Great things happen when we come together! At Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines, we know that our dedicated volunteers and community partners are the heart of our movement. During our 2025 Annual Meeting on March 22nd at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, we had the honor of celebrating some of the incredible individuals and organizations who go above and beyond to make a difference for our Girl Scouts.

This year’s honorees embody the Girl Scout spirit, and we are thrilled to acknowledge their contributions.

The Friendship Circle Award

The Friendship Circle Award was introduced to recognize area teams for their service and dedication to support and further the Girl Scout Movement in the communities we serve.

2025 Recipients:

• Carteret County
• Craven-Jones-Pamlico
• Durham 10
• Edgecombe County
• Franklin County
• New Hanover County
• Moore County
• Wake 13
• Wake 14
• Wake 15
• Wake 18
• Wake 19
• Wake 22

The CEO Award

The Chief Executive Officer Award recipients are selected from among the year’s Friendship
Circle Awardees. The Awardees are asked to complete a questionnaire providing additional
information about the success of their service unit. Typically, 4 to 6 service units are then
chosen as a CEO Award recipient.

2025 Recipients:

Craven-Jones-Pamlico: Anita Leas, Dawn Inglis, Diane Buchner, Elizabeth Amend, Hope Inglis, Jennifer Bertling, Nikki Gill, Vanessa Hernandez

Durham 10: Alison Silver, Amber Craig, Chip Reinhardt, Cindy Sortisio, Dawn Cates, Errin Humbert, Jackie Wachholz, Kelly Campbell, Shannon Thornburg

Edgecombe County: Demetrica Darden, Kay Webb, Kristy Cook, Melissa Phillips, Nanette Smith, Regina Cobb, Shannon Perkins, Trisha Bailey

New Hanover County: Amanda Piner, Betsy McCormack, Cheri Pfeiffer, Crystal Friece, Dottie Thompson, Gayle Keresey, Helene Zahn-Chilberg, Jennifer Arrington, Kim Breeden, Krissy Burch, Kristen Corley, LaVonda McNeil, Leslie Bowles-Early, Linda Whited, Pam Robbins, Rebekah Smith, Shannon Miles

Wake 13: Amy Bohlayer, Anja Uske, Carolyn Rogers, Emily Meyers, Erika Strawn-Kuntz, Julie Brown, Kristina Wainwright, Laura Cox, Rachel Koehler, Timeri Hudson, Vanessa Ladrie

Wake 19: Alyssa Dill, Cathy O’Sullivan, Cindy Irwin, Claudia Nunez, Debbie Keelean-Fuller, Debbie Rosenbaum, Debi Willis, Gretel Kloempken, Heather Hartzog, Helen Jordan, Jennifer Evans, Jennifer Kraus, Jennifer Warner, Johanna Westlake, Kathy Pitney, Katie Heywood, Kelly Alcock, Kerri Elliott, Liz Vancura, Maria Sears, Melissa Edwards, Nancy Briggs, Nazaly Miller, Rachel Davis, Rebecca Williams, Robin Zook, Sarah Dietrich, Stacey Byrd, Taunya Alexander, Terri Raines, Tricia Hudson

Community Partner of Excellence Award

The Community Partner of Excellence Award is awarded to a GS-NCCP Community
Partner or Community Organization/group who has shown dedication and support to
GS-NCCP troops, service unit areas or council.

2025 Recipients:

• Alan Holden
• Ashely Andrews – Jones Co
• Anything Imprints, Inc.
• Askew’s Ace Hardware
• Banner’s Hallmark
• Bolivia Fire Department
• Boys and Girls Club of Granville County
• Boys and Girls Club Vance County
• Brunswick Senior Resources: Southport Senior Center
• Bubba 33s
• C. G. Credle Elementary School
• Carolina Beach State Park
• Colonel Brendan Burks – Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s Commanding Officer
• Craven Community College – Havelock Campus
• Dolorosa Arabians
• Ellen Dorsett – Dorsett Pole Barn
• Erica Wilson – Jones County
• Englewood United Methodist Church
• First Presbyterian Church of New Bern
• First Presbyterian Church Of Wilson
• Fuzzy Peach
• Haws Run Community Building
• Henderson Family YMCA
• Hill King United Methodist Church
• Hooker Memorial Christian Church
• Howell Woods
• Hull Road OFWB Church
• Jones County Public Schools
• McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center
• New Heart Church of the Nazarene
• Olive Chapel Baptist Church
• Oxford United Methodist Church
• Perry Memorial Library
• Richard H. Thornton Library
• Rod Pass – Zaxby’s
• Saint Andrew the Apostle Church
• Salvation Army Red Shield Cub Henderson
• Spilman Memorial Baptist Church
• The Matthews House
• Tony and Susan Parrish
• Warren County Memorial Library
• Wendell United Methodist Church
• Wesley Memorial Methodist Church
• Wilmington Fire Department
• Winter Park Presbyterian Church
• Xavier Wortham, Oxford Housing Authority
• Yates Baptist Church
• YWCA Lower Cape Fear – Velva Jenkins

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award is unique to Girl Scouts–North Carolina Coastal Pines
and is presented to an individual or registered adult volunteer for a minimum of two
years distinguished service to the area.

2025 Recipients:

Beaufort County: Anna Vick, Lee Anne Stiles

Chatham County: Elizabeth Pedraza

Craven County: Hope Inglis, Nikki Gill, Pauline Moore, Rhonda Barwick, Tanya McGhee, Vanessa Hernandez

Cumberland County: Stephanie Montez, Tina Smith

Durham 10: Elizabeth Cantor, Ginger Ehmann, Lisa Smith, Sarah Wolff

Franklin County: Savannah Early

Harnett County: Gabrielle Beason

Lenoir County: Jessica Gray

Moore County: Alyse Spearman, Hope Wesner

Nash County: Courtenay Wells

Onslow County: Amber Benton, Amelia Pullar, Jeremy Heckathorn, Marle Benitez, Maurene Currence, Michelle Kinney, Sherri Hitchcock-Hutson, Vivian Hackett

Pamlico County: Kimberly Williams

Pender County: Gretchen Willis, Stephanie White

Pitt County: Amaka Odemena, Amber Carter, Catherine Broadus, Chris Hodges, Daniel Broadus, Danielle Hoff, Elizabeth Wade, Jennifer Anderson, Kelsey Morales, Nikki Byrd

Robeson County: Janice Bullock, Maria Locklear

Wake 13: Matt Kuntz, Timeri Hudson

Wilson County: Angela Allega-Greenhalgh

Girl Scouts of the USA Appreciation Pin

The GSUSA Appreciation Pin is awarded to volunteers whose service has significantly benefited at least one geographic area of the council, helping to further the Girl Scout Movement.

2025 Recipients:

Brunswick County: Kim Harding, Theodora Clements

Craven County: Dawn Inglis, Jennifer Bertling

Cumberland County: Amanda Hawthorne, Ronnelle Cunningham, Sarah Burlee

Durham 10: Amber Craig, Kendy Madden

Durham 11: Ashley Ervin

Franklin County: Rebecca Wise

Granville County: Caroline Bryan

Harnett County: Rachel Hall-Bailey

Johnston County: Dayle Pridgen

Nash County: Eleanor Smith, Rebecca Cotugno

New Hanover: Kimberly Breeden, Kristen Burch

Onslow County: Becky Smith, Julie Kusmierski, Teresa Toney

Orange County: Kelley Massengale, Latoya Clark-Williams

Pender County: Becky Gurganious, Debbie Goss

Pitt County: Michelle Wallace

Robeson County: Myra Walters

Vance County: Faye Orr, Jennifer Hall

Wake 13: Niroshi Wijewickrema Akbar, Wendy Parrow

Wake 14: Jessica Gill, Kerrie Gottschall, Misty Murphy

Wake 19: Deborah Rosenbaum

Wake 20: Donna Miller

Wake 22: Christy Isenhour

Wake 23: Katherine Sokolowski, Rochelle Segura, Sharon Lord, Shawna Schnorr

Girl Scouts of the USA Honor Pin

This national recognition is awarded to individuals whose work has had an exceptional, measurable impact on two or more geographic areas within the council.

2025 Recipients:

Brunswick County: Heather Hill

Durham 10: Caroline Smith

New Hanover County: Kristen Corley

Nash County: Deb Cassidy

Pender County: Savannah Hubach

Wake 14: Gina Caldanaro, Melissa Smith, Shelley Brocksmith-Toth

Wake 23: Elizabeth Yarborough Neely

Wake County: Jim Rupp

Girl Scouts of the USA Thanks Badge

The Girl Scouts of the USA Thanks Badge is the highest award presented in Girl Scouting.
It is presented only to those members whose service benefits the entire council and is so
significant that no other award is appropriate.

2025 Recipients:

Wake 14: Katherine Hamilton

Wake 14: Wendy Burden

Leading the Way 

This council award is presented to those whose outstanding service is inspiring to those around them and an example of an ideal Girl Scout volunteer.

2025 Recipients:

Brunswick County: Marsha Kitter

Franklin County: Betty Craig

 

A Special Thank You

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Adult Award and Recognition Committee for their time and dedication in selecting this year’s honorees. Their work ensures that our volunteers receive the recognition they truly deserve.

To all of our award recipients, congratulations! Your passion and service inspire us every day. Thank you for being the leaders who shape the future of Girl Scouts. For more information on volunteering with Girl Scouts, visit our website today.