The Girl Scouts of the Delaware-Raritan salute present and future pathfinders
By: Christian Kirkpatrick
The Girl Scouts of Delaware-Raritan know the importance of setting a good example.
During the 16th annual Women of Distinction Awards Dinner held on Thursday at the Hyatt Regency, the organization honored seven women who both excel in their fields and contribute to the welfare of others. Each is a role model for young women, and all are sharing their experience with high-school Girl Scouts.
"This is the heart of what Girl Scouts is all about: women mentoring girls" said Michele Tuck-Ponder, CEO of the Girl Scout Council. "From the troop level to personal one-on-one relationships, what Girl Scouting offers is the unique opportunity for girls to learn from women who’ve gone before them."
Among the trailblazers recognized was Ruth Mandel, Ph.D., director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics and Board of Governors Professor of Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Throughout her career, she has, in her words, "observed and been a cheerleader for the advancement of women in politics." She serves on many boards and councils, including the National Council for Research on Women and the National Commission for the Renewal of American Democracy.
With her support, the Eagleton Institute has hosted Pathways to Politics, a program that draws high-school-aged Girl Scouts from across the nation to learn about politics and meet female politicians.
Sherrie Preische, Ph.D., was honored for her work in science and technology. She is the director of business development for Genmab, Inc., which develops human antibodies to treat dangerous diseases.
Much of her career has been spent at the intersection of science and technology, as a former executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology and an adviser to former Governor Jim McGreevey on scientific and technological policy. She currently helps in various ways to support Congressman Rush Holt’s focus on scientific and research-related matters and serves on the boards of several organizations working in the fields of science and technology.
Ms. Preische is a former Girl Scout, and her mother, who was her troop leader, is still active in Scouting. She will mentor Archana Rachakonda of Hopewell. "I am very impressed with Archana’s pursuit of her dreams in science," said Ms. Preische. "What she’s doing inspires me."
A junior at Hopewell Valley Central High School, Archana is an honor student, a member of her school’s competitive teams in robotics, math and science, and she is planning to become a biomedical engineer who specializes in genetics and stem cell research.
In the meantime, she seems to be enjoying school and Girl Scouting. She said she has particularly liked meeting new people through Scouting, helping others and spending time with her friends in her troop.
Aline M. Holmes, R.N., was recognized for her work in health care. As senior vice-president for clinical affairs at the New Jersey Hospital Association, the Plainsboro resident oversees the association’s ongoing efforts to ensure patients’ safety and to improve their quality of care. She speaks regularly on topics related to nursing and patient safety, is active with a foundation helping children living in and around Camden and Philadelphia, and serves on several local boards.
Scouting, she said, offers girls leadership training and the opportunity to learn from successful women. The girl who will be learning from her is Radhika Frazier, a senior at Princeton High School. As a Scout, Radhika has worked on dozens of service projects, including "adopting" the Turning Basin Park. She is a member of the Trinity Church Choir and a student at the Princeton Ballet School. In college, she hopes to find a way to combine her love of art, dance and social work into a career.
After 10 years as Radhika’s troop leader, Shari Powell, said she feels she has 12 daughters instead of one. Radhika also feels close to troop members. She said she enjoys their discussions of problems and strategies for solving them. "We can always rely on each other," she said.
Sponsors of the 16th annual Women of Distinction Awards Dinner included PNC Bank, Verizon and For Kids Only.
The Girl Scouts of Delaware-Raritan on the Web: www.gsofdr.org.

