The Girl Scouts try to instill values that exemplify courage, confidence and character in the world into young women.
Each year, the organization selects a group of women who embody that spirit as adults and serve as role models for girls throughout the country. The 2012 nominees were honored recently.
The Girl Scout Council of the Apalachee Bend honored the 2012 inductees, including 15 women from Tallahassee such as Florida A&M journalism professor Dhyana Ziegler for her work in education and editor of Tallahassee Magazine Rosanne Dunkelberger for her work in the magazine industry.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts, making the occasion more memorable. For Ziegler and Dunkelberger, being included on the list is an honor that they hope translates into inspiration for young girls.
“The induction class of the 100th anniversary is always going to be special,” Ziegler said. “There’s only one 100th anniversary. I’m just thrilled that I came out on top. To be in this class was very, very special.”
Ziegler was a Brownie Scout in New York when she was a young girl.
“I remember putting on that Brownie uniform and the pride of being a Brownie.”
Ziegler, who also recently received the Continent Award for Intellectual Contributions to the 2012 World Forum, said the one thing that the Girl Scout organization has taught, “since the beginning of time is good character.”
Living a life of discipline and a commitment to justice and doing the right thing, in addition positive character, are two traits that Ziegler carries on in her daily life from her time in Brownie Scouts, although the foundations began with her mother.
Although Dunkelberger was never a Scout, being among other distinguished women is humbling.
“It’s quite a list of accomplished women, and the fact that I’m even on it is an incredible honor,” Dunkelberger said.
She had no idea she had been nominated until she was named, but her initial reaction left her extremely flattered. “How could I not be,” she said.
Dunkelberger said she read an article more than 20 years ago describing the average woman. Everything in that article left her feeling as if she was reading about herself.
“I feel like I am an average person,” Dunkelberger said. “So the fact that I’m named a woman of distinction, I feel like there is a woman of distinction in every little girl. She just needs to have the right direction and nurturing to get there.”
For her, meeting Charlotte McGuire, 95, at the gala was a monumental experience. McGuire, also a 2012 inductee for medicine and health, was born five years after the Girl Scouts was started.