The rain held out long enough for the Historic Hopedale Girl Scouts to host their annual Bridging and End of Year event on the Hopedale Community House lawn on Sunday, May 16, 2021. Due to covid restrictions, the planning committee hosted the event outdoors with a limited guest list .

Master of ceremonies were members of Ambassador troop #30949 - Lilly Chan, Anna Dykhoff and Emily Hagan. Members of Brownie Troop #64904 presented the colors in the opening flag ceremony - Corinne Jackson, Avery Faron, Abby Rigdon, Sophia Zacchilli, Maddison Brown, Maddison Lombardi, Jocelyn Novelli, Jocelyn Morrisey, Olivia Peristere, Luci Parente, Grace Rojee, & Libby Sullivan .

Service Unit Manager Monica Phillips, thanked all the parent volunteer leaders for their hard work and dedication and being positive role models for their troops. “Even during the pandemic, the girls were able to meet with their troop virtually or in person outdoors and still manage to have fun. These girls are strong, resilient and they persevered.”

She also thanked the Service Unit team for all their support- Katy Sanosi ,Town Registrar and Suzan Ciaramicoli, town treasurer along with the Product Sale Managers, Jennifer Rigdon and Melissa Rogers- Obal .”Without amazing parent volunteers, Girl Scouts would not be possible in Hopedale.”

Six troops bridged to the next level; Daisy Troops# 65096 & #64931,Brownie Troop# 64904, Junior Troop #64719, one member of multi level Troop #11640 and Ambassador Troop # 71010.

To remain involved in Girl Scouts throughout high school is a noteworthy accomplishment. The 4 Ambassadors from Troop #71010 who achieved this distinction juggled many activities including academics, sports, drama club, and part-time jobs. These girls should be recognized for their hard work and commitment to community service throughout their time in Girl Scouts.

This “final four” group, Kelsey Grillo, Edda Phillips, Vivian Staheli all of Hopedale and Jaiden Miller of Upton, have been great mentors for younger troops. They hosted Thinking Day Events, Daisy Day workshops, Halloween Events and Etiquette tea parties. They have also achieved both the Bronze and Silver awards which involved teamwork, leadership skills, and many hours of community service.  Had it not been for the COVID pandemic two of them would have gone on to achieve the final Gold award which is the highest available to them and is equivalent to the Boy’s Eagle Scout award.

Historic Hopedale Service Unit awards a $500 scholarship to a deserving graduating senior who has been committed to Girl Scouts for 13 years. This year’s scholarship was awarded to Kelsey Grillo. 

Girls can earn three awards in Girl Scouting. Girl Scouts in the junior level can earn the Bronze Award, a 20-hour group service project and at the cadette level, they can earn the Silver Award, a 50 hour sustainable, service project.

Fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts earn the prestigious Gold Award, an 80 hour “Take Action” service project working with an issue they’re passionate about. that focuses on leadership, career exploration and challenges for personal growth. Girls also need to complete two journeys as a Senior and Ambassador or complete 1 journey after earning the Silver Award. Many amazing projects have been completed by Girl Scouts and can be found online and at GSUSA.org. “Earning the Gold Award can open doors to scholarships, preferred admission tracks to college and amazing career opportunities.”

Special volunteers, Suzan Ciaramicoli, Tara Corcoran, Jennifer Rigdon and Monica Phillips were awarded Volunteer of Excellence awards for going above and beyond the expectations of their volunteer position.They were nominated and endorsed by their peers in the Service Unit and community, approved by a special board of directors, and will be celebrated in a ceremony in June .

The following leaders retired this year: Kristen Grillo, 13 years as Girl Scout co- leader of Troop #71010,

Monica Phillips, 13 years as Girl Scout Leader of Troop #71010 and 8 years as the town’s Service Unit Manager and Suzan Ciaramicoli who has been a Hopedale’s Girl Scout Service Unit treasurer for 13 years and an adult volunteer with Girl Scouts for a total of 34 years . 

 The new Service Unit Team will be Katy Sanosi as Service Unit Manager, Kristi Brytowski as GS Town Treasurer and Christina Pedersen as the town registrar. 

Hopedale Girl Scouts is still looking for 2 parent volunteers to lead the new kindergarten Daisy Troop this fall. Please contact our Service Unit Manager - Katy Sanosi at [email protected] and like our Facebook Group -Historic Hopedale Girl Scouts.