The 21 Dayton-are recipients this year are joined by 23 others from Lima, Cincinnati and Toledo in being honored at the Sinclair Community College Ponitz Center at 3 p.m. today.
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The keynote speaker is Cynthia Jackson-Hammond, president of Central State University and 2016 Woman of Distinction.
Before the awards ceremony, girls will have a meet and great with local lawmakers:
State Sens. William Coley, R-Liberty Township, and Steve Wilson, R-Maineville; and State Reps. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, Jim Butler, R-Oakwood, Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, and Scott Lipps, R-Franklin.
Here’s a list of the local winners and their projects:
- Brittney Cook, Conover. Brittney addressed the lack of healthy eating by designing and leading volunteers to construct raised gardening beds in her community to grow fresh vegetables.
- Maeve Curliss, Beavercreek. Maeve impacted more than 500 people who hopefully will be inspired to evaluate and change their buying habits by making them aware of how Fair Trade operates.
- Elizabeth Duckett, Franklin. Concerned for the older patrons unable to climb stairs, Elizabeth created a video showcasing the second floor of an historical museum that could be shown on the first floor.
- Alyssa Embry, Centerville. Alyssa convinced her church to allow a shortened dress rehearsal of the annual musical specifically for people with special needs and sensory limitations.
- Gabriella Ferguson, Beavercreek. With the help of volunteers, Gabriella created a garden with plants and flowers that the disabled will engage in and enjoy for years to come.
- Anneliese Fisher, Yellow Springs. To teach children good sportsmanship and safety in sports, Anneliese implemented a Sports for More clinic which included a collection of sports items to be donated to an agency connected to the homeless.
- Ashley Huddleson, Jamestown. Ashley created and implemented a presentation at various locations that focused on how to be safe around horses, impacting more than 200 children.
- Erica Justice, Fletcher. To spread her love of baking, Erica created and implemented a two-week baking camp at her church for 24 kids ages 6 to 13 that made a lasting impression.
- Vismaya Manchaiah, Springboro. Vismaya collected over 750 books for the lending library that she established at a local food pantry, holding story time for children one day a week.
- Emilee Lynn Mason, Miamisburg. Emilee developed a professional pamphlet detailing the background of 10 historical buildings in her area, making it a permanent resource.
- Megan Maurice, Springboro. Megan created a workshop about women in STEM careers for elementary and middle school aged girls to encourage them toward engineering and STEM related classes in high school.
- Kera Michaels, Beavercreek. Kera created a workshop so participants at a local bowling alley could improve their math skills in scoring the games. She also created a bowling game for the classroom.
- Grace Mumford, Beavercreek. Grace held events for middle school kids using board games and emphasizing alternatives to technology, such as reading and cooking, resulting in social interaction and development.
- Sara Mumford, Beavercreek. Sara created and implemented a presentation all about bats and how to build bat houses, encouraging all of us to do our part in bat conservation.
- Stephanie Pierce, Fairborn. Stephanie created opportunities for high schoolers to feel more comfortable with senior citizens and who came regularly to play games and talk with them.
- Ruvi Ranatunga, Springboro. Addressing the issue of illiteracy in Sri Lanka, Ruvi traveled to one of their primary schools with books she collected to help build their library and develop a check-out system.
- Maria Schlegel, Beavercreek. Maria created and implemented a one-day cost-free retreat for families from a local church to focus on each other without the stresses and distractions of everyday life.
- Heather Schwarzman, Kettering. Addressing the lack of attention given to the elderly, Heather gathered peer volunteers to organize activities at an area nursing home that included a senior prom.
- Kade Slonaker, Fairborn. Drawing awareness to the need for feminine hygiene products for homeless women, Kade held six collection drives in the community to donate where needed.
- Elizabeth Anne Wiese, Beavercreek. Elizabeth held workshops, impacting over 200 middle school aged girls, to teach them about good lifestyles through dance and healthy eating.
- Rebecca Williger, Springboro. She researched and developed a tool kit which included learning activities and games to improve the English language skills of hispanic children in her community.
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The Girl Scouts of Western Ohio has more than 41,000 members in 32 counties throughout western Ohio and southeastern Indiana.
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