Date:  December 20, 2007

CONTACT:  Mary Riherd Broomfield, Marketing and Public Relations Director
                (626) 445-7771, ext. 313, mbroomfield@gsmwvc.org


Photo by Sahra Susman

Girl Scouts March in Tournament Troop 2008
Arcadia, CA—Ninety Gold Award Senior Girl Scouts from Mt. Wilson Vista Council will usher in the new year in a very special way as they march down Colorado Boulevard in the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day.  In what has become a distinctive tradition, this will be the 24th appearance for Girl Scouts who first joined Boy Scouts in 1984 as part of the elite Tournament Troop. The Troop, consisting of Eagle Scouts from The San Gabriel Valley Council and Gold Award Girl Scouts, has the unique honor of carrying the banners announcing the award-winning floats through the 5.5-mile parade route.

Tournament Troop 2008 is nearly 200 members strong this year, twice as large as in years past.  In addition to carrying the banners in the parade, this year’s Tournament Troop will participate in a special presentation of state and national flags in honor of the parade’s 2008 theme, “A Passport to the World’s Celebrations."

The Rose Parade is watched by millions of people around the world, and being a member of Tournament Troop is an honor reserved only for Eagle Scouts from The San Gabriel Valley Council and Gold Award recipients from Girl Scouts – Mt. Wilson Vista Council. The Gold Award is Girl Scouting’s highest honor, recognizing outstanding accomplishments in leadership, service, and personal development.  Earning the Gold Award is a two-year process in which a girl plans and implements a challenging, large-scale community service project that is innovative, is of lasting and significant value to her community, and involves collaboration with other youth and adults.

This year's Tournament Troop Girl Scouts are:

Jessica Leong, Alhambra
Lauren Quon, Alhambra
Vanessa Grace, Altadena
Amy Martinez, Altadena
Rachel McLaughlin, Altadena
Christina Shepherd, Altadena
Christina Garza, Arcadia
Juliann M. Garza, Arcadia
Phelicia Jaramillo, Arcadia
Taylor Rowley, Arcadia
Jennika Cerda, Covina
Gabriella Martinez, Covina
Erica Christianson, Duarte
Sarah Imm, Duarte
Crystal Rodgers, Duarte
Lyza Siegel, Duarte
Alejandra Horta, El Monte
Juliana Sasaki, El Monte
Shelby Wong, El Monte
Vanessa Panek, Glendale
Christin Tobey, Glendora
Emily Gee, Hermosa Beach
Karen Atkins, La Cañada
Ruth Barber, La Cañada
Katherine Bliss, La Cañada
Kathryn Chew, La Cañada
Sally Choi, La Cañada
Lucy Filippone, La Cañada
Brittany Fors, La Cañada
Carla Gharibian, La Cañada
Allison Guthrie, La Cañada
Kelsey Lew, La Cañada
Shannon Mar, La Cañada
Claire Mazahery, La Cañada
Amanda O'Toole, La Cañada
Erika Paulson, La Cañada
Alison Roybal, La Cañada
Caitlin Sarian, La Cañada
Amanda Teng, La Cañada
Molly Teodo, La Cañada
Jacklyn Freyberger, La Crescenta
Emily Henry, La Crescenta
Brooke Natzic, La Crescenta
Marissa Robertson, La Crescenta
Holly Stevens, La Crescenta
Nicole Franssen, La Puente
Alexandra Gray, Los Angeles
Victoria Hohman, Los Angeles
Christine Jorvina, Los Angeles
Melissa Kil, Los Angeles
Michelle Brana, Monrovia
Delaney Browning, Monrovia
Hailee Cimmarusti, Monrovia
Gina Cook, Monrovia
Bryanna Gawlik, Monrovia
Angie Haven, Monrovia
Brittany Heacock, Monrovia
Katelyn Mejia, Monrovia
Megan Stiegelmar, Monrovia
Lindsey Thrower, Monrovia
Amy Wallace, Monrovia
Rebecca Walling, Monrovia
Meghan Senegal, Ontario
Bianca Boykin, Pasadena
Katherine Brugman, Pasadena
Jessica Ferri, Pasadena
Courtney Little, Pasadena
Christy Phillips, Pasadena
Rachel Scoon, Pasadena
Alethea Steinmeier, Pasadena
Desiree Strong, Pasadena
Hillary Davidson, Rancho Palos Verdes
Lindsey Wachs, Redondo Beach
Florence Lai, Rosemead
Brittany La Rosa, Rosemead
Hermia  Au, San Gabriel
Amanda Morales, San Gabriel
Carla Yee, San Gabriel
Katie Backus, South Pasadena
Heather Kitada, South Pasadena
Johanna Sobolic, South Pasadena
Jessica Sutro, South Pasadena
Leslie Toy, South Pasadena
Margaret Von Bibra, South Pasadena
Clara Hana Kwon, Torrance
Megan Del Vecchio, Valencia
Delia Tung, Walnut
Nerissa Hetzer, West Covina
Kirsten Yabuta, Wilmington
Jennifer Hager, Woodland Hills

Girl Scouts – Mt. Wilson Vista Council serves more than 9,000 girls and young women, ages five to 17, in 23 communities throughout the San Gabriel Valley. The council is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA, the world's preeminent organization for girls. Today, as when founded in 1912, Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.  For more information on how to register your daughter, volunteer your time or donate to the Girl Scouts, call (626) 445-7771 or visit the GSMWVC Web site at www.gsmwvc.org.



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