For Immediate Release
Date:
November 17, 2015
Contact: April Guilmet, Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains
aguilmet@girlscoutsgwm.org or 603.627.4158, x4119
Young Women of Distinction event celebrated community service
One Commerce Drive
PO Box 10832
Bedford, NH 03110-0832
Toll-free 888-474-9686
F 603-627-4169
girlscoutsgwm.org
NEW HAMPSHIRE & VERMONT| Girl Scouts from New Hampshire and Vermont celebrated a year of success
last weekend, during a moving ceremony at Manchester Community College in Manchester, NH.
Held on Saturday, November 14, the Young Women of Distinction ceremony formally recognized girls whose
community and council contributions embody the Girl Scout mission of making the world a better place.
Roughly 200 guests, including girls, parents, volunteers, and supporters attended the event.
The young women honored included three national Girl Scout Young Women of Distinction nominees, Girl
Scout Gold and Silver Award recipients, top sellers in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and participants in Girl
Scout Destinations, a program that provides girls with opportunities for domestic and international travel; and
Girls Rock the Capitol, a unique legislative internship program for high school girls.
The Young Women of Distinction were honored for their exemplary Girl Scout Gold Award projects. These
young women were nominated for Girl Scouts of USA’s National Young Women of Distinction program, and
awarded scholarships through the local council from Bank of New Hampshire, Northwest Mutual, and several
individual donors. This year’s scholarship recipients were Courtney Barlotta of Bedford, NH; Madeline Riese of
Windham, NH; and Megan McKenna of Bennington, VT. Barlotta and Riese, who were both away at college,
were unable to attend the ceremony but addressed the crowd via videoconference.
Barlotta, a graduate of Bedford High School, completed her Gold Award project, Crossing Continents, in
September 2014. Now a freshman at Stetson University in Florida, Barlotta said her work with Sudanese
refugees in Greater Manchester inspired her to pursue a degree in medicine: she hopes to one day become a
physician for Doctors without Borders. A Girl Scout since the first grade, Barlotta said she was inspired to take
action after learning that many of the Sudanese students were dropping out of high school after becoming
increasingly frustrated over the language barrier. Barlotta instituted a peer-to-peer tutoring program that
continues to meet weekly at a Manchester church. She said one of her first “students” is now applying for
college. “Girl Scouts and the Gold Award process showed me that I can really be a leader, in my own
community,” she said.
Riese, a graduate of Windham High School who is now a freshman at University of South Carolina, completed
her Gold Award project, Have You Heard of the Windham Town Forest, last year. Riese, an honors student
majoring in biomedical engineering, said she was inspired to take action after becoming increasingly
concerned over the underutilized conservation sites in her town. “I grew up walking these trails with my
family, but they’d never been mapped or blazed,” Riese said. “Most people didn’t even know the town forest
existed!” Riese got down to business--blazing trails, creating nature guides, and outfitting a vacant kiosk with
trail maps and information. A community nature walk and a series of public service announcements drew
crowds of nature-living locals to enjoy the fruits of Riese’s labor. “I fulfilled my goal of opening the
community’s eyes to the natural beauty right in front of them,” Riese said.
Girl Scouting builds girls of
courage, confidence and
character, who make the world a
better place.
McKenna, a recent graduate of Mount Anthony Union High School now attending Bay Path University in
Massachusetts, completed her Gold Award project, Snowmobile Helmet Safety & Special People Ride, in late
summer 2014. Working closely with members of her local snowmobile club, McKenna created an educational
pamphlet and presentation that she used to educate outdoors enthusiasts, both in her hometown and
throughout the surrounding region. She also organized an annual “Special People Ride,” which continues to
give citizens with physical and mental disabilities a chance to safely enjoy a scenic snowmobile ride.
Twenty-two girls earned their Girl Scout Gold Award: an impressive feat considering this honor is achieved by
less than six percent of eligible registered Girl Scouts. The highest award a Girl Scout can achieve, this national
honor represents months of a girl’s time, leadership, ingenuity, and efforts to impact lasting changes in her
community.
The following young women were honored for their respective 2015 Girl Scout Gold Award projects: Carolyn
Balparda of Middlebury, VT; Isabella Capone of Windham, NH; Sarah Dramstad of Essex Junction, VT; Emily
Durant of Hampton, NH; Bridget Eldridge of Gilford, NH; Gabrielle Fenton of Milton, VT; Amanda Kabel of Hollis,
NH; Alicia Lee of Barrington, NH; Natalie Lewis of Hollis, NH; Alyssa McCarthy of Moultonborough, NH; Megan
Michaud of Pelham, NH; Megan Murphy of Merrimack, NH; Jordan Myers of Hampton, NH; Zoe Perkins of
Windham, NH; Michaela Pillion of Hollis, NH; Aamuktha Porika of Nashua, NH; Maddie Powers of Keene, NH;
Madeline Riese of Windham, NH; Brynn Roche of Windham, NH; Kristyn Van Allen of Essex Junction, VT;
Elizabeth West of Loudon, NH; and Ashley Wilkins of Rochester, NH.
Additionally, 37 girls were honored for receiving their Silver Award: which is the second-highest honor a Girl
Scout can earn.
Manchester Community College President Dr. Susan Huard, a Girl Scout alumna, said her own experiences in Girl
Scouting opened many doors for her as she worked towards a successful academic career in adulthood. “These
girls are forging successful futures as they become young women of exceptional courage, confidence, and
character,” Huard said. “Tapping into their own personal interests and talents, they’re respectively setting the
world on fire.”
Patricia K. Mellor, CEO of Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, said the Young Women of Distinction
event was a day when she felt particularly proud to be a Girl Scout. “This is my favorite time of the year,” Mellor
said. “Not only are these girls tomorrow’s leaders--they’re already distinguishing themselves in their own
communities. They’re making the world a better place.”
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About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains:
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a
leading expert on girls. Our innovative leadership programs help girls discover, connect and take action as they
develop strong values, a social conscience, and a deep sense of self and their potential. We serve just under
10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. With the guidance of more than 4,000 dedicated and
trained volunteers, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. For more information about Girl
Scouting in New Hampshire and Vermont, visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.