National Anthem for the Red Sox, Boston Celtics, NE Revolution, the NY Mets, and at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. She is also an award-winning dancer, receiving elite gold and platinum awards at regional and national dance competitions. She was a member of a four-girl pop band that performed for President Obama and with the Boston Pops.
Jillian is also a 2011 graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School. She is the daughter of John and Kelly Zucco of Mattapoisett.
During her year of service, she will highlight her platform, “Choose a Cause, Make a Difference” as well as promote The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, the national platform of the Miss America Organization.
In addition to her $12,000 award, Zucco received a $350 scholarship as a Preliminary Talent Winner and was also the winner of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Maker Award and received an additional $250 scholarship. She raised over $5,000 this year for CMNH/Boston Children’s Hospital and since 2013 years has raised nearly $25,000 for CMNH. This year, a new sponsor came on board for the state pageant, and she was awarded a $300 STEM scholarship provided by Invaleon Solar Technologies of Haverhill, MA. She will also receive gifts and services from numerous pageant sponsors from across the state as part of her prize package.