Centennial Awards

The Centennial Awards recognize outstanding Girl Scout alumnae in five categories. Honorees are women who exemplify the qualities of courage, confidence and character that we strive to develop in girls. Three men also earned distinction for their service to Girl Scouting, and will receive Honorable MENtion awards.  Honorees were recognized at the Centennial Awards Gala on Saturday, April 21, 2012, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

To recognize an honoree by making a gift to Girl Scouts River Valleys in their name, click here. Honorees will be notified of gifts made in their honor.

Centennial Adwards Honorees by category

Distinguished Alumna Centennial Champion

Marilyn Carlson Nelson—Chairman and Former CEO, Carlson

Community Champion Honorees

Women who have made significant contributions as volunteers in the community.

Sarah J. Andersen—Director, Andersen Corporation; Community Philanthropist
Ellen Anderson—Senior Advisor to the Governor on Energy and the Environment, Department of Agriculture; Former Senator District 66, State of Minnesota
Maureen Hooley Bausch—Executive Vice President, Business Development, Mall of America
Kathy Brynaert—Representative District 23B, State of Minnesota
Willetha 'Toni' Carter—County Commissioner, District 4, Ramsey County
Mary Lee Dayton—Founder, Women's Foundation of Minnesota; Community Philanthropist
Kaywin Feldman—Director and President, Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Sara Hietpas Gavin—President, Weber Shandwick, Minneapolis Office
Roxanne Marie Givens—Principal and Founder, Minnesota African American Museum
Jodi Harpstead—Chief Executive Officer, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Sharon Hollatz—County Commissioner, District 5, Redwood County
Elizabeth ‘Sandy’ Kiernat—Board Member and Past Board Chair, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Barbara ‘Babs’ Gray Koch—Community Philanthropist
Mary Lou Kudela—Facilitator and Retired Education Director, Greater Mankato Diversity Council
Diane Lilly—Executive Vice President of Government Relations, Wells Fargo & Company
Ellen Goldberg Luger—Executive Director, General Mills Foundation; Vice President, General Mills Inc.
Betty McCollum—Representative, District 4, United States Congress
Kathleen Meyerle—Legal Counsel, Mayo Clinic
Pearl Mitchell Jackson —Retired National President, Council of International Programs for Social Workers
Linda Brekke Mona—Owner, Creative Environments; Trustee, University of Minnesota Foundation
Joan Mondale—Arts Advocate and Former Second Lady of the United States
Wenda Weekes Moore—Board Member and Past Board Chair, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Rena Moran—Representative, District 65A, State of Minnesota
Ann Porter—Owner and Principal Agent,  State Farm Insurance Agency
Joyce Rosene—Community Philanthropist; Retired Assistant Pastor, Centennial United Methodist Church
Val Vargas—Executive Director and Founder, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota
Nancy Wepplo—Campus Administrator, Good Samaritan Society, Windom, Minnesota

Forever Green Honorees

Women who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and service to Girl Scouts.

Karen L. Brinkman—Licensed Psychologist and Chief Executive Officer, Rainbow Behavioral Health
Dorothea J. Burns—Retired Assistant Director, Hallie Q. Brown Martin Luther King Center
Karen Carlson—Office Administrator, Fraser
Sandra Clair—Community Volunteer, St. Michael, Minnesota
Sandra 'Sandy' Craighead—Community Philanthropist and Volunteer
Jean M. Dehning – Chief Financial Officer, Detex Co. Inc.
Bonnie Elfering—Community Volunteer, Bird Island, Minnesota
Jane Freeman—Former First Lady of Minnesota; Past National President, Girl Scouts of the USA
Doree Gamble—Community Volunteer, Roseville, Minnesota
Mary Hague Gates—Community Volunteer, United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and Girls Scouts
Doreen Gloede—Office Manager, Legacy Professionals
Barbara A. Johnson—Community Volunteer, Plymouth, Minnesota
Judith Myers Kinsey—Retired Software Development Manager, IBM Corporation
Nancy Klemek—Community Volunteer, Fairmont, Minnesota
Joan Krikava—Physician and Medical Director, New Ulm Medical Center
Florence ‘Moxie’ Moxham—Community Volunteer, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mary-Alice Muraski—Manager, Teaching and Learning Technologies, University of Wisconsin River Falls
Lisa Nachbor—Former Coordinator, Healthy Community/Healthy Youth of Maple Grove
Susan Navratil—Principal Business Analyst, Jostens, Inc.
Susan Odenthal—Credit Analyst Manager, Provincial Bank
Barbara Payne—Senior Project Manager, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic
Donna Pietsch—Finance Manager for Housing and Residential Life, University of Minnesota
Kris Pope—Analyst, Carlson Wagonlit Travel
Sharon Reece—Community Volunteer, St. Paul, Minnesota
Carolyn Sandberg —Adjunct Professor, Hamline University School of Law
Linda Schroepfer—Program Director, University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital
Robin Stegner—Retired President, RVI, Inc.
Beth Voermans—Manager, Client Reporting and Financial Technology, Securian

Guide Honorees

Women who have distinguished themselves as mentors to others.

Mary Blegen—Executive Vice President of Employee Engagement and Leadership Development, U.S. Bancorp
Nancy Randall Dana—Executive Director and Superintendent, St. Paul City School, St. Paul, Minnesota
Marlys Knuth—Adjunct Educator; Shire Equestrian Breeder, Sudden Creek Shires
Gloria Lewis—President and Chief Executive Officer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities
Susan MacHolda—Senior Director of Human Resources, Carlson
Kathryn 'Kathy' May—Retired Director, Research Administration, Allina Health
Deborah L. Montgomery—Former St. Paul City Council Member, Ward 1; Retired Senior Commander, City of St. Paul
Kimberly Foster Price—Assistant General Counsel, 3M Company
Kimberly Vappie—Chief Executive Officer, Menttium Corporation
Phyllis Willerscheidt—Retired Director, Commission on Women, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis; Past National Board Member, Girl Scouts of the USA; Board Chair Emerita, Girl Scouts River Valleys
Nou Yang—Senior Community Leadership Manager of Youth Leadership Initative, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation; Board Chair, Hnub Tshiab:  Hmong Women Achieving Together

Trailblazer Honorees

Women whose pioneering efforts have opened doors for other women.

Pamela G. Alexander—Executive Director, Council on Crime and Justice; Retired Judge, Hennepin County District Court
Ann Bancroft—Co-Founder, Bancroft Arnesen Explore; Founder, Ann Bancroft Foundation
Angie Bastian—President and Founder, Angie's Kettle Corn
Sharon Sayles Belton—Vice President, Government Affairs and Community Relations, Thomson Reuters; Former Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jacquie Berglund—Chief Executive Officer, FINNEGANS Inc.
Karen Bohn—President, Galeo Group, LLC; Chair, Ameriprise Certificate Company
Jane Davidson—Professor, Mechanical Engineering; Director, Solar Energy Laboratory; Director, Graduate Studies, University of Minnesota
Lisa Gangl—Operator and Graphics Producer, ESPN
Joan Anderson Growe—Former Secretary of State of Minnesota
Beth Jacob—Executive Vice President Target Technology Services and Chief Information Officer, Target Corporation
Belinda Jensen—Chief Meteorologist, KARE 11
Susan Adams Loyd—President, Clear Channel Outdoor-Minneapolis/St. Paul Division
Sarah Lutman—Independent Consultant and Former President and Managing Director, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Judy Mahle Lutter—Founder and  President, Melpomene Institute for Women’s Health Research
Sona Mehring—Founder and Chief Executive Officer, CaringBridge
Ancy L. Tone Morse—Retired Judge, Olmsted County District
Anita M. Pampusch—Mayor of Lilydale, Minnesota;  Retired President,  St. Catherine's University;  Retired President, Bush Foundation
Robin Peterson—President, Coldwell Banker Burnet Minnesota
Diana Pierce—News Anchor, KARE 11
Judith Ramaley—President, Winona State University; Past National Board Member, Girl Scouts of the USA
Jeannine Rivet—Executive Vice President, UnitedHealth Group
Robyne Robinson—Creator and Designer, Rox Minneapolis Jewelry; Former News Anchor, Fox 9
Julie Snow—Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Julie Snow Architect, Inc.
Marilyn DeLano Stewart—Chair, Governor's Committee, University of Minnesota Rochester; Retired Branch Manager of Edina Realty Rochester

Women of Promise Honorees

Women under 35 who have distinguished themselves in their profession or community.

Maren Amdal—Executive Director, Chartered Financial Analysts Society of Minnesota
Molly Broman—Editor, Lake Minnetonka Magazine
Melisa López Franzen—Employee Relations Consultant, Target Corporation
Donnell Hansen—Veterinarian and Certified Oral Surgeon, Minnesota Blue Pearl Veterinary Medicine
Maggie Harris—President and Co Founder, Ever After Gowns; Leadership Instructor, University of Minnesota
Ashlee Kephart—Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Kids For A Better World, Inc.
May Lee-Yang—Interim Executive Director, Hmong Arts Connection
Jasmine Brett Stringer—Operations Specialist, General Mills
Linda Stuart—Director, Global Citizens Network
Lindsay Whalen—Professional Athlete, Minnesota Lynx

Honorable MENtions

Men who have distinguished themselves in the Girl Scout community.

Don Lee—Community Volunteer; Retired Engineer, 3M Company
Jeffrey Redmon—Attorney, Redmon Law; Past National Board Member, Girl Scouts of the USA
Chingla Thao—Dean of Students, New Millennium Academy, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Volunteer Selection Committee Chair

Valerie Halverson Pace, Ph.D-West Region Manager, Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, IBM Corporation

Thank you to the volunteer selection committee