Girl power is alive and well.
And the Female Empowerment Foundation is celebrating it.
The foundation held its inaugural Female Empowerment Foundation Award on Thursday, Aug. 27, at the Northampton Valley Country Club in Richboro.
Angelina Schoener of Bensalem, Daphne Sucevic of Feasterville and Grace Arnor of Richboro were the recipients.
They were selected in recognition of their leadership, academic achievement, community service and character, which have had a meaningful impact within their schools and communities.
The event was hosted by Northampton Township Supervisor Barry Moore. The keynote speaker was Annia Hatch, a member of the 2004 U.S. Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team who won two silver medals.
Schoener, a recent graduate of Bensalem High School, is a freshman at Delaware Valley University, where she majors in animal science with an eye toward veterinary school.
A 12-year member of the Girl Scouts, Schoener earned Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.
For her Bronze, she organized a community initiative to collect, assemble and donate feminine hygiene kits for women residing in a local shelter.
Her Silver project was to design and build a sensory garden for shelter dogs, which could reduce the stress and anxiety often associated with shelter life. She organized volunteers and secured corporate donations for the garden, which is at the Women’s Animal Shelter in Bensalem. Her passion for animal welfare continues through volunteer service at the Churchville Nature Center.
Her Gold award combined nearly a decade of jiu-jitsu training with her passion for empowering young women. She founded a self-defense club at Bensalem High School to provide a safe, supportive environment where students could learn practical self-defense skills and build confidence. The program became so successful that faculty members joined the classes, and she was invited to teach self-defense lessons as part of the school's physical education curriculum.
“Winning this award means a lot to me,” she said. “There are amazing women in our community who are doing great things and if you add up all those women and what they’ve done this is truly an honor.”
Arnor is a junior at Council Rock South. She is a member of Scouting America, where she became the first female Eagle Scout from Northampton Township and at 16, one of the youngest people to earn Eagle Scout status.
Recognizing that many students face financial barriers to participating in school music programs, for her Eagle project she organized a communitywide initiative to collect, repair and distribute musical instruments while raising additional financial support for the Council Rock Music Foundation. Her efforts generated more than $30,000 in donated instruments and monetary contributions.
She completed the prestigious National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) program, where she strengthened her leadership, communication and team-building skills alongside other young leaders from across the region. She is also an active member of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting America's National Honor Society, and currently serves on her local Order of the Arrow Executive Committee. In this leadership role, she helps organize service initiatives, mentor fellow Scouts and promote the values of servant leadership, integrity and community involvement.
She has devoted more than 250 hours volunteering at youth camps, where she mentors younger Scouts, teaches outdoor skills and helps create meaningful experiences that encourage confidence, teamwork and personal growth. Her dedication to conservation has also led her to participate in numerous environmental stewardship projects, contributing countless hours toward preserving natural spaces and promoting responsible outdoor recreation.
“Scouting is such a big part of my life,” she said. “I would not be me without scouting. It’s who I am and it’s inspired me to help others and because the outdoors is such a big part of scouting, that inspired my career choice as well.
“I’m in Troop 147 in Holland and we’re a very close group. I’m very happy that other girls will have the same opportunities in scouting that I’ve had.”
Her top college choices are Elizabethtown and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Arnor says she would like to become a park ranger.
Sucevic, a recent graduate of Neshaminy High School, was unable to attend because she has started her first semester at George Washington University. She is studying political science to help prepare her for a future dedicated to public service.
She was honored by Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie. Her parents, Brian and Kathy, accepted on her behalf.
Her dedication to serving others began in middle school through her volunteer work at the Southampton and Feasterville Libraries, where she contributed throughout her freshman year of high school. Her responsibilities included assisting with children's “Fun Friday” craft programs and supporting community library events.
She also volunteered with the Jewish Relief Agency, where she assisted with packaging and delivering essential supplies to low-income families throughout the Philadelphia region.
Beginning in 2024, she expanded her community involvement through civic engagement initiatives, participating in voter outreach, canvassing efforts, poll operations during primary and general elections, event preparation and campaign logistics. These experiences reinforced her belief in the importance of active citizenship and public participation.
Sucevic has also supported initiatives focused on health education and accessibility by volunteering with an organization dedicated to distributing free menstrual products throughout Bucks County while promoting awareness and education surrounding menstrual health. Through this work, she helped address an important community need while advocating for greater dignity and accessibility.
“Volunteering has changed my life," Sucevic told Metro Philly Suburbs. "It’s opened me up to different people I wouldn’t have met otherwise and taught me that a small group can change the world.”
MORE: Pennsbury senior uses art and science to make global impact
