Woman of Merit Past Honorees 1993 Helen Tuthill VanAlstyne Pauline R. Kezer Volunteer Secretary of the State CT Valley Girl Scout Council State of Connecticut 1998 1994 Eunice S. Groark Eileen S. Kraus Lieutenant Governor President State of Connecticut Fleet Bank Gladys Hernandez 1995 Educator Dorothy C. Goodwin Hartford School District Connecticut General Assembly State of Connecticut 1999 Barbara Hackman Franklin 1996 Former U.S. Sec. of Commerce Barbara B. Kennelly Congresswoman Dollie McLean State of Connecticut Founder & Executive Director Artist’s Collective Nancy L. Johnson Congresswoman 2000 State of Connecticut Chris Dailey Assistant Coach 1997 UConn Women’s Basketball Team Nancy Hare Bailey Volunteer Pat Meiser-McKnett CT Valley Girl Scout Council Athletic Director University of Hartford Sarah Taylor Butler Former President 2001 CT Valley Girl Scout Council Denese Lajoy Chisholm Langley Family Support Magistrate Elizabeth Hutchins Gengras State of Connecticut Philanthropist The Gengras Center for Exceptional Children Lisa Wilson-Foley President Marion Witmark Keller Blue Fox Run Enterprises Commissioner Gr. Hartford Girl Scout Council 2002 Patricia L. Rowland Georgette Auerbach Koopman First Lady Philanthropist State of Connecticut Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation 2003 Alison Cairns Perry John M. Burns League of Women Voters 10th Anniversary Man of Merit Glastonbury General Manager CL&P

Hilda Crosby Standish, MD Winifred E. Coleman Trustee President Hartford College for Women St. Joseph College

Elise Kauzmann Spitzer 2004 President Denise L. Nappier CT Valley Girl Scout Council Treasurer State of Connecticut

Woman of Merit Past Honorees 2005 M. Jodi Rell 2013 Governor Jeanette Horan State of Connecticut Chief Information Officer IBM 2006 Theresa Hopkins-Staten 2014 Director Linda Houston CL&P Managing Director, New England Market Executive, Hadassah Lieberman Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advocate Community & Health Related Issues 2015

Judith Bankowski Dr. Kristen Zarfos Vice President & CIO, Director Sikorsky Aircraft Comprehensive Breast Health Center St. Francis Hospital Mika Brzezinski 2007 Co-host MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Hilda Gándara & bestselling author Community Leader Hartford, CT 2016 Mary Galligan Marilda Gándara Director, President Deloitte & Touche LLP Aetna Foundation Brigadier General Tammy Smith 2008 Commanding General Susan Bysiewicz 98th Training Division (IET) Secretary of the State State of Connecticut

Richard H. Booth President & CEO Hartford Steam Boiler

2009 Mary Fox SVP, Head of Product Group Aetna

Joan McDonald Commissioner CT Dept. of Economic & Community Development

2010 Anika Noni Rose Singer & Actress “For Colored Girls” “The Good Wife”

2011 Denise Merrill Secretary of the State State of Connecticut

2012 Centennial Gala – see following pages

Trailblazer

Trailblazers are individuals, families, organizations or groups whose pioneering efforts opened the door for girls and/or women to follow. They may have been the ‘‘first’’ to reach a particular career or professional milestone, have participated in an organization or activity in a way that changed how women were involved, or challenged themselves in some way that created new opportunities for girls and women. If an organization or group, it may have demonstrated innovative solutions to working with girls to develop leadership skills or create unique opportunities for girls.

Honorees

• The Honorable Vanessa L. Bryant, United States District Judge, District of Connecticut • Dr. Carmen R. Cid • Priscilla Colebut-Brown • State Representative Michelle Cook • Barbara DeBaptiste • Anne C. Dranginis • Lucille Janatka • The Honorable Barbara B. Kennelly • Carolyn Kuan • Chief Lynn Malerba • Lauren Manafort • Chris McNaboe • Connecticut State Treasurer Denise Nappier • Marilyn Nelson • Ana Ortiz • Jennifer Rizzotti • Anne Stanback • Rear Admiral Sandra L. Stosz • Susan L. Talbott • Emily G. Viner

Community Champion

Community Champions are individuals, families, organizations or groups who have made significant contributions as volunteers within their own community, or on a regional or national level. They have distinguished themselves as mentors and role models. They have a proven track record of helping others succeed and have achieved personal success through the skills and abilities they have developed in the people around them. Their lives and work exemplify the value of community service intrinsic to Girl Scouts. If an organization or group, it has demonstrated through its mission, programs and support the importance of developing girls to reach their full potential and have proven success.

Honorees

• Aetna Foundation • Carolyn Bystrak • Judith A. Carey, RSM, PhD • Cheryl Chase • The Currier Family • Eric Daniels • Patricia Campanella Daniels • Mary Lou DeVivo • Marianne M. Downie • Susan B. Dunn • Lynn Valzania Kenney • Kountz Family • Anne I. Hayes • Estela R. López • Cathy Malloy • Governor Dannel P. Malloy • Barbara McClintock • Dollie McLean • Ed Johnetta Miller • Georgia A. Nash • Jessica S. Niemiec • Patricia Scussel • Susan B. Anthony Project • The Latina A.R.M.Y., Inc. • The Perrin Family Foundation • Travelers Foundation • Webster Bank • Elease E. Wright • Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman • Teresa C. Younger

Distinguished Alumnae

Distinguished Alumnae are individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, exceptional service, and an extraordinary dedication to the Girl Scout Movement. They are alumnae whose leadership, initiative, and energy have strengthened Girl Scouting, made a significant contribution to the mission, and who exemplify the true spirit of Girl Scouts.

Honorees

• Courtenay Austin • Kim Goetz Buser • Kaye Olson Collins • Joyce Daly • Deirdre Houlihan DiCara • Virginia (Ginny) Evitts • Agnes Farkas • Agnes Farrar • Janet Bailey Faude • Judilynn Ferlow • Janet Anderson Greenwood • Natalie Hatcher Caple Douglas Hardy • Diana M. Ingraham • Carol Friedberg Jayne • Margaret (Peggy) Jerrell • Bernadine (Bernie) Krawczyk • Margaret "Dink" Laudieri • Kathy MacLean • Jeanne Merola • Patricia Moore • Cynthia O'Brien • Inga Olson • Sally Onofrio • Loretta Paul-Goldin • Barbara Sumner • Arlene Tote • Priscilla P. Woyke

Women of Promise

Women of Promise are alumnae, age 35 and under, who have distinguished themselves in their profession and/or community. They are women who demonstrate exceptional promise in terms of their ability to ascend and assume significant leadership roles.

Honorees

• Megan Altomare • Shannon Cohane • Ariel Ekblaw • Jasmine Rivera-McNeill • Saba Shahid • Jillian C. Vescovi • Holly Walker

Girls of Promise

Girls of Promise are current Girl Scouts ages 12-18 who distinguish themselves through their work in Girl Scouting and exemplify the values and principles of the Girl Scout Movement.

Honorees

• Kristina Ann Duffy • Josie Hunt • Isabella Lenče Ilievski • Meggin Jacob • Lauren Turner Jansen • Laurissa Montigny • Gillian Gabrielle Pfeiffer • Trinette Yvonne Rose Robinson • Skyla Serra • Melanie Valdes • Michelle Venanzio