In keeping with our mission to support women, AAUW Carlisle celebrates high school students who choose Career and Technical Education Programs of Study.   AAUW recognizes that many high school students face pressure to attend four-year colleges from sources at school, at home, and in the wider community and culture.  Furthermore, students who pursue non-traditional tracks in high school rarely receive recognition.  The combined impact of these influences may persuade some young women to pursue four-year degrees, often accompanied by significant debt when a vocational diploma would better suit their career goals.

We celebrate the students in Career and Technical Education Programs of Study at Carlisle Area High School.  These students are often the one and only — Trailblazers!  Teachers have recommended students for recognition based on the following qualities:  good citizenship at school, enthusiasm for their Program of Study, and academic competence with passing grades in all of their courses.  In addition to recognizing the students for their achievements, a panel of local women leaders will offer their insights to the students as they prepare to move into their career fields or continue their technical education.

AAUW Carlisle Holds Seventh Annual Trailblazers Students’ Recognition

AAUW Carlisle held its 7th annual Trailblazers Students’ Recognition event on Wednesday, March 12, to honor students pursuing career and technical education fields of study.  Trailblazer honorees are selected by their CTE teachers based on good citizenship at school, enthusiasm for their CTE program, and GPA.

The Trailblazer Award is given by AAUW Carlisle in keeping with the AAUW mission of supporting women and girls and celebrates high school students who choose vocational or technical fields of study. AAUW Carlisle created the Trailblazer Award in 2019 because the organization recognizes that students who are interested in these pathways in high school may not otherwise receive positive support or recognition.

Following opening remarks by Mary France and Gail D’Urso, the honorees were introduced by members of the Trailblazer Committee:  Barb Attivo, Gail D’Urso, Mary France, and Lillian Wong. Committee member, Carolyn Freberg, was unable to attend.

2025 Trailblazer Honorees and Featured Panel

Standing: Back Row: L to R: Makayla Morgan-McMillen, Belma Becirovic, Kaylee Morris, Neha Thapa, Ariadna Perez Ramos, Cheyenne Minch, Vanessa Grady
Standing, Front Row: L to R: Erica Gobin, Sofia Cisneros, Anna Belle Stoermer, Aubrey Mackey, Alexis Bahn, Riley Brooker, Emily Fry
Seated: L to R: Featured Panel: Brittany Kennedy, Amber Clark, Catherine Bartholomew

Our honorees for 2025 are:

 Alexis Bahn and Cheyenne Minich– Automotive Technology
 Sophia Cisneros — Carpentry
 Riley Brooker and Erica Gobin — Communications
 Ariadna Perez Ramos — Culinary Arts
 Aubrey Mackey — Engineering
 Belma Becirovic, Kaylee Morris, Anna Belle Stoermer and Neha Thapa — Health Careers
 Emily Fry and Vanessa Grady — Marketing
 Makayla Morgan-McMillen — Workforce Development

Each honoree was presented with a Trailblazer Certificate and a stadium blanket embroidered with Trailblazer and the AAUW Carlisle branch logo.  A special $500 award, initiated as part of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Carlisle branch, will be awarded to one honoree at the Career and Technical Education Awards night in the spring. That student will be chosen by the Trailblazer Committee closer to the Awards night. The program featured a panel of local women who have pursued non-traditional careers.   Our panelists this year were Amber Clark, Catering Manager at Dickinson College Dining Services; Catherine Bartholomew, Assistant Service Manager at Fred Beans Hyundai, and Brittany Kennedy, Clinique Consultant for Ulta Beauty in Hanover. Culinary Arts instructors Chef Carey Ehly and Chef Bill Seras and the Culinary Arts students provided refreshments at the reception for AAUW members, students’ families, and friends following the event. Flower bouquets for the honorees were donated by Cathy Seras of K & D Florals, Newville. This recognition and award event is coordinated each year with Dr. Albert Parrillo, Director of Career & Technology Education for Carlisle Area School District.

2024 Trailblazer Honorees
Cassie Diehl
Samantha Kennedy
Rylee Diodato
Raquel Kennedy
Kailani Nelson

2023 Trailblazer Honorees
Breighanne Beecher
Nayleska Colon
Carly Robinson
Savannah Taylor
Laura Buhrman
Katlyn Coldren
Amania Yaya
Aisling Golden
Cameron Street
Jayde Thomas

2022 Trailblazer Honorees

Aisling Golden
Emma Ahl
Olivia Garman
Madison Mock-Austin
Sophia Morrison
Shayne Anne Ramos
Devin Shingler
Abby Rexroth
Cheney Thompson
Ashlynn Zimmerman

2021 Trailblazer Honorees

Catherine Myers
Haley Wiegner

2020 Trailblazer Honorees

Ravyn Byers
Edita Dedic
Kylie Denlinger
Kaysha Everett
Savannah Hosfield
Cierra Jones
Madison Richwine
Toni Sprouse
Janie Thompson
Kayleigh Wachtman
Sierra Young

Trailblazers 2019 — Inaugural Event

On April 15, 2019 AAUW Carlisle launched a new tradition — Trailblazers Girls’ Recognition Event. Three juniors and four seniors, selected by their teachers to submit responses to a questionnaire about their CTE interests, were honored in the Fowler Auditorium at Carlisle High School. Light refreshments, provided by students in the Culinary Program, followed in the Culinary Café.

In keeping with our mission to support girls and women, AAUW Carlisle launched this “Trailblazers Recognition Event” to celebrate high school girls who choose Career and Technical Education Programs of Study. This idea has evolved from recognizing girls in STEM programs (who are likely to receive recognition elsewhere) to the recognition of girls who are pursuing study in vocational or technical fields. Teachers recommended girls for recognition based on the following qualities: good citizenship at school, enthusiasm for their Program of Study, and academic competence with passing grades in all of their courses.

AAUW recognizes that many high school students face pressure to attend four-year colleges from sources at school, at home, and in the wider community and culture. Furthermore, girls who are interested in non-traditional tracks in high school, such as automotive technology, engineering or construction trades, rarely receive positive support or recognition. The combined impact of these influences may persuade some young women to pursue four-year degrees, often accompanied by heavy college debts when a vocational diploma would better suit their career goals.

Dr. Parrillo, Director of Career and Technical at Carlisle Area High School opened the event. Ann Pehle welcomed the audience of honorees, parents, CTE students, and AAUW Carlisle members. Gail D’Urso introduced the panelists — Michelle Lisk, owner Synergy Home Care; Ashleigh Corby, owner Carlisle Pubs, Inc.; Melanie Kuzma, Assistant Service Manager at Faulkner Subaru — who shared their own experiences with a career in a CTE field. Then, each honoree was introduced and received a certificate. Seniors received a stadium blanket too.

Everyone thought the event a success. We have started a tradition that will be wonderful to keep.