Posted on Feb 2, 1996

A first place finish in Breckenridge, Colo., on Jan. 20 has left Nikki Stone, a senior psychology major from Westborough, Mass., ranked second on the World Cup Women's
Aerial Skiing circuit. Stone, who is taking the term off to compete, trails leader Veronica Brenner of Canada by only 16 points (496 to 480) after seven competitions. Stone, who competed in the 1994 Winter Olympics, plans to return to Union to graduate spring
term.

Posted on Feb 2, 1996

Trish Williams and Melissa Powers wanted to lead by example in community service, so they really became leaders … Girl Scout leaders, that is.

Williams, associate dean of students and director of residence life, and Powers, assistant director of residence life — who encourage that resident assistants become involved in community service– began a Girl Scout Troop at Union in the fall of 1993.

Powers, a Girl Scout since early elementary school, wanted to start her own troop and after some convincing, got Williams — who says knew nothing about scouting — to help her out.

To become leaders, Williams and Powers had to go through a training process including camping, which they both describe as “interesting.” For Powers, the training was old hat, except for the paperwork.

For Williams, it was just the opposite. “Everything was new to me,” she said. “The paperwork was the easy part, but everything else I had to be taught.”
(Since most leaders were former Girl Scouts, the trainers assume a familiarity with what they were teaching.) But Powers and Williams helped each other — Williams did the
“administrative stuff,” Powers “played with the kids” — and soon they
began Girl Scout Troop 436.

Since the troop began, Erica DeCarlo, a senior and long-time Girl Scout, has been helping out Williams and Powers. This fall, Farah Lalani, a freshman who has also been a
scout since early elementary school, got involved with the troop. DeCarlo and Lalani went through leader training together, and are now both official leaders. Powers and Williams
are hoping to eventually pass the troop into students' hands.

The troop has eight members who are in first through fifth grades at nearby Zoller, Howe and St. John's Elementary schools. They meet every other week at the Reamer Campus Center, which Williams and Powers say has been beneficial for both the troop and Union
students. The girls think its neat to be at college and the students provide good role models. And many students who see — and hear — the girls in the Campus Center have offered to help out on various occasions.

Williams and Powers have taken the troop camping and have had picnics with the girls and their families. And of course, they have been working toward their badges. One badge involved making art to wear. For this project, the students of Ludlow House — where
DeCarlo is house manager — got involved. Each girl was paired with a student for face painting. “The girls really enjoyed having a buddy for the day,” Powers says.

Williams and Powers have enjoyed watching the troop grow over the past couple of years. “It's working out well,” Williams says. “It's good to see them working together and interacting. And they can even sit still for a minute now.”