2021
GOLD AWARD YEARBOOK
LETTER FROM GSGLA LEADERSHIP
THE GIRL SCOUTS Dear Gold Award Girl Scouts and Families, We are incredibly proud to celebrate your accomplishments in earning your Gold Award. The highest achievement in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award represents your many months of work addressing areas of pressing need throughout Greater Los Angeles. Never an easy feat in any year, you faced an unprecedented obstacle—the COVID-19 pandemic. Each of you rose to the challenge with courage, confidence, and character, collectively logging more than 18,000 hours in community service. Many of you adjusted your original project ideas in response to social distancing orders and limited access to resources. We applaud your commitment and determination. This year’s 230 Gold Award projects inspired and empowered our communities—from tackling the issue of plastic polluting our oceans, to documenting the history and stories of Japanese Americans, to creating a bilingual children’s resource book on radiation therapy in the pediatric cancer community. You have made a lasting and positive impact by highlighting challenges in our communities and beyond. The 2021 Gold Award class has fully embraced the Girl Scouts mission to make the world a better place. On behalf of Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles members, volunteers, board members, and staff, we are honored to celebrate the culmination of your Girl Scout journey. Thank you for a job remarkably well done, and congratulations on earning the highest honor in Girl Scouting.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, is a national award with significant standards that elevate a girl’s leadership skills, creativity, values, and efforts to make the world a better place. Earning the Gold Award requires spending at least 80 hours planning and implementing a challenging, large-scale project that is innovative, engages others, and has a lasting impact on its targeted community. The prestigious award recognizes Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts—girls in grades 9-12—for outstanding accomplishments in leadership, community service, career planning, and personal development.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Theresa Edy Kiene Chief Executive Officer
GOLD AWARD YEARBOOK
Ellen E. Swarts Board Chair
Starting in 1916, the best and brightest undertook projects that improved their communities—and the world. The Golden Eaglet, the highest award in Girl Scouting from 1916-39, sparked the beginning of a long tradition of recognizing the extraordinary efforts of extraordinary girls.
From 1940-63, the Curved Bar Award was the highest honor in Girl Scouting. From 1963-80, the highest award was called First Class. And since 1980, the Gold Award has inspired girls to find the greatness inside themselves and share their ideas and passions with their communities. Nationwide, only 6 percent of all eligible Girl Scouts achieve the Gold Award. And out of 112 Girl Scout councils, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles (GSGLA) continuously boasts the highest number of girls reaching Gold each year. Girls who earn their Girl Scout Gold Award automatically enter the military one rank higher, qualify for college scholarships, and are eligible for additional national service awards.
2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES SIERRA ACOLENTAVA
STEPHANIE ALEXANDER
MAYA ARZOLA
ELIZABETH ASTIN
Rosary Garden
Save Our Oceans Project
Green Wave
One Hundred Years of Memories
Sierra’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by providing a place for members and ministries of the church. She also made a garden to teach people how to pray the rosary. The garden was made to benefit those who wish to have a place of sanctuary.
Stephanie’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by organizing beach cleanups. She created brochures to educate visitors about the harmful effects of plastic pollution and its effect on the ocean. She worked with Cabrillo Marine Aquarium to accomplish her Gold Award.
Maya’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by introducing a younger generation to recycling and teaching children the importance of conservative plastic use. She influenced children to do their part by recycling and living a sustainable lifestyle.
Gold Award Recipient
JADE ANASTASI
MORGAN APOLONIO
Got ASL?
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Innovate and Create
CASSANDRA ATKINSON
For Jade’s Gold Award project, she taught 90 students ASL to bridge the gap between hearing and deaf communities. She taught online zoom classes three days a week for four weeks. Her students can now have a conversation in ASL and have more knowledge of the deaf community.
Cassandra’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by planting a beautiful garden to create a more inviting and peaceful space at the entrance to Best Friends Animal Society. She added much-needed outdoor seating to accommodate visitors and volunteers, and collected supplies for animals.
Nicole’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by stressing the importance of early childhood literacy. She created materials and videos to spread her message throughout the local community and beyond. Fun and engaging events enabled children and their families to experience all the wonderful resources that the library has to offer.
RACHEL-ANN ARIAS
AVA ARMBRUSTER
KIANI BAETSLE
CANDACE BAIK
Connecting With Wildlife of the Foothills
Life Skiils For Young Women of the Future Workshop
A Greener STEP
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
Rachel-Ann’s Gold Award project helped facilitate positive connections between community members and local wildlife. She hosted multiple online workshops for kids, teaching them about local animals and conservation. She also designed a website with photos of local wildlife and created an instructional video of how to use remote cameras.
Ava’s Gold Award project addressed lack of public school funding for life skills curriculum. She provided a free virtual workshop for young women, ages 9-13, to learn skills, such as sewing a button, different ways to set a table, and cooking tips and tricks. After each lesson, each girl could print out a step-by-step instruction guide to refer back to.
Kiani’s Gold Award project addressed her school’s lack of recycling and sustainability initiatives. She founded La Canada High School’s latest Green Club, through which she established indoor recycling bins and a social media account, where infographics regarding environmental news were used to spread awareness to the community.
Gold Award Recipient
CAMERON ARMENDARIZ
PARKER ARMSTRONG
CHRISTINE BALIAN
RACHEL BEDOYAN
Revive & Restore: A National Parks Project
Art for All
Patient Amenities Kit & Social Media Plan For Shriners
Don’t Trash The Future
Cameron’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by creating an environmental curriculum revealing how anthropogenic pollution has taken over countless amenities granted by America’s National Parks. Revive & Restore aids in the solution by encouraging people to “Go Green,” starting with educating our youngest generations. 3
Morgan’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by encouraging others to learn about the environment and make changes to protect the planet. She created an environmental curriculum, working with the Metropolitan Water District, and led multiple workshops for kids across South Los Angeles.
Planting Seeds of Hope
NICOLE AUGUSTA The SCV Literacy Project
Parker’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by providing families at Richstone Family Center the opportunity to create art. This project gave participants the chance to interact with and learn about influential female artists, create art, and share the experience with their families.
Gold Award Recipient Gold Award Recipient
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES JEANETTE BENEDICT
KATHERINE BESCH
LORENA BOUCHER
Healthy Habits and Good Gardening
Sanitary Sanity: Restoring Girls’ Access to Education and Athletics in Uganda
Cancer Technology 101
Jeanette’s Gold Award project addressed unhealthy lifestyles in underserved communities. She planted a community garden at the Boys and Girls Club of Harbor City and taught classes to fourth and fifth graders on healthy eating, exercise, and growing fruits and vegetables.
Care for Cats Gold Award Recipient Sareen’s Gold Award project made a difference by educating her community about the importance of animal care and adoption. Her goal was to spread awareness that not all animals are treated properly. She made 100 care packages filled with animal care products, blankets, and a pamphlet with educational tips.
Katherine’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of menstrual products and sexual and reproductive health education in Northern Uganda. She worked with Ray United FC (RUFC) and raised funds to put on a Sexual and Reproductive Health and Hygiene Camp for 21 Ugandan youth.
RILEY BLAUGRUND
LORI BODNAR
AVA BOURDEAU
AMANDA BRADY
Inspiring Foster Children’s Creativity
Letters of Hope
Type Everyone
Exploring Art and Individuality
Lori’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by sending 200 letters and care packages with coloring books, coloring pencils, paints, activity books, newspapers, wooden holiday ornaments, and Valentine’s Day roses to seniors in assisted living facilities. Lori also hosted a Zoom music concert and dance performance to entertain residents.
Ava’s Gold Award project helped spread awareness of Type-1 Diabetes. She educated people about the condition, by providing insight on the science, technology, and history through a virtual presentation of stories of those impacted by the disease. Ava was able to reach a broad range of people, previously uneducated about Type-1 Diabetes.
Amanda’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by enriching the art curriculum and space of the Boys & Girls Club. Amanda taught art classes to kids, covering technique and personal expression. She refurbished the art room by painting three murals and refurnishing and repainting the art tables. She also donated art supplies to the Boys & Girls Club.
LAUREN BOLTON
ANNIE BRUNDIGE
P.O.W. (Power of Words)
Virtual Warrior Welcome
Hometown Heroes: Girl Scouts of the Crescenta Valley
LORIELLE CAMPOSMARTEL
Ashley’s Gold Award project inspired and encouraged people in her community to appreciate the importance of literacy. By writing a children’s book and comic, she illustrated the importance of reading and encouraged people to explore writing through a creative writing workshop and contest.
Lauren’s Gold Award project helped incoming freshmen, who have just finished eighth grade, transition into a new environment. She filmed a series of informational videos on various crucial topics, hosted lunchtime Zoom meetings with engaging presentations, and created an all-day orientation for the incoming class.
IDALINA BONHAM B&G Club of America Teen Library
Riley’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by helping to ensure the needs of foster children were not neglected. She designed a mural that spreads hope and positivity to kids, parents, lawyers, and staff at court. She updated a media room, to provide a creative, educational experience for kids who frequent the building.
ASHLEY BOLTER
Idalina’s Gold Award project made a difference in the community by providing a calm and comfortable environment for teens to study, do homework, research, and to prepare for college. The library provides easy access to a great variety of books, from fiction to AP textbooks and college prep materials.
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SAREEN BOULGOURJIAN
Sew It Together
Annie’s Gold Award project made an impact on the community by creating an archival and storage process for memorabilia at local universities. Annie accepted a $30,000 grant to work with USC and Cal State Northridge to learn how to execute metadata and digitize scrapbooks left to the universities dating back to 1929.
Lorielle’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by teaching others about the importance of wearing fabric face mask. She created a YouTube channel explaining how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she taught younger Girl Scouts how to sew their own face masks.
LAURENCIA BOTTS
BAILEY CANHAM
CADIE CARLSON
Coding Games to Teach Kids About
Voting 101
Go Away Germs
Bailey’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of voter apathy among young adults. She designed a curriculum for high school and college students explaining how to vote, understand ballot initiatives, and what impact their ballot can have. She also designed a website to share projects as well as provide general voting information for all young voters to take advantage of.
Cadie’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by helping a local daycare stay healthy during COVID-19. She made UV sanitizing boxes for each classroom, so teachers could easily clean toys and books. She also taught preschoolers how to properly wash their hands and other healthy lifestyle practices.
Environmental Issues Laurencia’s Gold Award project addressed environmental awareness. She created an educational resource, “EnviroGames,” with purpose of educating youth about environmental issues. Her games aim to support teachers and educators with online resources, to aid in distanced learning.
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES LANEY CASTILLO
MELODY CAUDILL
ASL on the Go
Voiceover
Gold Award Recipient
Melody’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by creating a safe space, where creative young people from all over the world were able to share their art, ideas, and voice. The idea for this project hatched before COVID-19 hit, but it had a greater impact during quarantine because it connected a group of people during a time when they needed it most.
Purple Hydrangea Project Walnut Chapter Srisai Saavarni’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of awareness surrounding mental health. She brought a mental health nonprofit to her school to help break down the misconceptions surrounding mental health. Together, they started a much needed discussion in the community about the issue.
GENEVIEVE CHIN Art, Technology, and Business Education Genevieve’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by introducing youth in L.A. County to interdisciplinary education and resources. Partnering with the Los Angeles Public Library, Genevieve hosted virtual workshops with professionals covering coding, design, and business, reaching students across the County.
CASEY CHAN
ALLISON CHANG
BRIANNA CORNETT
TEVA CORWIN
The Art of Safety
A Preemium on Preemies
Cards for the Courageous
Los Angeles Teens Get Out the Vote
Casey’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of the importance of safety by hosting virtual safety seminars for a local elementary school and scouting troops. Casey’s project also involved illustrating educational comic strips and creating a website that documented all research.
Allison’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of premature birth. She created a website to provides support resources for families. She taught a Zoom workshop on how to crochet preemie hats for donation, and donated 25 kits, with crayons, books, blankets, onesies, and rattles, to the Loma Linda Hospital NICU to families waiting to take their preemie home.
Gold Award Recipient
Gold Award Recipient
KATHLEEN CHEN
ALEXIS CHERNIN
EMMA CRAWFORD
ALLISON CRUDELE
Relievate
Healthy Meals for RW Marching Alliance Students During Competitions
Encouraging Young Students to Stay with Music
Your First Step
When Alexis discovered that fellow band students were hungry at competitions because of a lack of access to adequate nutrition, she was inspired to create a Gold Award project to provide food before and during offcampus events. She ensured that each student received two meals during offcampus events.
Emma’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by helping students and parents recognize the benefits of music while providing resources for a successful music career. Her project included a website, a published book, student meetings and seminars, newspaper articles, videos, and a high school club.
Gold Award Recipient
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SRISAI SAAVARNI CHILUKURI
Gold Award Recipient
KAYLEE CHEUNG
KAITLIN CHHENG
SHINJINI DAS
EMMA DE LA TORRE
Healthy and Clean Habits
Teen Suicide Awareness
Operation Smile
Mother Luisita: “Adelante! Onward! God will provide!”
Kaylee’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by purchasing hand sanitizer stations for her local high school and educating students about cleanliness through infographics. She also directed workshops teaching younger scouts and community how to sew masks.
Kaitlin’s Gold Award project made an impact in her community by raising awareness of suicide prevention. In a highly competitive high school, with students facing academic pressures and mental health issues, major risk factors of teen suicide were being ignored. It inspired her to take the crucial step towards prevention by raising awareness among the staff and student body.
Shinjini’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of situational homelessness in the San Gabriel Valley by partnering with “A Family Promise and the Church of the Good Shepherd,” in Arcadia. To help families staying at the church, she made fleece blankets with a signature heart to remind them they’re loved and created a mural where the families stay.
Emma’s Gold Award project provided an educational tool for immigrant students of color. She wrote a children’s book, in which the protagonist immigrates to the U.S. and is bullied for being an immigrant, but continues to pursue her education and becomes a very successful immigration lawyer.
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES KOA DE LEON
ADRIENNE DE FARIA
MING-AN FASQUELLE
RILEY FASS
Filipino Americans Rising
Masks for LA LGBT Center
Anecdote Boat: Uncovering the Past Podcast
History and Founding of Pomona Activities for Children
Koa’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of ethnic studies in high school curricula. She organized a series of five virtual workshops that taught Filipino American high school students about their history and how to become leaders. She gathered speakers to discuss leadership, Filipino American history, and leadership skills.
Adrienne’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of PPE for underserved communities. She supplied the Los Angeles LGBT Center with cloth and medical grade masks, supplies to sew masks, and video tutorials in Spanish and English.
Ming-An’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by amplifying the voices of senior citizens. She created a podcast where every 20-min episode highlighted a different senior’s beautiful and complex life.
Riley’s Gold Award project addressed the accessibility of fun and educational local history activities for children. She made a workbook of activities with history on three historical sites from the Historical Society of Pomona. Her project made local history in Pomona more accessible and interesting to kids.
ELISE DEGROOT
ARIANNA DIAZ
JULIA FINCH
LILLYANNE FISHER
Purling Girls
Project Sweet Tooth
Care About Rare
Artistic Expression Against Digital Addiction
Elise’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by helping Knots of Love create and mail baby blankets to babies in the NICU. She did this by safely teaching her friends how to knit. Once the blankets were done, she took them to the Knots of Love headquarters, where she packaged and labeled other knit goods.
Gold Award Recipient
KATRYNA ISABELLE DIONISIO
EVELYN DOWD
Music Wall Katryna’s Gold Award project addressed inclusion of children with special needs. She created a sensory-friendly way for kids to interact with one another and provided a creative space for them. Katryna is passionate about making schools a more inclusive place for everyone, regardless of their needs.
Lillyanne’s Gold Award project utilized an artistic approach to address electronics overuse. Through interactive art workshops, she taught children and their families about the harms of digital addiction. She introduced creative expression as a means of developing the reflective skills that are subdued by extensive smartphone use.
MOLLY FLEISCHER
EILSE FONG
Reading is Fun(damental)!
Mask Making Video
Amp It Up
Evelyn’s Gold Award project addressed literacy rates in underserved communities. She worked with Families Forward Learning Center, to make the library more accessible and inviting, creating resources with information on local libraries and educational websites. She also created a program pairing a high school volunteer with a Pre-K student to read a book once a week.
Molly’s Gold Award project addressed the shortage of masks in underserved communities. Her project focused on encouraging people to donate masks. She learned how to sew masks and created an instructional video teaching others how to make them. She was able to donate more than 50 masks to Ronald McDonald House in Pasadena.
Elise’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by building recording studios out of recycled crates and hosting workshop exercises for confidenceboosting. Elementary school students in her community will use her recording studios to record assignments using the Flipgrid and Seesaw apps.
MINA FAIRALL
ASHLEY FARRELL
LILY FONTES
KATHARINE FRANKLIN
Pure Imagination: Unlocking Your Inner Creative Genius
A Rookies Guide to FIRST Lego League
Garbage to Gold
Raising Awareness; Raising Noodle
Mina’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of variety of art forms taught in schools. She created and implemented a sixweek online comic/cartooning summer art course through her local library for 9- 12-year-old students in her community.
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Julia’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by increasing awareness and support for people living with rare diseases.
Ashley’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by creating a 16-part video series teaching students about robotics and engineering, through the FIRST Lego League program. The series provided simple instructions allowing mentors and family members to provide quality guidance to students interested in the field.
Gold Award Recipient
Katharine’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by socializing and training her puppy, Noodle, as a puppy raiser for Guide Dogs of America. She educated her community about how guide dog teams should be respected, and she raised awareness about how guide dogs provide more independence for the visually impaired.
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES ELIZABETH MARIE FREEMAN Sketching 101 How to Blast off as an Artist Gold Award Recipient
Abolition Through Awareness Lucy’s Gold Award project addressed the threat of nuclear warfare by hosting several events and opportunities to educate her community about this issue. She partnered with Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles to create a documentary, website, pamphlets and t-shirts for the organization’s office and held presentations for more than 200 community members.
ALESSANDRA GONZALEZ
CLAUDIA GOORE Project Angel Food Masks
Gardens of the World - Lesson Plans Gold Award Recipient Gold Award Recipient
ELIZABETH FUIRE
KATIE FURLONG
ALYSSA GORE
SOPHIA GRAMMER
Buidling Confidence and Self Esteem Through Theater
Beneficial Bug Hotels
Growing Goodness
Safe Community Theatre in the Time of COVID
Katie’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of deforestation by teaching the next generation how to help. She wrote a book to spread the word.
Alyssa Gore’s Gold Award Project titled “Growing Goodness” made an impact on her community by adding a vegetable garden to her local retirement home. This garden catered to different disabilities of the elderly residents by having multilevel gardening beds. Alyssa’s project ignited passion in many residents, as well as gave them a fresh alternative to be used in the facility’s kitchen.
Sophia’s Gold Award project made a difference in the community by bringing performance to the virtual stage. Sophia wrote a play and worked with young actors to create a 60-minute Zoom production. Sophia shared the play with the community through YouTube and wrote a manual on virtual productions for local theater companies.
Gold Award Recipient
ANI GABRELIAN
ALYSSA GARCIA
MADAILEIN GREGG
MOIRA GULDEN
The Golden Brush
Ebell Memorial Garden
2nd Day Denim
Education on Cleft Lip Genetics
Ani’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by bringing together youth and elder communities through art. Together, Girl Scout Troop 1202 and Boy Scout Troop 440 held art workshops and created beautiful paintings to deliver to Ararat Home as gifts for the elderly, bringing them joy during difficult times.
Alyssa’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by beautifying an empty space for the community to enjoy. Beautifying the Ewell brought life back into the property. This area is now sustainable and everyone is able to enjoy it, whether touring the property or viewing it from afar.
Madailein’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of denim waste in landfills. She collected used denim from residents in her community, then gave it to an organization that turns denim into eco-friendly insulation.
Moira’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by spreading awareness about Van derWoudes Syndrome. She created a curriculum on the genetics of the condition for local high school biomed science students and made pamphlets for UCLA and St. John’s Hospital craniofacial clinics. She also created a Youtube video and social media accounts.
MADELINE GRACE GUTIERREZ
SAMANTHA GENTILLE
ESTHER GOLDBERG
KARINA GUNN
Training an Equine Therapy Horse for Dream Catcher of Los Angeles
Taking on Gluten
Food Waste and Composting in Santa Monica
Samantha’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by providing Dream Catcher with a therapeutic riding horse for their lesson program. She raised funds to purchase the horse and trained him for therapeutic riding lessons. She also made an instructional video for future volunteers.
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LUCY FRIEDMAN
Esther’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by raising awareness about celiac disease. She created a website for gluten-free recipes, food lists, information, and presentations. She also hosted Zoom meetings with family, friends, and community organizations, teaching people about the disease and her experiences living with it.
Karina’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of food waste. She hosted seminars for local students, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts, educating them on the origin of food waste, how they can reduce their own food waste, and how to repurpose their food waste into compost.
PC Building Madeline’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by teaching different generations how to build their own personal computer.
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES PAIGE GUTZKE
ADRIANA GYEPES
SKYLAR HIGGINS
LINDSEY HIRANO
Solar Boat Garden
Seeing Myanmar
Dare to Prepare
Girl Code
Paige’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by educating it about San Dimas High School’s strong STEM club.
Adriana’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of glasses for children in Myanmar. She collected used glasses in her community by setting up donation boxes, holding presentations in schools, creating a website, and working with stores. She then took the glasses she had collected to Myanmar.
Skylar’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by teaching students and Girl Scouts how to create wildfire preparedness plans. She led presentations for over 200 people, teaching them the basics of fire safety and leading them through making and sharing an emergency plan. She also designed a website full of resources so anyone can “”dare to prepare.”
Gold Award Recipient
KAITLYN HAMMER
CHRISTINA HANNA
ALYSSA HO
JANELLE HO
A Journey Through Time
Emergency Supply Kits
Full STEAM Ahead
Career and Future With the Army National Guard
Kaitlyn’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by interviewing senior citizens encouraging them to share their life experiences which she made into a book. She trained volunteers to host a Brownie workshop to teach girls about family stories. She also crafted a manual with instructions to replicate her project.
Christina’s Gold Award project addressed emergency preparedness. Christina discovered her school had only small first-aid kits that were lacking. She decided to expand her school’s emergency supplies. With the help of donors and volunteers, she provided 50 emergency supply buckets for classrooms in her school, and she replenished them as needed.
Alyssa’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of diversity in STEM. She hosted an online, all-female app competition. Participants from 11+ countries learned about paper prototyping, Figma, and Thunkable to design a mental health app. Participants were also given resources to other app competitions, where they could continue their app ideas.
ANNELIESE HANSON
SAMANTHA HAYASHI
KAITLYN HO
CLARE HOUSTON
Avian Avengers
Happy Spaces
Spreading Their Stories: Viet Biographies
Pregnancy Help Center Stories
Anneliese’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by teaching others how birds impact the environment. She instructed people to make simple changes in their day-to-day life to help maintain bird populations.
Samantha’s Gold Award project addressed the stigma of mental health in the Asian American community. She updated the waiting room at the Asian Pacific Counseling and Treatment Center by painting a carnival-themed mural and providing fun activities for children. She also worked with younger Scouts to make frames to display children’s artwork.
Gold Award Recipient
Clare’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of spreading awareness about the Pregnancy Help Center and the pro-life message. She created a booklet of stories from women who had positive experiences at the center, service info, and volunteer opportunities. She gave presentations about the center to youth groups at St. James’ Parish and Bishop Montgomery High School.
ANNIKA HERNANDEZ
ELISE HERNANDEZ
LAINEE IRRIBARREN
ARABELLA ISHKHANIAN
From A to Zen; Healthy Food Options and Lifestyle Choices
Picture the Progress
Book-Ease
Women in S.T.E.M
Elise’s Gold Award project provided students of under-resourced communities with professional photography equipment and a virtual photography class. She gave presentations on the basic mechanics and history of photography, and brought in a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer to discuss photography as a career choice.
Lainee’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by replacing the library service eliminated from an elementary school due to pandemic-related budget cuts. She made videos of herself reading books, while also including reading comprehension questions. She made monthly kits with specific topics such as sensory and focus to help with learning.
Arabella’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by creating a club at John Burroughs High School called Women In S.T.E.M. Arabella successfully reached her goals: empowering young women, bringing awareness to STEM fields, and encouraging endless possibilities.
Annika’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by raising awareness about the importance of personal health, from physical activity to self-care.
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Gold Award Recipient
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES BROOKLYN JACKSON
ZOE JACOBS
ISABELLA KASH
EUNICE KAY
Brooklyn’s Bridge
Saugus Strong Mental Health Garden
Special Needs Activity Cart
Adulting 101
Brooklyn’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by uplifting children awaiting placement in foster care. Her project, Brooklyn’s Bridge, brings “light” to children going through times of uncertainty in their lives. With the help of the Brooklyn’s project, the children can now see that they are truly loved.
Gold Award Recipient
Gold Award Recipient
Gold Award Recipient
HONEY JAMES
HAILEY JOHNSON
JULIA KELLER
ABIGAIL KELLY
Stop Teen Vaping
Senior Center Technology Workshop
Helping House of Yahweh
Fostering Equity Through Literacy
Honey’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of the teen vaping. Her objective was to enlighten teens about the dangers of vaping. She created flyers and bumper stickers with hotline numbers, which were distributed throughout her community. She also created a short video for the Walnut High School website as a resource for teens and their families.
Hailey’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of seniors lacking technology knowledge by holding Zoom workshops. The workshops contained powerpoint presentation with visual instruction, games, and Q&A of the information. A 40-page IT manual was made for the seniors to access on their own when in need of help.
Julia’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of community engagement. Her project helped a local outreach organization called House of Yahweh, by listing dozens of clothing items to their online store. The project also implemented a sustainable organizational system for storing items.
Abigail’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by accomplishing her original project of building a library for a domestic violence shelter and changing and expanding the plan when faced with challenges. Abigail collected over 11,000 books and provided them to the shelter library, multiple schools, the local courthouse, and a few different organizations.
BRIANNE JUNG
ASHLEY KANESHIRO
GRACIN KERRY
SOPHIE KESHISHIAN
Sensory Pathways
The History of the Japanese American Basketball League
Medical Staff and Family- Cabin 25
Campus Sustainable Beautification
Gracin’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing a place for medical staff and their family to stay at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, allowing for more childhood cancer survivors and their families to participate in camp activities.
Sophie’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of climate change and drought by beautifying the entrance of Taft High School using California Native, drought-resistant plants. Sophie held a Zoom meeting with fellow Cubs and Brownies, to instill the importance of saving water at home. She created and sent Water Conservation Tip Cards to every troop family.
Brianne’s Gold Award project made an impact by establishing sensory pathways in the hallways of her local elementary school. These pathways provided a “brain break” to help children regain their concentration by engaging them in mindful movement. From hopping on starfish to counting ladybugs, they benefit childrens’ cognitive and motor skills development.
CASSIE KAO
SAMARA KAPLAN
JULIA KEZELE
ANGELA KHADOUR
Music Wellness Program
“If You Fall Down You Get Back Up Again” - Inclusion Music Video
Garden Patio Upgrade for Seniors
Healthy Living During Quarantine
Julia’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of the impact of COVID-19 on the senior community by renovating the Pasadena Senior Center’s Garden. Julia added new plants, new river rocks around the base of six trees, solar lights for trees, solar pathway lights, and market lights for their patio.
Angela’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of unhealthy living during quarantine by doing workshops with high school students. During the workshops, Angela addressed important topics about living healthy. She made a brochure that she sent to friends, family, high school students, and her troop. Angela also created a website.
Cassie’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by connecting the youth at her church with those in the special education classes through music and building relationships. Her project strives to bring joy to these kids through music and improve their emotional and mental health by offering an outlet for them to express their emotions. 15
Ashley’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by spreading awareness of the 90-year history of the Japanese American Optimist (JAO) Youth Basketball League, the internment of JapaneseAmericans, and the importance of good sportsmanship on the court.
Samara’s Gold Award project addressed the issues of inclusion, friendship, and anti-stereotyping by creating an original song and a music video. The video is available on YouTube and is intended to be used to “spark” meaningful conversations. Bullying is not okay, and stereotyping is not okay.
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES MIKAYLIE KIYOMURA
EMILY KLAPMUST
ALLISON LARRIMORE
JACQUELINE MEI YEE LEE
Storybook Garden
Safety Signs for Schools
Mental Illness: Don’t Believe the Hype
Empowering Tri-Valley Girls in STEM
Gold Award Recipient
Allison’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of mental illness by creating a website with resources and support targeted towards teens. She presented the website at leader and troop meetings to spread the message. The project was important to her as someone who personally struggles with mental illness.
Jacqueline’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of females in the STEM field. Collaborating with her school district, she planned and hosted a virtual panel featuring women in animal science where panelists shared about their careers and their pathways in school. It was shared with students and volunteers at the Oakland Zoo.
NOA KROP
SIMONE KUO
KATHERINE LEE
NATALIE LEE
Patching Together a Safe Return to Soccer
Project W.A.S.H.
Health and Fitness Videos for Elementary School Students
Live Stream for Church
Noa’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of safely returning to youth sports during the pandemic by designing and distributing patches to young girls’ to wear on their masks. The coaches gave them out to recognize leadership or mastering a new skill to inspire girls to want to participate, wear their masks, and build skills while having fun.
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Emily’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by creating kid-friendly COVID-19 signage for three local elementary schools, helping facilitate the safe return of K–6 students to on-campus learning during the pandemic.
Simone’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of younger generations lack of complying with COVID-19 protocols by providing health resources to local schools. Simone designed health educational materials, produced safety videos, and created informative brochures and flyers. The flyers and brochures will be provided to partnered schools when they reopen.
Katherine’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by sharing her love and knowledge of healthy living. She created a 9-video program with fun and easy ways to exercise, stretch, and make healthy recipes. Katherine gave young students from 3 schools time to grow, rest, reflect, and learn healthy daily routines.
Natalie’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing a live stream for her church so elderly members could watch services from home. She made a booklet that explained the live stream process and trained church staff. She also helped elderly church members learn how to use the technology to access the live streaming services.
HAILEY LAM
HANNAH LANDSWICK
OLIVIA LEE
ZOE LIN
Reading for the Future
Shelter Animal Adoption Education
Creating Apps and Videos to Teach Kids About Environmental Issues
Cleaner Oceans Project
Hailey’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by starting a reading incentive program and renovating the library at Longfellow Elementary School. She read virtually with students every Friday in order to give the students more one-on-one help. In addition, she collected and bought new books to expand and update the library’s collection.
Hannah’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by creating a video with training information and tips and a pamphlet with important information when adopting your canine companion. She also hosted pet care workshops with adopters to help them as a part of the adoption process.
ERIN LANGNESS
MAYA LARA
MIKAELA LIPPON
The Gold Award Garden
Healing Hearts Through Art
Treadmill Desk for Working and Learning From Home
Erin’s Gold Award project made a difference in the community by partnering with a local community garden to provide them with access to compost bins to promote a sustainable lifestyle. Erin developed a website for the community with examples of ways to change habits to live more sustainably. Erin also led Junior troops to earn their Gardener Badge.
Maya’s Gold Award project made a difference in the community by allowing pediatric patients to be kids and not be patients by doing arts and crafts and having fun.
Gold Award Recipient
Mikaela’s Gold Award project made an impact on the community by providing a way to exercise while overcoming the challenges of COVID-19. Mikaela taught people how to build a treadmill desk through holding in-person workshops and DIY videos and has inspired others to stay active and be creative through exercise.
Zoe’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of ocean pollution by creating a children’s book and video educating elementary students about the harmful effects plastic waste has on marine life.
AMANDA LIZARRAGA Distance Dancing Amanda’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by reformating her dance community’s practices to an online format. Her work with the Dixon Dance Troupe aided the community in understanding dance is important not only physically, but also on a neurological level, as discussed in her research paper.
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES CHARLOTTE LOCICERO
NATALIA LOGG
NORA ANN MCGINITY
MACHAELA MCLAIN
Road to Becoming a Better Photographer
Project Love Yourself
Improving the Food Service Area at Saint Lawrence of Brindisi Catholic Church
Girl Power
For her Gold Award project, Charlotte created Road to Becoming a Better Photographer to help teens with limited access to affordable classes, build social skills, creativity, and cultural awareness. Private art classes are often expensive or not available until high school.
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Natalia’s Gold Award made an impact on the community by informing middle and high school students about the importance of body positivity and self-confidence. She created an informational pamphlet, a YouTube video with testimonials, and podcasts from experts in the field in health and fitness. Natalia also presented to Girl Scouts and youth groups in her community.
Nora’s Gold Award project made a difference by refurbishing the area the church uses to serve food to those experiencing homelessness. Nora spruced up the garden with all-new plants, grasses and flowers. The changes brought smiles to the visitors and volunteers.
Machaela’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of the lack of women in male-dominated fields by directing a documentary that featured women in different careers. She interviewed 13 women from different backgrounds and asked them about their experiences, journeys, and any advice they might have to girls.
ELIZABETH MANSOUR
AUDREY MARCUS
BROOKE MCMURREY
SIMRAN MEHTA
At Home Gardening Kit
Peace of Mind Masks
Makerspace Recording Studio
Coding for All
Elizabeth’s Gold Award project made an impact on the community by giving the homebound clients of Foothill Unity Center something to do and make, providing them with some extra healthy foods, and teaching them gardening skills.
Audrey’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of COVID-19 by providing masks to foster families as a way to keep them safe and healthy during the pandemic. Since the masks are washable, families can use them for years to come.
Brooke’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by empowering kids to use technology in a fun exciting way. She helped create and implement an audio-visual program at the Makerspace-STEM classroom. By exposing kids to technology at a young age, they are more likely to pursue STEM fields in the future.
Simran’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of female involvement in STEM. She taught young girls the basics of coding. Her goal was to encourage girls to consider coding as a possible career and not be discouraged by gender stereotypes. For 10 consecutive weeks, Simran successfully taught middle school girls how to use and interpret the Unity program.
MARY MARSH
MAYA MASAOKA
SYLVIE MEKJIAN
NINA MELENDREZ
Comfort Room
A Lifetime of Music
Happy Totes for the Tough
Project Sponsor a Home
For her Gold Award project, Mary created a separate space for the patient’s families to grieve for their loved one in peace, called the Comfort Room. The room contained a prayer box for notes, chairs and table, magazines, books, and brochures on hospice and funeral services in the surrounding counties.
Maya’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by helping kids in her community learn about the value of music and how to appreciate it, and helped them start a lifelong skill of playing an instrument.
Sylvie’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing 60 cancer patients at the Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, with handsewn tote bags. The bags were filled with essential items that helped ease their discomfort, and give them a little happiness during their chemotherapy treatments.
Gold Award Recipient
THALIA MASON
ELLIE MASSIMINO
LINDSAY MICHELS
MALINA MIURA
Sensory Fort
Bookcases for Ascencia
Paving a Brand New Path
Pen Pal Program
Thalia’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing a safe space for special needs students to use sensory objects to engage with the world around them while at school. She made weighted stuffed animals for the teacher to use during class and constructed the fort in a way that was simple to take apart and reassemble for easy cleaning.
Ellie’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing the children at Ascencia, books and art supplies. She painted and designed shelves, made coloring books, hosted book and art supply drives, and made lesson plans for the children at Ascencia. Ellie hopes that the children staying there can use and enjoy her project.
Lindsay’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by giving people a space to enjoy nature during social isolation. Lindsey worked to maintain local neglected trails, where her community can now spend time outside safely and improve their mental health during the pandemic. She also beautified areas of Los Angeles to promote outdoor recreation in the city.
Malina’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by creating a sustainable pen pal program through the Culver City Sister City Committee and Culver City High School. The program gives students learning Japanese and Spanish an opportunity to meet and write letters to students learning English in Kaizuka, Japan and Uruapan, Mexico.
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES SAYLA MIYOSHI
KARENA MO
KEIRA OKADA
JENNA OKOHIRA
Keeping Our Students Safe
Awareness of Pets of the Homeless
Music Theory Education for Young Musicians
Healthy Start to a Healthy Heart
Sayla’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by educating her fellow students about injury prevention and care. She held online workshops, created educational videos, and shared resources through a webpage on her school’s Sports Medicine Team website. Her project reached over 300 individuals and counting.
Karena’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by bringing awareness to the struggles for the pets of homeless persons. She created a website to address the issue and held a virtual food drive to collect pet food, beds, and supplies for their pets. She also created pamphlets that were displayed at pet stores in her community about the issue.
Jenna’s Gold Award project addressed health education. She created video workshops about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and presented them to an elementary class. She hopes the content, which included topics such as the Plate Method, exercise, and common health misconceptions, will instill a willingness to be more health conscious.
ELLIE MOGA
SELA MURPHY
SYDNEY ORRISON
ALEXANDRIA ORTIZ
Senior Citizen Socialization
Girl Sense
Giving History an Update
The Golden Race
Gold Award Recipient
Sela’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by hosting a series of free one-hour workshops on self-defense for young women throughout January 2021. She invited teen girls to join her on Zoom to learn self-defense techniques, gain awareness, set boundaries, and learn information they must know in the event of an assault.
Sydney’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by developing a website for the Historical Society of Pomona Valley. The Historical Society has many valuable resources for students and researchers but needed a better way to share them. Sydney created a new website that makes the Historical Society’s information and resources more accessible and user-friendly.
Alexandria’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by giving people an outlet to stay active and motivated while at home during the pandemic. By posting weekly workout videos, information on athletics, and interviewing volunteers about their experience in sports. Participants could challenge themselves by running a cumulative eight-mile virtual race.
EMIKO NAEPFLIN
LANA NEULANDER
RHIANNON PAILET
KARINA PARIKH
Better Learning Through Improved Nourishment
Ice Age in the Computer Age
ElderLearning Music
Pennekamp Online Tutoring Platform
Lana’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by giving kids access to science programming through the La Brea Tar Pits during the pandemic. Lana helped the La Brea Tar Pits Museum develop a digital curriculum with hands-on activities and demonstrations.
Rhiannon’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by promoting productivity, social interaction, and happiness in the lives of the elderly through music therapy. She enlisted a group of volunteers and taught ukulele lessons. She also hosted a Christmas ukulele show to showcase the progress they made during her project.
Gold Award Recipient
For Emiko’s Gold Award project, she helped underserved families facing food scarcity worsened by the pandemic. By teaming up with Helpline Youth Counseling, Emiko reached out to families in need and provided them meal kits with ingredients and instructions. The meal kits were designed to be easily-recreated in the future.
ANNIE NGIAM
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Keira’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by making music theory education more accessible for young musicians by reaching out to students who were a part of a nonprofit music organization. She was able to make an impact in their lives by providing them with the foundations of music theory education.
HERA OHANNESSIAN
NICOLE PARKER
MIA PAVON
Word Play
Toddler Outdoor Learning
Building US and Japan Relations
Just Keep Swimming
Annie’s Gold Award project created a safe place for writers online. From aspiring writers, to those who have experience putting pen to paper, the Word Play website is a place to foster writing and creativity. Featured articles, writing prompts, and a spotlight on community writing, the website provides a home for writing and writers across the nation.
Hera’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by creating a fun learning environment for toddlers at AGBU Artemis Nazarian preschool. She created different stations with learning activities and playsets to play and enjoy. Children gained an education through activity, while socializing with their peers and being outdoors.
Nicole’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by educating students about the Great East Japan Earthquake and the discrimination that Fukushima residents faced in the aftermath. Her project goal was to help others understand the challenges different populations and groups go through and to cultivate relationships with people of different backgrounds.
Mia’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by reminding the young ladies of the Boys and Girls Club that they are worthy of a comfortable safe space. Mia remodeled the girls locker room, livening up the place with handmade cubbies, benches, murals, clothing hooks, and installing small motivational handmade paintings. 22
2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES JASMIN PETERMAN
HANNAH PHAN
GIOVANNA QUEVEDO
MICHELLE RACHMAT
Teach Effective Travel English and History/Culture of Los Angeles to Japanese Students
Simple Actions Create Simple Smiles
A Kid’s Guide to Radiation Therapy
Comfortably Waiting
Hannah’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by creating an inclusiveness club at her school. This club met daily to reduce the gap between Special Education students and students at her school. They broke the ice by playing fun icebreaker games and doing cool crafts.
Giovanna’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by adressing the need for ageappropriate, resources on radiation therapy in the pediatric cancer community. After researching, writing and publishing her book, she partnered with 12 hospitals and organizations to provide her resources to over 45,000 patients and families.
Michelle’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by providing recliners, charging station, and Google Chromecast for families in the surgical waiting area of a local medical facility. She also made 132 activity bags for siblings the patients getting out of surgery. The activity bags were in three categories: art, school supplies, and toys.
Gold Award Recipient
AVANTHI PILLAN
ISABELLA PIZANA
ELANAH RAE
ALEXA RAHARDJO
Training for the Future
Lend a Hand
Kali’s Journey
Educate626
Gold Award Recipient
Isabella’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by helping women and children survivors of domestic violence and bringing awareness of the issue to her community.
Elanah’s Gold Award project raised awareness about inhumane living conditions for dogs. She raised money to fly a dog from Korea and fostered the dog for two months while educating members of her community about the issue.
Alexa’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by unifying various generations and ethnic communities by spreading awareness about current political and social topics in native languages.
KATELYN POOL
NAOMI PORTER
SAVANNAH RANGEL
ALLISON RAYER
Closing the Technology Gap
EntrepreYOUership
You Mean Something
Virtual Summer Camp
Katie’s Gold Award project addressed gender and age gaps in computer science and technology. She hosted a virtual workshop for Junior Girl Scouts to learn basic coding skills and met female role models in computer science. She hosted a virtual class teaching social media to seniors seeking ways to connect with their families and friends during the pandemic.
Naomi’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing free entrepreneurial education to youth. Her project has served over 600 youth through 30+ workshops equipping young people with an entrepreneurial mindset. Her advocacy and Gold Award work has been featured in Forbes, Girl Talk HQ, and Voyage LA Magazine.
Savannah’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of mental health in middle school students by writing positive messages on the bathroom stalls. She did this by first painting the stalls bright, beautiful colors and painting fun designs on them. She then wrote different hotlines for students to call or text if they need help.
Allison’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing kids with a COVID-safe summer camp. Allison worked with La Canada Presbyterian Church to convert their annual Vacation Bible School into an online experience with daily small group Zoom calls and a Shaved Ice truck event. She planned curriculum, and created videos with craft and STEM projects.
SOFIA PRESTINE
FRANCESCA PUCCINELLI
MIA RISIGLIONE
JOELY RODGRIGUEZ
Saving the Environment One Pet Bed at a Time
Navigating Social Media
Comfort Is Happiness
Bonding Dolls
Francesca’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of the dangers of social media by creating a workshop that teaches young girls how to safely navigate the internet. In addition, she also created a website that contains resources that guide girls through specific issues involving social media.
Mia’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by giving hope to those children with cancer and their families going through a difficult time. She was dedicated and determined in reassuring these children that they were not battling this journey alone. Seeing the smile on those kids faces as they received their care packages made her project worthwhile.
Joely’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by bringing moms closer to their premature babies. She partnered with others to create dolls in the mom’s shirt for 12 hours to pick up the mom’s scent. The dolls were placed next to the premature baby in the incubator simulating the mom being able to hold the baby.
Sofia’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of pollution and overconsumption by promoting the repurposing of materials instead of purchasing. Sofia created pet beds made out of used textiles and project volunteers learned about fast fashion and pollution while making pet beds to donate to the Chesterfield Square Animal Shelter. 23
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES REBEKAH RUDDER
ALEXANDRA RUNNELS
KAILEE JANE SAWAI
MARY SAYER
Softball… Always Let It Fly, Never Let It Die
Musical Mentors
Cultural Roots and Eats
Give Blue Go Green
Alexandra’s Gold Award project made a difference in the community by giving elementary band students free music lessons from high school students. Not only did the elementary students notice improvement in their musicianship, but it strengthened the bond between the younger and older band students. It also encouraged students to continue with band.
Kailee’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of loss of cultural identity by hosting cooking workshops to target a part of their cultural heritage--the food.
Mary’s Gold Award project addressed textile waste and the clothing needs of the homeless. She educated others on the environmental impact of fast fashion. She also held a denim drive to provide a local homeless service center, Friends in Deed, with durable jeans, and to donate denim to be used for insulation in low-income housing through Cotton’s Blue Jeans Go Green organization.
Rebekah’s Gold Award Project titled Softball… Always Let It Fly, Never Let It Die addresses the issue of lack of support for softball players, especially the ones who start late in the sport. Rebekah created a website for all softball players to use as a resource to find educational videos, inspirational stories, and skill-building exercises.
AMANDA RUSH BOVA
MAGGIE RYAN
BROOKE SCHWABE
AMANDA SCOVILLE
Elizabeth House Art Mural and Vegetable Garden
Be Mindful and Meditate
One Kick at a Time
A Creative Space for the Arts at La Canada High School
Maggie’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by creating mental health resources through a website. Her website included guided meditations, ways to relieve stress, and information about mindfulness. Her school guidance counselor used her resources to help students gain access to important mental well-being methods.
Brooke’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of a loss in physical fitness in children by providing a free, online class that all kids could attend from home.
Amanda’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by planting a sustainable garden for residents at Elizabeth House and painting a mural in the therapy room. The mural reads, “It is Well with my Soul, Be Still and know that I am God,” to uplift the pregnant women receiving counseling.
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Amanda’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by refurbishing her school’s photography/ graphic arts room. She painted the classroom, supplied new tables, chairs, shelves, cabinets, monitors and organized supplies. The updated workplace allows for more collaboration and creativity between teacher and students.
CARLY SABOURIN
SAMANTHA SALAZ
MAYA SHEKLOW
DREW SHINOZAKI
How to Love Yourself
Strongertogether.com
A Look Into Down Syndrome
Spiraling Sonder
Gold Award Recipient
Gold Award Recipient
Gold Award Recipient
Drew’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by introducing Title I middle school children to the joys of creative writing and importance of self-expression. Drew organized a creative writing workshop, online literary magazine, and writing competitions to emphasize the importance of written communication skills.
TALEEN SAMPLE
OLIVIA SANCHEZ
ASHLEY SIBBREL
AUDREY SIOENG
There With Care Teen Ambassador Program
Visual Dictionaries in American Sign Language and Spanish
Reintroducing STEAM to Students
Creative Expression Community Youth Project
Taleen’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by connecting There with Care, an organization providing support to families of children facing critical illness, with students and volunteers. Through lunch and learns, events and collection drives, Taleen inspired youth to advocate and contiribute to the families growing support system.
Olivia’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing assistance to families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students at Pennekamp Elementary School. She made a 70-page dictionary in English and Spanish with American Sign Language signs providing both print and digital copies for at home and classroom use.
Ashley’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by introducing kids to the world of STEAM. Ashley created a modified, COVID-friendly curriculum, allowing elementary school students to perform STEAM experiments at home. Ashley hopes to expand the curriculum she developed into new school districts for other students to use across the nation.
Audrey’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by introducing students to creative writing. She organized workshops in partnership with Arcadia Library to teach middle and high school students the basics of journaling, songwriting, short stories, and poetry. Audrey also created a blog to provide young writers further resources and advice. 26
2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES ISABELLA SOLORZA
ALEXANDRIA SORENSEN
KAITLIN TOM
ELIZABETH TON
Mindfulness Center
Awareness to the First Aid Needs of the Homeless
Crafting Literacy
Reading Empowerment
Kaitlin’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of low literacy rates in Africa by creating a library in Malawi. Kaitlin collected and donated 1,188 books including reading comprehension questions and crafts. Through Kaitlin’s project, Pre-K through fourth grade Malawian students will have the resources and opportunity to learn how to read.
Elizabeth’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by providing a library to the Hope of the Valley Homeless Shelters. She worked to make the common room a brighter, more welcoming place to read, established a reading incentive program, and hosted reading sessions on Zoom.
Isabella’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by at the counseling center at Euclid Elementary School in Boyle Heights. Isabella made colorful wrap-around benches to give the area some life. She attached bamboo chimes to surrounding trees creating a more relaxing outdoor space perfect for students to reconnect and seek emotional support.
DANA SORENSEN
SUMMER SPENCER
SARA TORRES
ANDIE TOTH
Hands-on Educational Gardens for Kindergartners
MHF Injury Prevention for Communities
Disease and Virus Awareness Bins
Butterfly Community Garden
Dana’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by designing and constructing four hardy planter boxes, fundraising for planting materials such as the seeds, soil, and drainage rocks and matching watering cans. She also created an original lesson plan, stop motion video, and coloring sheet.
Summer’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by providing local schools direction on ways to survive an accidental release of toxic chemicals from the Torrance Refinery. Working with a local engineer and scientist to author protocols, she encouraged science teachers to incorporate the guidance into their curriculum.
Gold Award Recipient
Gold Award Recipient
ERIN STUTENROTH
MICHELLE TAN
KATELYN TRUONG
SARA TRUONG
Supporting Literacy in Juvenile Detention Centers
Bilingual Program for Preschools
Disaster Defense
Once a Chef Always a Chef
Michelle’s Gold Award project made an impact on the community by empowering preschoolers to connect with both American and Chinese aspects of their identity. Michelle wrote and illustrated short bilingual stories to teach kids in an entertaining way and created interactive card games and manual to help educators continue to use the method.
Katelyn’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of natural disaster preparation by helping a local school, Saint Euphrasia, raise money and purchase supplies to create disaster kits for the faculty and classrooms. She also helped educate the community by posting informative videos online about procedures during earthquakes, fires, and lockdown scenarios.
Gold Award Recipient
Gold Award Recipient
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Gold Award Recipient
MAHEILIA THOMAS
SHELBI THOMAS
JENEE TURNER
ZOE TURNER
Walk This Way- A Story Adventure
Soccer Skills
Sorting Through Stress
GirlCode: Expanding Coding for Minority Girls
Maheilia’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by promoting children’s literacy. Her project provided a fun, new way for children and families to enjoy reading. The Story Adventure also allowed families to enjoy time outside together while in the midst of the pandemic.
Shelbi’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by helping kids learn how to play soccer. Shelbi is passionate about providing equal access to children so that they have the opportunity to experience new and exciting things.
Jenee’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by giving women in a local group home a clean and organized place to get clothes and personal hygiene items. She has also aided them in de-stressing though their recovery by providing videos on how to relax through yoga.
Zoe’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by recognizing and celebrating women in STEM fields, and by creating her own STEM club for coding.
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2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES MAEGAN UNG
LINA URQUIZA
LEILANI WIDJAJA
GRACE WILLIAMSON
Let’s Recycle Together!
Mural at College View
Preschool Building Improvement
Hospital Heroes With Capes and Crowns
Maegan’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of climate change by creating educational materials for kids at Hugo Reid Elementary school. Maegan donated decorative recycling bins to promote recycling and created vinyl banners illustrating how to combat climate change by changing 7 habits to encouraging more responsible student habits.
Lina’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by creating an “Aloha” themed mural on the playground of a school for children with unique abilities as well as donating art supplies to the art program at College View. Lina enjoyed interacting with the students one-on-one as well as educating others about this incredible school and all that it does.
Leilani’s Gold Award project made a difference in the community by inspiring young children to pursue their curiosity about art, teach them about different areas of the world, broaden their knowledge, and improve the school’s interior.
SAVANNA VANDER HEUL Happiness on Four Hooves Savanna’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by working with a non-profit that provides emotional support for the mentally impaired with miniature horses. She helped the organization raise the funds needed to supply merchandise like t-shirts, so that the organization can raise more funds to help those in need.
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JENNA VANDEVENTER
OLIVIA WILSON
Practice for Percussion
The Build to More Building
Jenna’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by implementing an area for students to further their music education. With the help of her team, she built and remodeled an old storage classroom into a place for her peers to practice and learn.
Olivia’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by helping preschoolers get in touch with working with their hands and plant life. The plant wall will be used to increase environmental learning hands-on experiences in preschool.
Gold Award Recipient
ALLISON WITHERSPOON Healthy Eating and Long Term Happiness (H.E.A.L.T.H) Gold Award Recipient
KAYLEE VILLALOBOS
KRISTEN VITOLO
JOLIE WITKOWSKI
KATELYN WONG
Donate Today and Make Her Day
Plastic Free Schools!
Literacy Book Boxes
Beyond Books
Kaylee’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by taking steps to stop the “pink tax.” She created over 100 healthcare packages for women who were in need of menstrual products. Through her project, Kaylee reached over 200 people.
Kristen’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by installing a water bottle filling station at her high school, leading an environmental club on campus, and creating a website to educate young people about plastic pollution and provide resources on how to get involved.
Jolie’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by constructing, painting, and installing fun book boxes located in front of two local elementary schools and filling them with books. By the system of “Take a Book, Leave a Book” the sustainability of the book boxes can persist for many years to come.
Katelyn’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by giving parents & caregivers the tools to encourage their children to read. She wrote a book and developed a curriculum, holding workshops with parents and teachers of Monterey Park, Christian School on understanding the components of children’s literature and how to connect with their children through books.
CAITLIN WANG
ASHLEY WARD
REBECCA WONG
EMILY WOO
The Power of Leadership
Tying Generations Together With Love
Electricity and Circuits for Young Students
Japanese Americans: The Untold Story
Caitlin’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by educating elementary-aged kids about the importance of discovering the leader within them. She designed digital banners for an elementary school and held story time and workshop programs at a local library, teaching kids how to empower themselves and approach situations with confidence.
Ashley’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing the elderly with crafting classes that helped improve their mental health, fine motor skills, and cognitive ability. Belmont residents made baby blankets donated to newborns at the Harbor UCLA NICU, and paper flowers used to decorate the Torrance Memorial Hospital Transitional Care Center, at the class.
Rebecca’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of STEAM programs for young students by founding an 8-week after-school program at her local elementary school. Using her own cirriculum, she taught students engineering principles and to build their own breadboard circuits with the goal of fostering excitement for STEAM.
Emily’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by writing a book capturing the history of the founders of the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center. Together with interview footage of members of the SFVJACC, future genertions and leaders can understand SFVJACC , and what it has represented through history. 30
2021 GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARDEES CHRISTINA XU
IRIS XU
Mental Wellness Center
Fight Against COVID-19
Christina’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by bringing awareness to mental health issues in students and designing a space in First Avenue Middle School for students to use during times of need.
Iris’ Gold Award project made an impact on her community by creating 100 selfcare packages for healthcare workers at USC Keck Medicine. She also donated 200 N95 masks and alcohol wipes. She also taught 3 workshops to younger Girl Scouts about staying safe and how to create earsavers to donate to Foothills Unity Center.
ELLA YEE
PRU YONTRARAK
A Healthier You
Cyber Defenders
Ella’s Gold Award project impacted her community by teaching children about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Ella hosted virtual workshops for fourth grade students at Holly Avenue, and posted daily recipes and activities on her website, where she encouraged kids to embrace a healthier lifestyle. She also presented to the Arcadia School Board to promote her website.
Pru’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by encouraging more girls to take STEM classes, and eventually to enter the STEM field. She trained girls through one-on-one mentorships and training, allowing young girls to gain confidence and realize their potential and capabilities in STEM, which boys normally dominate.
CHLOE YOUNG
VALERIE YUEH
Staying Connected
A Healthy Journey
Chloe’s Gold Award project made an impact on her community by providing a platform for Soroptimist, a women’s empowerment organization, to spread their goal of improving the lives of women and girls by empowering them and giving them the resources they need to fulfill their dreams.
Valerie’s Gold Award project made a difference in her community by spreading awareness on the importance of physical and mental health. She addressed numerous topics including healthy eating basics, health-related diseases, exercise, sickness prevention, and mental health. She used social media to engage and collaborate with her audience.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021 GOLD AWARD GIRL SCOUTS Thank you for inspiring us with your creativity, tenacity, and passion for making the world a better place.
WE’RE SO PROUD OF YOU.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Mia Britel
Patrick Amos
Juanita Dawson
Anna Armstrong
Erin Dawkins, Secretary
Dean Catalano
Elisabeth Dick
Jane Chamberlin
Monique Earl
Patricia A. Crider
Renee White Fraser
Lynn Forese
Denise Gutches, Vice Chair
Linda Griffey
Dr. Judy Ho
Sandra R. Klein
Sue Callaway Kelly
Kathryn E. Nielsen
Bill Nelson
Kathy Richards
Jim Niemiec
Karin Berger Stellar
Erin Oremland
Shelley B. Thompson
Andy Park
Mieke Velghe
Ellen E. Swarts, Chair
Arlene Falk Withers
Anna Tom Tania Van Herle, Vice Chair Michelle C. Wroan, Treasurer
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