Adult Scout Leader of the Year
2010 Honoree of the Queens Federation of Churches

Diane Berwanger

Diane Berwanger has been involved with Girl Scouting for over twenty years. It all started in 1986 when her daughter, Joyce, signed up to be a Brownie Girl Scout at St. Matthias. At registration, Diane was asked to be a parent volunteer; by the end of the year, much to her surprise but to the delight of her daughter, she was the Brownie Troop Leader. Joyce hasn’t been a Brownie for many years, but Diane is still involved with Girl Scouting. During her years of scouting, she has worn many hats. She has been a Brownie Troop Leader, a Junior Troop Leader and even tried her hand at the Cadette level.

Throughout her years, Diane learned that she needed a few things to be successful in her positions in scouting: support of Council for training; good Service Unit Managers, who at the time were Helen Elliot and Jackie Deltieure; and a diverse group of leaders from Southwest Queens with whom to share ideas. Diane states that “without the support from these people, I never would have lasted these twenty-four years in scouting.” Aside from being a leader, Diane has been an integral part of Girl Scouting in Queens at the Service Unit Level. In the past she has been a Cookie Captain, Cookie Manager for the Service Unit and Service Unit Manager. She currently holds the position of Service Unit Treasurer.

Diane has been honored for her dedication to Girl Scouting with awards from Council: Skyline Award (1990), Outstanding Volunteer (1993), Leadership Development Pin (1995), Appreciation Pin (1999), Twenty Year Membership Pin (2007) and Service Team Award (2009). Diane has also been honored by the Catholic Committee on Scouting with the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Medal (1991) and the St. Anne Medal (1995).

Diane’s sons were also involved in scouting and she was involved as a parent volunteer for Cub Scout Packs at St. Matthias and St. Margaret and the Boy Scout Troops at Covenant Lutheran Church and St. Margaret. In her spare time, Diane served as a Parish Coordinator at St. Matthias. She also volunteered at all the schools her children attended.

Diane currently works with the Federal Aviation Administration at JFK International Airport. She is an administrative coordinator supporting the technical workforce. Diane is a member of Technical Women, an employee association, where she holds the position of Registration Chairperson for the annual training conferences.

As can be seen from her dedication to scouting, Diane Berwanger truly embodies the Girl Scout Promise.