by: HB News staff writer
Posted: June 18, 2018
HUNTINGTON BEACH...On Sunday, June 3rd, Girl Scouts of Orange County and its Board of Directors came together with over 750 guests to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of local Girl Scouts and the adult volunteers who support them at the annual Girl Scouts of Orange County Recognition Event luncheon at the Disneyland Hotel. The event was emceed by Tricia Wedekind, a lifelong Girl Scout and troop leader of Girl Scout Junior Troop 3249 in Anaheim and Lisa Hinshaw, Girl Scout Alum and liaison to Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Gold Award Girl Scouts. The theme for the event was superheroes, celebrating the local girls and women, and several outstanding men, who are taking action in their communities, inspiring others, and making our world a better place!
Commenting on the award recipients, Girl Scouts of Orange County CEO Vikki Shepp shared: “I am so very proud to honor the superheroes of our movement - the Girl Scouts who are making our world a better place and the volunteers who inspire them to dig deep, tap into their G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) ™ spirit, and reach for their dreams. From the Girl Scout troop who advocates for change at their city council, to the volunteer who helps a shy Girl Scout Daisy build confidence, Girl Scouts are spreading truth, justice, and friendship everywhere they go.”
The following Huntington Beach residents received a prestigious award during the event.
Gretchen Toneatto, Jessica Castillo, Patricia Larson received the Spotlight Award for providing outstanding service to their Girl Scout Service Unit.
Spotlight Award Gretchen Toneatto, Patricia Larson, Christine Polito, Martha Gibbons, Jessica Castillo
Beth Kimble received her 35 Year Girl Scout Membership Numeral Guard Pin, for her combined years of Girl Scout membership, both as a girl and an adult.
35 Year Girl Scout Membership Numeral Guard Pin Beth Kimble, Wendy Johnson, Deb Seitz-Nguyen, Teresa Beach
David Stauffer, President of the O.L. Halsell Foundation received the Promise and Law Award on behalf of the foundation for their commitment to upholding Girl Scouts’ values through making the world a better place. The O.L. Halsell Foundation has supported Girl Scouts of Orange County for more than 30 years. Through their generous grants, the council has built significant capacity in volunteer leadership and staffing development and continues to provide enriching outdoor programming at its award-winning Camp Scherman, as well as expanding outreach development to the Latina community through the Comadres en Accion program.
Promise and Law Award - O.L. Halsell
18 year old Girl Scout Ambassador Lauren Skinner from Troop 1288 was nominated by Girl Scouts of Orange County to be considered for Girl Scouts of the USA’s prestigious National Young Women of Distinction Award. The title of National Young Women of Distinction is an honor given by Girl Scouts of the USA annually to ten Gold Award Girl Scouts whose projects demonstrate extraordinary leadership, have a measurable and sustainable impact, and address a local challenge that relates to a national and/or global issue. For her Girl Scout Gold Award Lauren partnered with the Foundation for the International Medical Relief of Children in Costa Rica to create a lice removal and prevention protocol for Nicaraguan refugees.
National Young Women of Distinction Nominees - Amy Leung, Mikayla Winfery, Lauren Skinner
17 year old Girl Scout Ambassador Hannah Takasuka from Troop 788 received the Outstanding Senior Girl Scout Recognition, an award given to graduating seniors who have demonstrated their belief in the ideals of Girl Scouting. Hannah is the Ocean View High School STEM/Science Club Founder and President. For her Girl Scout Gold Award, she established Engineering the Community club, which was chosen as the 2017 Club of the Year on campus due to her leadership and creative opportunities for its participants. For 8 years, Hannah has also provided dinners for Ronald McDonald House.
Outstanding Senior Award - Lauren Best, Megan Hall, Aleece Hanson, Allison Gardner, Kristine Okereke, Alexandria Alvarez, Anushka Bhaskar, Hannah Takasuka, Julianne Wilde
18 year old Girl Scout Ambassador Cassie Laird from Troop 1894 and 17 year old Girl Scout Ambassador Ashley Scanaliato were surprised with the Juliette Low Spirit of Girl Scouting Award, which honors graduating high school seniors who have demonstrated their dedication to Girl Scouting.
Juliette Low Spirit of Girl Scouting Award Cassie Laird, Khue Tran, Ashley Scanaliato, Cecily Sagiao, Jennifer Pippert, Grace Davert, Jaimie Plamenco, Samantha Haines, Madeline Salvatierra
For the past two years, Cassie Laird has taken the lead in daily songs and announcements at Huntington Beach Girl Scout Day Camp to get campers excited and ready for the day. She has a gift for teaching the girls fun, traditional Girl Scout songs. Cassie earned her Girl Scout Gold Award for her project Let’s Get Moving.
Ashley Scanaliato has been a Program Aide at the Huntington Beach Day Camp since 2011 and will serve as the Program Manager this year. She enjoys passing on Girl Scout traditions and is often called upon to create instant program for younger Girl Scouts at events. Ashley earned her Girl Scout Gold Award for her project Make Science Fun Again: STEAM Event.
About Girl Scouts
We are Girl Scouts of Orange County. We are 33,000 strong-- 20,000 girls and 13,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. With programs in every zip code in Orange County, Girl Scouts offers every girl opportunities to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit girlscoutsoc.org. Photos:GSOC