Spring 2014 Newsletter - GSSJC Resources Site

Spring 2014:
In this issue
From the President
2014 scholarship recipients
Another honor for past
scholarship recipient
We salute members!
New Executive Committee
for 2014-2015
How TEC celebrated spring
Part 3: “Where are they
now?” project
GSSJC Success to
Significance luncheon
Member spotlight on...
Pam Staples
Other members honored at
Adult Recognition Event
Moving this summer?
Looking ahead to…
National S’mores Day!
2013-2014 Officers
President
Joanne Williams
1st V.P. – Membership
JoAnne Knodel
2nd V.P. – Events
Ida Pearl McDonald
Treasurer
Karen Matlock
Communications
Sharon Timmons
Secretary
BJ Bonner
Historian
Barbara Story
Outreach Chair
Donna Sisak
Scholarship Selections
Committee Chair
Linda Ross
Technology Liaison
Sandy Judson
At Large Members
Pam Staples
Nancy Walker
Fromthe
thePresident
President: A pleasure and a promise
From
It was my pleasure again this year to
present scholarships to 25 outstanding
young women at TEC's annual scholarship reception on April 13. My thanks
go to the Scholarship Selections Committee, the Executive Committee, TEC
members, donors, and staff for helping
honor the 2014 Gold Award Merit
Scholarship recipients. The next article
in this issue of the newsletter gives a
complete list of the scholarship winners. Congratulations to all of them.
It was truly inspiring to hear about each girl at the reception—
what she has already accomplished and her plans for the future.
If you have never been to this event, promise yourself you will attend next year. We can promise you that you will be part of a
happy occasion!
The scholarship reception is, of course, a highlight of The Emerald Circle year, but it does not happen without lots of behind-thescenes assistance. Would you help with next year's reception or
with other activities in the coming year? TEC maintains contact
with and actively encourages scholarship recipients during their
college years, so there is more that you can do to help.
Let us know how you can participate by updating the TEC Contact Update & Interest Indicator at http://resources.gssjc.org/
Resources/EmeraldCircle/Emerald%20Circle%20Documents%
20Public/TECInterestIndicator.pdf. Mail the completed form to
Jennifer Donovan at GSSJC, 3110 Southwest Freeway, Houston,
Texas 77098, or scan and email it to EmeraldCircle@sjgs.org.
As always, any suggestions or comments about TEC and its activities are welcome. Email or write us using the addresses
above. We promise to listen to what you have to say!
Joanne Williams
President, The Emerald Circle
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New group of Emerald Circle scholarship recipients honored
The Emerald Circle Gold Award Merit Scholarship Recipients, 2014
Kneeling (L-R): Michelle B., Reilly S., Denise I., and Nishtha S. Sitting (L-R): Natalie C., Candace D., Madeline
F., Lauryn H. and Kristine S. Standing (L-R): Shama T., Kathryn B., Hannah C., Francesca G., Myria P., Bonnie
W, Mary K., Sarah M., Poonam V., and Jessica M. Not pictured: Misty B., Margaret Claire H., Hannah K., Savannah L., Vitoria M., and Jacqueline S.
By Sharon Timmons
Twenty five graduating Girl Scouts were presented Gold Award Merit Scholarships at The
Emerald Circle’s annual scholarship presentation and reception held Sunday, April 13. Since
the scholarship program was started in 1996, more than 381 scholarships totaling $533,000
have been awarded by The Emerald Circle.
This year’s recipients, chosen from 71 applicants, are from 20 area high schools and will enroll in college in the fall using their scholarships. They will attend in-state institutions—The
University of St. Thomas, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, Southern
Methodist University, Trinity University, and Austin College—and out-of-state schools, including Oklahoma State University, Tulane University, Davidson College, Hendrix College, and
Freed-Hardeman University.
Two of the young women have been admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
and one has been selected to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
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2014 scholarship recipients—continued
Five recipients were designated as the first Goodykoontz Scholars. This new honorary designation was approved this year by the Executive Committee to honor Emerald Circle founder
and past president Dorothy Goodykoontz, a long-time GSSJC supporter and volunteer. The
Goodykoontz Scholars were recognized for their dedication to the Girl Scout Promise and
their outstanding Gold Award projects.
Named scholarship recipients
Honored with named scholarships at the presentation were:
• Hannah K., Clear Lake High School, $3,000 Judy Kunkel Memorial Scholarship, presented in honor of a long-time Girl Scout volunteer and professional educator.
• Jessica M., Clear Lake High School, $2,500 Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation
scholarship.
• Poonam V., Stephen F. Austin High School, Sugar Land, $2,000 Robert H. and
Joanne M. Williams Foundation scholarship.
• Sarah M., Briarwood School, $2,000 Mary E. Robinson Memorial Scholarship
awarded to a graduating senior who plans to study special education in college. The scholarship is given in memory of Robinson, an ardent advocate of special education.
• Mary K., Memorial High School, $1,000 Ervan Chew Memorial Scholarship, presented annually since 1999 by the GSSJC Board of Directors in memory of Chew, a prominent community leader who died unexpectedly while serving on the GSSJC board.
Goodykoontz Scholars
Each of the five Goodykoontz Scholars was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and a certificate
with a special embossed seal designating their selection. They were:
Photo: (L-R) →
• Kathryn B.,
Northland Christian
School;
• Hannah C.,
Glenda Dawson High
School, Pearland;
• Francesca G.,
Providence Classical
School, Spring;
• Myria P.,
Cypress Wood High
School, Cypress,
and
• Bonnie W.,
William P. Clements
High School, Sugar
Land.
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2014 scholarship recipients—continued
Emerald Circle scholarship recipients
A $1,500 Emerald Circle scholarship was awarded to Vitoria M. of Memorial High School, and
recipients of $1,000 scholarships were:
•Michelle B., Kingwood High School
•Misty B., High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
•Natalie C., home-schooled
•Candace D., Jersey Village High
School
•Madeline F., Bellaire High School
•Lauryn H., Clear Lake High School
•Margaret Claire H., Monsignor Kelly
Catholic High School, Beaumont
•Denise I., Foster High School, Richmond
•Savannah L., St. Thomas’ Episcopal
High School
•Nishtha S.,Clear Horizons Early College
High School
•Jacqueline S., St. John’s School
•Reilly S., St. Agnes Academy
•Kristine S., Clear Falls High School,
League City
•Shama T., Stephen F. Austin High School,
Sugar Land
An afternoon to celebrate
The honorees were introduced at the ceremony by Linda Ross, TEC Scholarship Selections
Committee chair, and Louise Rugaard, co-chair. They outlined each girl’s achievements in
high school, described her Gold Award project, and shared her plans for college. Emerald Circle President Joanne Williams congratulated each recipient on behalf of members of The Emerald Circle.
Serving on the Scholarship Selections Committee this year were Karen Rugaard, Barbara
Barnes, Karen Matlock, Claudia McCabe, Diana Norstrom, Susan Raia, Jayne Roberts, Connie Stone, Nancy Walker, and Sara Walker, with Sandy Judson serving as committee alternate.
The reception following the ceremony gave the new group of recipients, their families and
friends, and members of The Emerald Circle an opportunity to celebrate together what these
accomplished young women have achieved and to wish them well in college, encouraging
them to continue to use their talents and to apply the leadership skills they developed through
Girl Scouting to make the world a better place and to fulfill the hopes of “The Emerald Circle—
Changing the World One Girl at a Time.”
Congratulations also go to former scholarship recipient, Natalie Raia. A Gold
Award Merit Scholarship recipient in 2012, she was recognized for high academic
achievement at an Honors Ceremony at The University of Texas at Austin. Natalie
is in her second year of a five-year dual degree program in Geology and Plan II
Honors. Her mom, Susan, an Emerald Circle member, shared the good news and
said that Natalie remains committed to Girl Scout values and has volunteered with
the Girl Scout Council in Austin. Way to go, Natalie!
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We salute our members!
By JoAnne Knodel
What a wonderful group of new Emerald Circle scholarship recipients! The annual
scholarship presentation and reception was an inspiration, and thanks to your membership
fee and donations, these 25 young women will head off to college this coming fall, excited
about the experiences ahead for them.
One scholarship recipient for this year was selected to attend the U.S. Military Academy at
West Point, and in a conversation with one of our members, she commented that the leadership hours she earned while completing her Gold Award project were important in the decision for her acceptance to the prestigious military academy.
With Memorial Day almost here, we remind you that donations to the scholarship fund can be
made to honor a loved one currently serving in the military or retired from service. Contributions can also be made in memory of a beloved parent, son, daughter, other relative, or
friend.
And, of course, membership in The Emerald Circle is open to all who strongly support higher
education for outstanding Girl Scouts graduating from high school. Do you know someone
who fits that description? If so, invite them to join!
It isn’t too late to become an Emerald Circle member for 2013-2014. Annual membership runs
from September through August of the following year. Membership categories are:
Bronze–$150
Silver–$250
Gold–$500
Platinum–$1,000
Emerald Lifetime Endowment–$3,000
With a contribution of $3,000, you become a lifetime member of The Emerald Circle, and all
lifetime membership fees go directly into The Emerald Circle Endowment.
Executive Committee members for 2014-2015 announced
The ballots have been counted, and The Emerald Circle Nominating Committee has announced the
results. Elected to serve on The Emerald Circle Executive Committee for 2014-2015 are:
► Dawn Donaldson–Secretary
► JoAnne Knodel–Technology Liaison
► Connie Stone–Outreach Chair
► Barbara Story–Historian
► Pam Staples–At Large Member
Those elected will assume their posts on June 1. Continuing as officers are President Joanne Williams, 2nd Vice President-Events Ida Pearl McDonald, Treasurer Karen Matlock, Communications Officer Sharon Timmons, and Scholarship Selections Committee Chair Linda Ross. There are two open
positions, 1st Vice President-Membership and Funding Chair, which will be filled by appointment by
the president.
Outgoing officers are Sandy Judson, BJ Bonner, and Donna Sisak. Many thanks to them and to this
year’s Nominating Committee Chair Penny Harp!
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We came...and worked...and celebrated!
By Ida Pearl McDonald
The St. Patrick’s Day-themed spring social
and service project on March 5 featured a
wee bit of work and a lot of fun and blarney—as members socialized, wrote notes to
the 2013 scholarship recipients, and assembled boxes of goodies to sustain the freshmen through their first final exams.
The slight chill in the evening air did not
dampen the spirits of the 15 or so TEC members who worked an assembly line to package Girl Scout cookies, snacks, and encouraging notes for each young woman. Program
Place for Girls was also filled with good con-
Above (l-r): Working on the assembly line are
Pam Staples, Penny Harp, and Barbara Story,
packing finals care packages.
Left (l-r): Barbara Story and JoAnne Knodel write
notes to the freshmen, encouraging them to do
well on their first year exams.
Below left: New member Dawn Donaldson with
the TEC display board.
Below right: The end result of the evening–boxes
ready for shipping!
versation; tasty food, snacks, and beverages, and
introductions, as several new Emerald Circle members joined in to assemble care packages.
Outreach Chair Donna Sisak handled the service
project and organized the box shipments—not an
easy task since finals are at different times at the
various colleges where the 2013 scholarship recipients are enrolled!
At the end of the evening, the completed boxes were wheeled into
storage, awaiting just the right day for mailing to (hopefully) surprised
—and hungry!—freshmen.
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Part 3: “Where are they now?” project
By Sharon Timmons
In this “Where are they now?” article on past Gold Award Merit Scholarship recipients, sisters
who were awarded scholarships—but in different years!—are featured. All of the young
women had outstanding resumes as applicants and since the year they were named as a
TEC scholarship recipient, they have continued “becoming the leaders of tomorrow.”
One, Gloria Vittone Echeverria, is the older sister of Cynthia Vittone, a past recipient featured
in the last Emerald Circle newsletter. Another set of sisters has an especially close relationship to Emerald Circle President Joanne Williams. Suzanne and Jennifer are her daughters!
Here are the stories of these past TEC scholarship recipients and what they have accomplished since completing their education. I believe that we can all agree that they have certainly made The Emerald Circle proud!
2004: Gloria Vittone Echeverria, Houston, Texas
Gloria’s mom is Evelyn Vittone, who has served on both the TEC Executive Committee and the GSSJC Board of Directors. In addition to her
work as a cancer research scientist, Gloria is married and in her spare
time, she enjoys gardening. In past years, she has been a member of the
TEC Scholarship Selections Committee, reading applications from girls
and helping choose a new group of Gold Award Merit Scholarship recipients.
What is your current occupation? I am a postdoctoral research
scientist at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. I conduct biomedical
research in a laboratory focusing on genetic and molecular factors
that are involved in hormone receptor-negative breast cancer.
Where did you attend college and what degrees did you earn? I earned a B.S. degree in
biochemistry and genetics from Texas A&M University in May, 2008, and a Ph.D. in cell and
molecular biology from Baylor College of Medicine in October, 2013.
What was the name of your Gold Award project and what motivated you to choose it?
“Visiting Voices” was the title of my Gold Award project. My project was aimed at improving
the well-being of residents at a local nursing home. I saw a need for more relationships with
outside visitors, so I established a program with volunteers from my high school and Girl
Scout troop. The volunteers each created a voice-recorded “conversation” with a nursing
home resident. These tapes were stored as a library at the home for residents to access
whenever they might like to hear the sound of a caring voice.
In my opinion, another important contribution of this project was that it encouraged young
people to reach out to the elderly and become involved in this service project. “Visiting
Voices” was adopted by the state-wide program Adopt-A-Nursing Home after I completed my
Gold Award.
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“Where are they now?” project—continued
Gloria Vittone Echeverria—continued
What did receiving a Gold Award Merit Scholarship from The Emerald Circle mean to
you? I found that there is a community of women who support the transition of Girl Scouts
into strong, young women leaders.
What is your favorite Girl Scout memory? My favorite Girl Scout memory was hiking with
fellow Scouts from around the world at Our Chalet in Switzerland. This experience gave me
an appreciation for the shared bond Girl Scouts have with one another across geographical
and cultural boundaries.
What do you hope to be doing five years from now? My goal is to be a principal investigator of a biomedical research laboratory that focuses on characterizing clinically important factors that contribute to cancer. I hope to one day impact patient care with my discoveries in the
laboratory.
1998: Suzanne K. Williams, Austin, Texas
Known to clients and patients as Dr. Williams, Suzanne is a veterinarian,
with two dogs and a cat—a Great Dane, Gracie; Rylie, a Greyhound/
Shepherd cross, and Cobalt, the cat, an 11-year-old Russian Blue. She,
her husband, and their pets just moved to a country property with lots of
space. P.S. She’s an Emerald Circle member, too!
What is your current occupation? I am a veterinarian and Chief of
Staff at Banfield Pet Hospital, North Cedar Park.
Where did you attend college? Texas A&M University. I have a
B.S. in biology, an M.S. in biotechnology, and a D.V.M. degree, all
from A&M.
What was your Gold Award project? It was a weekend event for Senior Girl Scouts called
“One Enchanted Weekend.”
What did the TEC scholarship mean to you? It provided me with an opportunity to help pay
for my education. My parents raised me to believe if you pay for something yourself, you will
feel more responsible and committed. Being selected as a scholarship recipient was an important step in helping me take control of my own education.
What is your favorite Girl Scout memory? Any camping trip with a campfire!
What are your plans for the future? I plan to be working with Banfield Pet Hospital teams to
further our ability to help pets through high-quality medicine and improved client education.
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“Where are they now?” project—continued
2000: Jennifer Williams, Pflugerville, Texas
Jennifer is a psychotherapist in private practice and is also clinical director
for Capital Area Counseling. Now a Licensed Professional Counselor and
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as a Girl Scout she organized a
city-wide baby shower for her Gold Award project. The many items collected benefitted underprivileged families at LBJ Hospital.
What is your educational background? I have a bachelor's degree
in psychology from The University of Texas at Austin and a master's
degree in counseling from St. Edward’s University.
What did receiving an Emerald Circle scholarship mean to you?
I was very proud of my accomplishment. I worked hard on my Gold Award project and my
scholarship application essay, and Girl Scouting was important to me. Being recognized with
a scholarship helped alleviate some of the financial burden of college. It allowed me to focus
on academics, not worry about tuition.
Do you have a favorite Girl Scout memory? My favorite Girl Scout memory happened while
completing my Gold Award. I was able to meet and speak with some of the mothers who
would benefit from the items collected. I was even allowed to meet the newborns and visit the
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the hospital. Seeing the real-world impact of my hard
work was extremely fulfilling!
Where do you see yourself in five years? I hope to still be in private practice in Austin,
working with new therapists as a supervisor, educator, and coach.
GSSJC Success to Significance Luncheon honors three
At the Success to Significance Luncheon held April 25, three outstanding GSSJC volunteers
were recognized—Steve and Joan Gilliland, who have served Girl Scouts for many years in a
variety of roles, and Sherry Williams, former senior vice president and chief ethics and compliance office for Halliburton. Read more about these exceptional honorees on the GSSJC website at https://www.gssjc.org/s2s/honoree.htm.
Three Emerald Circle members—Dorothy Goodykoontz, Dr. Mary B. McIntire, and Cathy Wining-Thomas—have been honored at past luncheons, as well as the Honorable Sylvia R. Garcia, former Houston City Council member, and Pam Gardner.
Keynote speaker this year was Pegine Echevarria, speaker and successful businesswoman.
A former girl gang member, Echevarria encountered a Girl Scout leader who took the teen
under her wing. The sharp wit and dynamic personality that gave Echevarria “street cred” is
now used to engage audiences, and through Team Pegine Inc., she teaches companies how
to reach diverse communities. Read more at https://www.gssjc.org/s2s/keynote.htm.
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The member spotlight is on…Pam Staples
Just elected to serve another term as At Large Member of The Emerald Circle Executive Committee, Pam Staples has been a TEC member for 11 years. She attended Texas Christian University and Texas A&M University,
majoring in elementary education. She is a dedicated volunteer, lending her talents to many community causes.
Pam has worked for many years raising funds for the Houston Ballet Foundation and has served in various roles
to organize and support the well-known holiday Nutcracker Market.
Pam, what keeps you busy these days? I am a fitness enthusiast and have a variety of volunteer “jobs” in addition
to serving on the Emerald Circle Executive Committee.
What was your first job? I was a fitness teacher and aerobics instructor.
What prompted you to join The Emerald Circle? A friend of
mine was volunteering for TEC, and I decided to join as
well.
Were you a Girl Scout as a young girl? I was a Brownie for
a short while, but after moving to East Texas with my family, I joined Camp Fire Girls.
Pam writes a note to one of TEC’s scholar-
ship recipients at a past spring social and
Do you recall a most memorable experience as an adult
service project.
member of Girl Scouting? Touring Girl Scout camps has
impressed me, and I vividly remember a stirring flag ceremony performed on horseback.
Do you have any pets? An adopted cat named Fearless.
Any hobbies? I enjoy weightlifting, Tai-Bo classes, and reading. While it isn’t really a hobby, I
also love traveling to spend time with my two sons and their families in California and Colorado. Between them, I have five grandchildren.
Do you have some favorite authors? Yes—Nora Roberts, James Patterson, and Catherine
Coulter.
How about a favorite color? All shades of green.
And the Girl Scout cookie you like best? Thin Mints.
What is your proudest accomplishment? I am very proud of endowing an annual undergraduate scholarship for members of Kappa Delta, my national sorority, which has been affiliated
with Girl Scouts for 16 years.
The criteria for the scholarship include good grades, participation in university activities,
and promotion of cooperation among all Greek women’s organizations. The scholarship has
been presented every year since 2004.
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Member spotlight …Pam Staples—continued
You obviously support higher education for young women! What else do you think is important for girls as they pursue their dreams? Being the mother of two boys, I valued the time I
spent with the special women in my life. Having them as friends and mentors was important
to me and, I believe, is also worthwhile for girls of this generation.
Organizations like Girl Scouts foster lasting friendships and offer leadership training for
young girls. In my opinion, nothing is more important in helping them grow into happy, productive young women.
Other members are in the spotlight at Adult Recognition Event
The annual GSSJC Adult Recognition Event on April 26 included some familiar names to
members of The Emerald Circle. Four TEC members were recognized for their service to Girl
Scouts, the Council, and girls in Houston and surrounding areas.
Two members were awarded the Thanks Badge, a national award presented
to registered adults for extraordinary service benefiting the Council or the Girl
Scout Movement. A miniature trefoil pin is awarded to the spouse of the recipient. The badge was instituted in 1913, and approval from National Headquarters has been required since 1917.
TEC members Stacy Methvin, who will retire as GSSJC president at the end
of May, and Louise Rugaard, a past Executive Committee officer and co-chair Thanks Badge
of this year’s Scholarship Selections Committee, received the Thanks Badge
at the event, which was held at Camp Agnes Arnold.
Linda Ross, who again this year served as chair of The Emerald Circle Scholarship Selections Committee, was recognized with the Continuing Service Award. This award is presented
by the Council to registered adults who have received the Thanks Badge and continue to provide exceptional service to GSSJC and Girl Scouts.
TEC Secretary BJ Bonner was recognized for being named a 2013 recipient of the “Volly
Award” as an outstanding volunteer from Fort Bend County. Her 23 years of dedicated service with Girl Scouts, both with the South Texas Council and GSSJC, won her the honor. The
award, presented October 3 by County Judge Robert Herbert, was accepted by GSSJC CEO
Mary Vitek on behalf of Bonner, who was out of town at that time.
Congratulations, Stacy, Louise, Linda, and BJ, on well-deserved honors!
Moving this summer? Drop an email with your new contact information to
EmeraldCircle@sjgs.org
or send a note to:
The Emerald Circle, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto
Attn. Jennifer Donovan, 3110 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77098
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Looking ahead to... Aug. 10, National S’mores Day!
With the 2014 scholarship presentation and reception over and the hot Houston summer
ahead, it’s time for all of us to take a break, relax, and do all the things we enjoy! So dates of
and details about The Emerald Circle’s fall luncheon, spring social and service project, and
the 2015 scholarship presentation and reception will be included in the next issue of The Emerald Circle newsletter, which will be available in August. Watch for an email notifying when
the Summer 2014 issue is online.
In the meantime, The Emerald Circle would like to be the first to wish you a very “Happy...
Flag Day—June 14
Father’s Day—June 15
Independence Day—July 4
But perhaps most significantly, on
Aug. 10—Happy National S’mores Day!
Virtually every Girl Scout has eaten this gooey campfire treat and knows its basic ingredients—graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallow roasted over a campfire—but did you
know that the first printed recipe appeared in the 1927 publication, Tramping and Trailing with
the Girl Scouts? The Chicago Sun Times reported that the earliest mention of them was a
1925 item in a Norwalk, CT, newspaper’s “Society Event” column, which mentioned two new
dishes–kabobs and “some mores”–introduced during a Girl Scout planning meeting.
The name is supposedly a contraction of “some more, please,” a common response from dessert-loving Scouts and campers of both sexes and all ages. I even know personally of at least
one bride and groom who included a s’mores station at their wedding reception recently! For
a somewhat radical, but humorous, opposing view of this traditional Girl Scout treat, check
out the article, “I Can’t Take It Any S’more” by Liesl Schillinger at http://www.slate.com/
articles/news_and_politics/summer_camp/2006/07/i_cant_take_it_any_smore.html.
But for all you s’more’s fans, be sure to mark Sunday, Aug. 10, on your calendar, get to the
grocery early for supplies (including any “creative” ingredients ), and then enjoy this favorite
Girl Scout treat with your friends and family—except for Liesl Schillinger, of course!
Coming... the Summer 2014 issue of The Emerald Circle newsletter in August, 2014
The Emerald Circle’s mission
is to provide scholarships and support,
inspiring girls to aim for excellence
while becoming the leaders of tomorrow.
The Emerald Circle, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council
3110 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77098
EmeraldCircle@sjgs.org
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