Woman of Merit Past Honorees
1993
Pauline R. Kezer
Secretary of the State
State of Connecticut
1994
Eileen S. Kraus
President
Fleet Bank
1995
Dorothy C. Goodwin
Connecticut General Assembly
State of Connecticut
1996
Barbara B. Kennelly
Congresswoman
State of Connecticut
Nancy L. Johnson
Congresswoman
State of Connecticut
1997
Nancy Hare Bailey
Volunteer
CT Valley Girl Scout Council
Sarah Taylor Butler
Former President
CT Valley Girl Scout Council
Elizabeth Hutchins Gengras
Philanthropist
The Gengras Center for Exceptional Children
Marion Witmark Keller
Commissioner
Gr. Hartford Girl Scout Council
Georgette Auerbach Koopman
Philanthropist
Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation
Helen Tuthill VanAlstyne
Volunteer
CT Valley Girl Scout Council
1998
Eunice S. Groark
Lieutenant Governor
State of Connecticut
Gladys Hernandez
Educator
Hartford School District
1999
Barbara Hackman Franklin
Former U.S. Sec. of Commerce
Dollie McLean
Founder & Executive Director
Artist’s Collective
2000
Chris Dailey
Assistant Coach
UConn Women’s Basketball Team
Pat Meiser-McKnett
Athletic Director
University of Hartford
2001
Denese Lajoy Chisholm Langley
Family Support Magistrate
State of Connecticut
Lisa Wilson-Foley
President
Blue Fox Run Enterprises
2002
Patricia L. Rowland
First Lady
State of Connecticut
Alison Cairns Perry
League of Women Voters
Glastonbury
2003
John M. Burns
10th Anniversary Man of Merit
General Manager
CL&P
Hilda Crosby Standish, MD
Trustee
Hartford College for Women
Winifred E. Coleman
President
St. Joseph College
Elise Kauzmann Spitzer
President
CT Valley Girl Scout Council
2004
Denise L. Nappier
Treasurer
State of Connecticut
Woman of Merit Past Honorees
2005
M. Jodi Rell
Governor
State of Connecticut
2006
Theresa Hopkins-Staten
Director
CL&P
Hadassah Lieberman
Advocate
Community & Health Related Issues
Dr. Kristen Zarfos
Director
Comprehensive Breast Health Center
St. Francis Hospital
2007
Hilda Gándara
Community Leader
Hartford, CT
Marilda Gándara
President
Aetna Foundation
2008
Susan Bysiewicz
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
2013
Jeanette Horan
Chief Information Officer
IBM
2014
Linda Houston
Managing Director,
New England Market Executive,
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
2015
Judith Bankowski
Vice President & CIO,
Sikorsky Aircraft
Mika Brzezinski
Co-host MSNBC’s “Morning Joe”
& bestselling author
2016
Mary Galligan
Director,
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Brigadier General Tammy Smith
Commanding General
98th Training Division (IET)
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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