Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England Announces 2025 Leading Women of Distinction Award Honorees
WARWICK, RI (August 26, 2025)—The 2025 Leading Women of Distinction Awards ceremony and breakfast will be held at the Squantum Association, Inc. on Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 8:30am-10:00am.
This event will be emceed by David Cicilline, President & CEO of the Rhode Island Foundation, and will bring together community leaders and professionals to honor the achievements of these inspiring women.
The 2025 Leading Women of Distinction Honorees lead by example and exemplify the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place—the women who demonstrate qualities of leadership and excellence in their life. This year’s Honorees are:
Katherine Hypolite-MacMannis, Communications & Event Manager, Providence College
Laura Jaworski, Executive Director, House of Hope CDC
Katherine Kazarian, House Majority Whip, Rhode Island House of Representatives
Corinne (Cori) Kilzi, Associate Executive Director, Newport County YMCA
Cortney Nicolato, President/CEO, United Way of Rhode Island
Ellen Pinnock, Director of Community Engagement & Equity, FabNewport
Rebecca Twitchell, Founder/President, half full, llc
Kilah Walters-Clinton, Director of Race, Equity & Community Engagement, RI Executive Office of Health & Human Services
Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England CEO Dana Borrelli-Murray stated, “Now more than ever, in a world where young people are navigating uncertainty and complex challenges, Girl Scouting provides a foundation of courage, confidence, and character. The Leading Women of Distinction Awards shine a light on role models who show what it means to lead with integrity, resilience, and vision. By elevating these stories, we remind our Girl Scouts—and our entire community—that leadership grounded in equity, compassion, and action is not only possible, but also necessary. Our honorees reflect the world we want our girls to inherit, and their example empowers the next generation to step forward boldly to create it.”
To learn more about the 2025 Leading Women of Distinction Awards and to purchase tickets to the awards breakfast visit gssne.org/leadingwomen.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs across Southeastern New England, girls and gender-expansive youth of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves in a safe space as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges. Backed by strong friendships and trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. Girl Scouts feel comfortable trying new things without the pressure to be perfect, speaking their minds, and processing their emotions in healthy ways. They discover how being different makes them special, strengthens their sense of belonging, and, ultimately, makes them proud to be themselves. That’s the magic of Girl Scouting. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit gssne.org, follow @gssne on Instagram, follow @GirlScoutsofSNE on Twitter, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GSSNE.