Senator Hassan Recognizes Kaylee Richard of Manchester and Samantha Grenier of Goffstown as January’s Granite Staters of the Month

Kaylee Richard (left) and Samantha Grenier (right) organized a career fair for young women with the help of Girls at Work, an organization that hosts programs to build confidence and strength in girls.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Kaylee Richard of Manchester and Samantha Grenier of Goffstown as January’s Granite Staters of the Month. This high school student duo organized a career fair targeted toward young women in the Manchester School District in order to empower the next generation of women leaders.

When Kaylee and Sam attended a career fair in 2022, they noticed that it was geared heavily towards men, and that they and other young women were struggling in the environment. In response, the pair approached their mentor, Elaine Hamel, to help them organize their own career fair targeted toward young women.

In coordination with Girls at Work, the Manchester School District and the Gear Up program, they organized a job fair with 16 local employers such as NH Fish and Game, the Manchester Police Department, and Trader Joe’s. The 150 or so female sophomores and juniors from Manchester’s Memorial, West, and Central high schools learned from women professionals from a variety of careers.

Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.

To read Senator Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record, see below.

I am honored to recognize Kaylee Richard of Manchester and Samantha Grenier of Goffstown as January’s Granite Staters of the Month. This high school student duo organized a career fair targeted toward young women in the Manchester School District in order to empower the next generation of women leaders.

Kaylee and Samantha became friends at age eight at a summer camp operated by Girls at Work, an organization that hosts programs to build confidence and strength in girls. In high school, they stayed involved with the organization as mentors, and so when they were faced with a challenge, they were prepared to take it on.

When Kaylee and Sam attended a career fair in 2022, they noticed that it was geared heavily towards men, and that they and other young women were struggling in the environment. In response, the pair approached their Girls at Work mentor, Elaine Hamel, to help them organize their own career fair targeted toward young women.

In coordination with Girls at Work, the Manchester School District and the Gear Up program, they organized a job fair with 16 local employers such as NH Fish and Game, the Manchester Police Department, and Trader Joe’s. The 150 or so female sophomores and juniors from Manchester’s Memorial, West, and Central high schools learned from women professionals from a variety of careers.

I admire Kaylee and Samantha for taking the initiative to make a difference in their community and empower women to explore their career options. It’s important that young Granite State women were able to see themselves in the women professionals they talked to and envision their career paths accordingly. Their courage in tackling the issue and making New Hampshire a more inclusive place is emblematic of the Granite State spirit, and I wish them luck as they organize a second women-only career fair this spring.

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