Dignitaries Honor New Milford Girl Scouts

Elected and local officials gathered at New Milford High School Wednesday evening to honor New Milford's Girl Scouts at their 2012 awards ceremony. 

County Executive Kathleen Donovan, the first woman to be elected to the position of County Executive in Bergen County, was the evening's guest speaker. Also recognizing the achievements of New Milford's Girl Scouts were State Senator Robert Gordon, Assemblywoman Connie Wagner, Freeholders John Felice and John Driscoll, and Elena Lavalas and Charisse Taylor from the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey.

Opening the ceremony, Eric Sheninger, Principal of New Milford High School, emphasized the important role that the Girl Scouts play in shaping future leaders. Citing statistics, Sheninger told the audience that 80 percent of all women business owners were Girl Scouts and 67 percent of the legislators in the House of Representatives were Girl Scouts. Additionally, he said that almost all of the female astronauts were Girl Scouts. 

Sheninger stressed the role that the Girl Scouts play in endowing young women with a strong character, moral integrity and conviction to do the right thing. "In your future, you can effect change," Sheninger told the girls. 

Representing New Milford were: Council President Howard Berner on behalf of the Mayor and Council who were in a council meeting; Police Chief Frank Papapietro; Deputy Fire Chief Jeremiah Nolan, Co. 2 Fire Captain Jay McNulty and Lieutenant Jose Tapia; New Milford High School Vice Principal Gerald Perrone; and Board of Education President Dan Conner.

So moved was Bergen County Freeholder John Driscoll by Cherilyn Conner (Troop 1101), recipient of the gold award, that he presented her with his Freeholder pin. Conner based her project on her interest in working with special needs children. While visiting the students of the program for autistic children, she took pictures of 12 children and created a puzzle of each child's face. She then presented each child with the puzzle to use as a learning tool.

Driscoll, the father of three autistic children said, "When you reach out to special needs children, there is nothing more special."

Recipients of the Silver Award are:

Troop 1433: Nature and animals were the focus of their project. In groups or individually, these girls volunteered at Tenafly Nature Center, animal shelters and rescue organizations.

Amanda Binetti, Tiffany Collins, Danielle Dargis, Maggie Kane, Karishma Khan, Sarah Minervini, Meghan Pecci, Brianna Reis, Rachel Vazquez, Alejandra Zelasco.

Troop 75: This troop chose Gilda's Club as the focus of their project. They volunteered at the annual Halloween party by building a haunted house. 

Autumn Dawn Rogers, Lydia Chen, Gayle Bart, Emily Tello, Laura Ramirez, Amanda Happle, Gisselle Garcia.

Troop 87: This troop hosted a "Girls Night Out" town-wide event where $2 was collected for the purchase of crayons, coloring books and small toys. They donated these items to the children's wing of Holy Name Hospital for the patients to use while they were waiting for treatment.

Nicole Garcia, Mary Stanton, Sloan Lester, Krista Wollerman, Danielle Kelly, Jane Frampolsky, Monnavl Silva, Alyssa Jasuale, Kaitlin Kaupas, Kendall Machinski, Malvina Giannouli, Kassidy Barone, Carla Contreras. 

Recipients of the Bronze Award are:

Troop 59: This troop helped "Reach Out and Read" by collecting books that the organization would then deliver to two pediatric facilities.

Erin O'Grady, Madison Ryan, Brianna Kelly, Kaitlyn Hunter, Caroline Digan, Virginia Pennino, Chloe DiGiorgio, Melissa Bowker, Brianna Gould, Rhea Rajasingham, Rachel Wilson, Sabrina Wilson, Nicole DiGiorgio.

Troop 32: This troop hosted a "Me and My Guy Dance"--a town-wide event where the proceeds were donated to CLAWS Animal Shelter. The girls also volunteered their time at the shelter.

Hannah Garcia, Daniella Kaupas, Shayna Wynne, Autumn Becker, Elizabeth Kemp, Alexandria Pados, Gianna Binetti, Megan Johnson, Jessica Hennessy, Kylie Valluzzi, Brianna Medeiros, Grace Sailer, Melissa Perrone.

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