The next generation of women leaders took center stage when area Girl Scouts served as emcees, presenters and hosts at Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania’s annual Take the Lead event.
The April 14 program held this year at the Redner’s Event Center, blends mentorship, recognition and fundraising.
The girl-led ceremony provided an opportunity to honor four Berks County women whose careers and community involvement reflect the organization’s mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character.
The following were this year’s honorees:
• Meggan Hannigan, associate vice president of institutional advancement at Alvernia University.
Honoree Meggan Hannigan, associate vice president of institutional advancement at Alvernia University, accepts an award from Girl Scout Shelby S. at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania’s annual Take the Lead event. Shelby shadowed Hannigan for a day.
(Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.)
• Radha Pyati, chancellor and dean of Penn State Berks.
Radha Pyati, chancellor and dean of Penn State Berks, accepts an award from Girl Scout Kayla K. at Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania’s annual Take the Lead event. Kayla K. shadowed Pyati for a day. (Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.)
• Monica Reyes, vice president for programs and initiatives at Berks County Community Foundation.
Monica Reyes, vice president for programs and initiatives at Berks County Community Foundation, accepts an award from Girl Scout Katelyn K. at Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania’s annual Take the Lead event. Katelyn K. shadowed Reyes for a day.(Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.)
• Dr. Karen Wang, chief medical officer at Berks Community Health Center.
Dr. Karen Wang, Dr. Karen Wang, chief medical officer at Berks Community Health Center, accepts an award from Girl Scout Mackenzie R. at Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania’s annual Take the Lead event. Mackenzie R. shadowed Wang for a day.(Courtesy of Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania.)
Each was selected for professional achievement, community impact and a demonstrated commitment to lifting others, qualities that organizers say mirror the values Girl Scouts aim to instill.
“Through their vision, resilience, and commitment to excellence and lifting others in the community, our 2026 Take the Lead Berks County honorees truly exemplify Girl Scout values,” Kim E. Fraites-Dow, CEO of the organization, said in a statement.
At the heart of the program is a mentorship experience that pairs each honoree with a high school-aged Girl Scout for a day, offering a firsthand look at leadership in action.
The Scouts, selected through a competitive process, spend time observing their mentors’ work, asking questions and gaining insight into career paths and professional networks, organizers said. The girls then translate those experiences into presentations delivered during the event, blending storytelling, reflection and advice for their peers.
Emphasis on youth leadership has been central to the event’s growth over the years, Fraites-Dow said.
The event also served as a major fundraiser, supporting camperships, financial assistance that helps ensure girls across Berks can attend Girl Scout camps regardless of economic barriers.
The event was co-chaired by former honorees Glynis Fitzgerald, Alvernia University president, and Natalie Ruppert of East Penn Manufacturing, reflecting a tradition of former honorees continuing to shape and support the program.
Organizers say that continuity of women leaders mentoring girls as future leaders is what gives Take the Lead its lasting impact.
The program offers something more than inspiration. It provides access to professional environments, role models and the confidence that comes from seeing what is possible, organizers said.