A Colchester High School senior will be headed to New York City this Thanksgiving to take place in one of America's greatest holiday traditions.
This talented musician hasn't been marching around town telling people about it but she will be marching in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Lauren Zwonik is one gifted flute player...but it's her instrument and those around her who speak loudest about her ability.
Take Colchester High music teacher Evan Peltier's word for it.
"For me it's like how am I going to challenge Lauren today," Peltier said.
Or principal Amy Minor.
"Lauren really, she's the whole package," Minor said.
Lauren Zwonik deserves to march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"Very honored and very humbled I get to experience this. As soon as I opened the letter my mom and I started crying because we were so excited," Zwonik said.
Lauren submitted audition pieces then found out in April she would be part of Macy's Great American Marching Band. She's one of more than 200 people selected from across the country and the only one from Vermont.
"I can't think of a better person to represent not only Colchester but the state of Vermont," Peltier said.
Colchester High School has a pretty successful history when it comes to music but this will be the first time one of its students is headed to play in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
"It's bringing a lot of recognition to our music program and also Colchester as a whole so we have to thank Lauren for that because if it weren't for her we wouldn't be here," Minor said.
But Lauren still has work to do after she leaves for New York next Saturday.
"It's just going to be us doing laps and rehearsing the music we had to learn beforehand," Zwonik said.
And one of the songs she'll be playing is "Moves like Jagger."
Lauren may be playing like a rock star but it's the people proud of her singing her loudest praises.
