Bridging the Gap
On June 21, friends and family gathered at Pawling High School for the Pawling Girl Scouts Bridging and Court of Awards Ceremony. The evening served as not only a celebration of scouting, but also as an important rite of passage as a number of Girl Scouts took the next step in their journey of camaraderie and community involvement.
Girl Scouts often begin their experience in Kindergarten as Daisies, eventually moving up to attain the rank of Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and finally Ambassadors. Along the way, the scouts engage in a number of projects that promote unity, environmental awareness, and service to the community. For local Girl Scouts, these endeavors included a litany of projects around Pawling and beyond, including gathering school supplies for underprivileged youth, hurricane relief efforts, and assisting with improvements to the Appalachian Trail and the Akin Library.

That evening, the efforts of the Girl Scouts were recognized by a number of community leaders, including Stancy DuHamel and Donna Chapman of the Harlem Valley Appalachian Trail Community, clinical social worker Coleen Snow, Pawling Middle School Principal Megan Gleason, Parish Family Connection Coordinator Karen DeGennaro, Holmes Camp Director Reverend Bryan Breault, Akin Library Director Matt Hogan, Christ Church Nursery School Director Camille Ludington, Town Board member Reid McGrath, Town Supervisor James Schmitt, and new PCSD Superintendent Kim Fontanta.
In addition to recognizing the efforts of the scouts in the community, the evening saw the traditional Bridging Ceremony. The Girl Scouts were called to the stage, and invited to cross the ceremonial wooden bridge to receive their new rank.
“The Pawling Girl Scouts has a vibrant, active program that allows our girls to explore their world, go on adventures, learn new skills, appreciate their own unique gifts and then use them to make a positive impact both locally and on a larger scale,” said Service Unit and Brownie Troop 10410 Leader Valerie Christie. “Our Bridging and Court of Awards event brought our community together to celebrate another amazing year in Scouting and to recognize the incredible work these emerging leaders are doing now to make our world a better place.”
Daisy Troop 10472
Leaders: Lindy Cosden & Catherine Gibian
Ariana Cosden
Elizabeth Gibian
Audrey Graniero
Allison Jordan
Emma Jordan
Madison Lynch-McGuire
Caroline McWilliams
Mollie Murphy
Alyssa Richards
Hailey Taylor
Daisy Troop 1048
Leaders: Heather Burden-Covell, Diana Lattka,
Abigail Cioppa
Gianna Covell
Falynn Grohmann
Michela Izzo
Alyssa Lattka
Emmaline Murphy
Charlotte Tunney
Brownie Troop 10404
Leaders: Heather Karalis-Becker & Melissa Cole
Kayla Becker
Ally Cole
Ava Cole
Riley Garland
Eden Pitt
Hailey Tunney
Brownie Troop 10596
Leaders: Diana Papa & Leah Fors
Grace Cozzocrea
Rylee Fors
Ava Johnson
Natalie Lehnert
Adelina Papa
Josie Richards
Natalie Sbordone
Genevecia Sonia
Aria Walters
Brownie Troop 10410
Leaders: Valerie Christie, Jen Walsh & Lisa Dall
Caileigh Christie
Madeline Clark
Angelina Dall
Namkhar Jansey
Isabella Papa
Samantha Rodney
Elizabeth Walsh
Junior/Cadette/Senior Troop 10001
Leaders: Deb Keesler, Deb Barnett, Stephanie Gray
Jacqueline Barnett
Genevieve Barnett
Danielle Brandt
Alyssia Cosden
Kennedy Gray
Katelyn Hand
Evie Jan
Kate Keesler
Isabelle Salandra
Chloe Salandra
Jessica Sisalima
Jocelin Sisalima
Caitlyn Weis
Sarah Willie
Junior Troop 1029
Leaders: Cheryl Knowles & Heather Burden-Covell
Rebecca Cioppa
Francesca Covell
Krista Fucile
Juliet Furlong
Samantha Hand Julianna Knowles
Pamela Mondello
Baily O’Leary
Polly Ross
Heidi Zwingman
Cadette Troop 10543
Leaders: Carolyn Dalrymple & Claudine Weis
Everett Dalrymple
Kaitlyn Deierlein,
Caitlin Reynolds
Joslyn Walsh Madison Weis
Cadette Troop 10163
Leaders: Karen Wolf & Cheryl Knowles
Cassidy Bradley
Cynthia Giron Ella Housen
Alexandra Knowles
Sarah Knowles
Julianna Perucci
Amber Stabe