Seven PV-Area Teens Named Emerging Leaders by Girl Scouts of Greater LA

Seven Palos Verdes-area  Girl Scouts have been named Emerging Leaders by Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles in recognition of their outstanding extra-curricular accomplishments. 

On Wednesday, Dec. 5, Palos Verdes-area Girl Scouts Laurel Ast, Noelani Emnace, Megan Fitzpatrick, Kylie Murdock, Megan Neeno, Terri Wilken and Zelpha Wiliams joined hundreds of the most accomplished women in Los Angeles, along with nearly 100 Emerging Leaders, for a luncheon and day of mentorship at the Ray Dolby Ballroom in Hollywood. The event concluded a year of celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA.

During her 12 years in Girl Scouts, Laurel Ast has earned the Girl Scout Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards. She has received the John Le Fevre scholarship for her leadership and for embodying the Girl Scout code. In her free time, Laurel is a member of the National Honor Society and Las Niñas. She is an Open Champion Irish dancer whose goal is to qualify for the world championships. Laurel has a passion for teaching and plans to study architecture and environmental design in college.

Noelani Emnace has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and has earned the Girl Scout Silver Award. She feels that Girl Scouts has given her the courage to always be herself, even among others. She is a varsity basketball player, a member of National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, and the math, science, and Latin Honor Societies at her high school. She was recently awarded the 2012 Palos Verdes Peninsula Coordinating Council Teen Service Award. Noelani hopes to attend Loyola Marymount University.

Megan Fitzpatrick is a Senior Girl Scout who has been in Girl Scouting for nine years. She has earned the Girl Scout Silver and Bronze Awards. Megan is a high school freshman who loves to play tennis and has received many awards for good sportsmanship. She participates in Rachel’s Challenge and Assembly. Megan hopes to go into biology or teaching, as she enjoys science and working with children. Megan’s dreams include building a family and being a successful, working mom.

Kylie Murdock is a freshman at Palos Verdes High School. She has earned the Girl Scout Silver and Bronze Awards, and is working on earning the Gold Award. A young woman of diverse interests, when not Girl Scouting, she is involved in acting classes at Gary Spatz’s The Playground, studies Israeli martial arts, lyrical jazz, and ballroom dance. Kylie is also a member of Ek Kardia, a philanthropic mother-daughter group. She would like to attend Stanford University and pursue a career as an actress, an FBI or CIA agent, or a doctor.

Megan Neeno has been a Girl Scout for 10 years. She has earned the Girl Scout Silver and Bronze Awards, and is currently working on her Gold Award project. She is a member of the National English Honor Society and is the vice president of Novas, a volunteer group at her local hospital. She is also a member of Friends of Richard basketball organization where she plays and coaches other children from her community. Megan aspires to attend college and to major in English and education.

Terri Wilken is a freshman at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School and has been a Girl Scout for seven years. She has earned her Girl Scout Silver and Bronze Awards, as well as the Presidential Award. Terri loves how Girl Scouts gives her the opportunity to do community service and explore various businesses and career options through the people she gets to meet. At school, she is on the varsity soccer team and involved with the soccer club. Terri loves to laugh and is enjoying getting to know people outside and within her community.

Zelpha Williams has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and has earned the Girl Scout Silver and Bronze Awards. She attends Marymount High School, runs cross country, plays water polo, and is a member of the school’s robotics team. She participates in National Charity League and the Palos Verdes Assembly. She was honored by her school and the National Hispanic Recognition Program. Zelda plans to study engineering at a college on the east coast.

As one of the world’s preeminent leadership organizations dedicated solely to girls, Girl Scouts has developed girls’ leadership in an accepting and nurturing environment since its inception 100 years ago in 1912. Membership in Girl Scouts is open to every girl, everywhere, in grades K-12. For more information on how to join, volunteer with, reconnect with, and support Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscoutsla.org or call 1-888-GSGLA-4-U.

About Girl Scouts 100th Anniversary

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts has spent the year 2012 celebrating a century of leadership with a series of marquis events happening throughout the country and within the greater Los Angeles area. An award-winning float in Pasadena’s iconic Tournament of Roses Parade kicked off the celebration. In October, 6,000 Girl Scouts and volunteers enjoyed the outdoors together in a council-wide Camporee. December’s “To Get Her There” event, with LA’s top female talent and 100 of our emerging Girl Leaders, will conclude a year of unprecedented programs and celebration.