Carley Dietrick of Oceanport will also be honored as one of the Phenomenal Women Under 40 at a Sept. 23 event.
By Judy O’Gorman Alvarez
MONMOUTH COUNTY – When Carley Dietrick of Oceanport was a Girl Scout growing up in Lincroft, she remembers camping, roasting marshmallows over the campfire and learning survival skills in the wilderness. And although she doesn’t find much use for those skills now – except when making s’mores – she appreciates the objective and goals of the Girl Scouts.
“I think it is exciting and I am grateful to be able to continue to represent the Girl Scout mission to help others and improve the world around me,” she said.
Dietrick is one of 10 successful young women, including five from Monmouth County, selected as Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore’s Phenomenal Women Under 40. The women will be honored at the organization’s fifth annual Phenomenal Women Under 40 event Sept. 23 at its program activity center in Farmingdale.
A nonprofit organization committed to nurturing young leaders, Girl Scouts will present its Phenom Award to honorees in recognition of their career and community accomplishments to date, as well as their potential for achievement in the future.
As a business development representative at Seacrest Recovery Center in Eatontown, Dietrick guides individuals and families struggling with addiction in their first step toward recovery and a new life. “I wanted to fur ther contribute to promoting wellness and supporting recovery for those suffering from addiction,” she said.
In addition, Dietrick is a volunteer mentor and coordinator of Tigger House Foundation’s Student Alliance program where she helps individuals and families navigate the resources available in the community. Tigger House is a drug prevention foundation located in Red Bank.
“I get to share some of my experiences of growing up with the students,” she said. “They ask questions and I get to hear their perspective on things. Most of them are inspired because they know someone who has struggled with addiction. Or they end up finding out that they know someone.”
She finds both her roles rewarding. “We are educating. We are spreading awareness and really the more people I talk to, the more they realize that addiction is not something we should shy away from but be more open to. It can be your neighbor or your family member.”
Another recipient of the Phenom Woman award is Amy Cerulo of Middletown. As principal of Schroth School, part of the LADACIN Network in Wanamassa, Cerulo oversees 60 students, as well as teachers, paraprofessionals and therapists.
“We are a school for students with multiple disabilities,” she said, providing all their services – educational, therapeutic, social, residential – and support services for students and their families. “We are a world without barriers, for all the students who come here,” she said “Everything is adapted” for them. “We want to increase their ability to reach their goals.”
“I feel like it’s been my mission to serve others,” said Cerulo who was a special education teacher before being a leader in a special education school. “I didn’t always know that, but sometimes you find out later in life…This is what drives me – making sure that kids get the services they need to develop.”
When she’s not balancing her household, as a mom to a 1-year-old and 4-year-old, Cerulo runs with She Runs, a women’s running group based in Middletown. “It’s a positive group of women. We meet, run, support each other but also take on dif ferent local charities, running events for families. We kind of have a bond by sharing the love of the sport.”
Although Cerulo said she was not a Girl Scout she em- braces the mission of the or- ganization. “I’ve learned that we strive to empower young girls, help little girls feel good about themselves, to have a voice, and to involve themselves in their community.”
Other 2020 Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore Phenom Award recipients from Monmouth County include: Lindsey Carver, Farmingdale, production marketing manager for Bristol Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical in Princeton, and troop leader of Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore Brownie Troop 1066; Susan Pagano, Howell, program manager of business career and technology training at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, and founder of The Food Recovery Network at Monmouth University; and Lauren Staub, Asbury Park, owner of The Party Fairy LLC, and volunteer for organizations across New Jersey to help combat opioid addiction and a former Girl Scout.
“We are proud to shine the light on 10 remarkable women, who reflect Girl Scout’s focus on building women of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place,” said Eileen Higgins, chief executive officer, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. “Their achievements at work and in the community are inspiring and demonstrate to Girl Scouts what it means to be a leader.”
In keeping with COVID-19 safety guidelines, this year’s event will take place outdoors under a festive tent that will adjoin the open-air activity center. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 23. Tickets are $85 and may be purchased along with sponsorships. All proceeds from the charitable event will help provide a Girl Scout leadership experience for every girl who wants to become one and support new virtual programs created in response to COVID-19.
For more information, visit gsfun.or/phenom.
This article originally appeared in the March 26, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
