May 2013 - May 2014 Gold Award Recipients
How do you make the world a better place? The Girl Scout Gold Award
Create a lasting change in your community. Go Gold at gs-top.org/gold
A Life-Changing Experience. This publication is produced by the Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Inc. 4901 Briarhaven Road Fort Worth, Texas 76109 800.582.7272 F 817.732.1261 www.gs-top.org Area Offices: Abilene 325.670.0432 Amarillo 806.356.0096 Fort Worth 817.737.7272 Lubbock 806.745.2855 Wichita Falls 940.723.4336
We know Girl Scouts do good things for the world. Help the people who need it most. Protect animals that can’t speak for themselves. Treat the environment with the respect it deserves. We know our Girl Scouts have great ideas, ones that make a lasting difference. And these young ladies are more than ready to work hard to put those ideas into motion. The Gold Award - Girl Scouting’s highest award - is their chance to make a lasting difference in our communities . . . and in the larger world. Each year, this award is presented to girls who have planned and executed Take Action projects in response to pressing community needs. In the process, girls gain skills in leadership, project planning, time management, and budgeting,
Board of Directors
plus confidence that lasts a lifetime. With a supportive environment, girls can do
Chair - Adrienne Cozart, Lubbock
anything!
First Vice-Chair - Cindy Martin, Lubbock Second Vice-Chair - Ny Lynn Nichols, Amarillo Secretary - Patricia Miller, Fort Worth Treasurer - Lois Weeks, Fort Worth
Members at Large Susan Alanis, Fort Worth Anna M. Alvarado, Fort Worth Alona Beesinger, Lubbock Sandra Daniel, Keller Reggie Dial, Lubbock Marcia Etie, Arlington
Parents find that their daughter grows into her best self. She’ll become more focused, a better time manager, and a more effective team player. She’ll grow in confidence. Inspire others and set the stage for a lifetime of achievement. Girl Scouts makes the world smaller and the girl bigger. On the pages that follow you’ll get a glimpse of our future generation of young women leaders, what they stand for and what they can accomplish alone and with others. You’ll see how Girl Scouts are changing the world! It’s a great way to get
Leticia Evans, Arlington
inspiration for your Gold Award . . . or just see what other girls are doing to impact
Julia Huseman, Fort Worth
their communities. And start changing the world today!
Parris Jones, Fort Worth Risa Jones, Lubbock David Kemp, Amarillo
We must remain steadfast to ensure
Melissa Meneses, Dalhart
positive opportunities for girls to achieve
Melinda Mitchell-Jones, Lubbock
their highest potential. As the largest girl
Shoshana Thoma-Isgur, Fort Worth Shirley Thomas, Amarillo
Senior Leadership Chief Executive Officer — Becky Burton Chief Financial and Administrative Officer — Cynthia Odom Chief Operating Officer — Susie Bell
organization devoted to leadership in our community, Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains embraces our mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
Chief Development and Communications Officer — Katherine Curtis , CFRE Girl Scouts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information on how you can support our mission please call 800-582-7272 or visit www.gs-top.org.
—Becky Burton, CE O
The Highest Awards Give Girls an Opportunity to Take Action in Their Communities. The Girl Scout Bronze Award 4th–5th grades »»
Each girl must be a registered Girl Scout Junior and complete a Junior Journey.
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Working as a team, girls discover a community issue and complete a Take Action project.
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FACT: Eighty-two percent of girls who earn the Bronze Award go on to achieve the Gold.
The Girl Scout Silver Award 6th–8th grades »»
Each girl must be a registered Girl Scout Cadette and complete a Cadette Journey.
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Working as an individual or small group, girls identify a root cause of a community issue and complete a Take Action project.
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FACT: Ninety-six percent of girls who earn the Silver Award go on to achieve the Gold.
The Girl Scout Gold Award
The highest achievement in Girl Scouting 9th–12th grades »»
Each girl must be a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador.
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Girls must complete two Journeys (Senior or Ambassador), OR earn the Silver Award and complete one Journey.
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Working as an individual, girls research root causes of a community issue and develop a lasting solution. Throughout the Take Action project process, girls demonstrate extraordinary leadership.
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Gold Award Facts and Figures »»
Gold Award recipients on average spend one to two years on their projects.
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Gold Award recipients who join the armed services enter one rank higher than other recruits.
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The average age of Gold Award recipients is 17.
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Since 1916, one million girls have earned the Gold Award or its equivalent.
University research indicates that adding the Gold Award a college application is a critical element in the admissions decision process.
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Girl Scout Alumnae Our alumnae are living proof that what we teach today impacts tomorrow’s leaders. Fifty-nine million Girl Scout alumnae are more successful in school, develop a stronger sense of self, and report greater satisfaction with life than their non-Girl Scout alumnae peers. We are transforming the world. These successful women include: »» 66% of professional women; »»
71% of current female U.S. Senators;
»»
57% of women currently serving in the U.S. House of Representatives;
»» »»
5 of the 6 current female state governors; and Almost every female astronaut is a Girl Scout.
GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 1
Girl Scout Gold Award The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting; it recognizes girls 14-17 years old who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have answered the call to go Gold, embodying accomplishments and responsibility as a member of their community and the world.
It
symbolizes achieving the most challenging skills in the areas of leadership,
Seven Steps to Gold
community service, career planning and personal development. A girl must be a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador and have successfully completed specific requirements before she may begin working on the Girl Scout Gold Award project. Planning and mobilizing resources to implement this special project brings together all that she has learned in Girl Scouting.
Choose an issue: Use your values and skills to identify a community issue you care about. 1.
2. Investigate: Research everything you can about
the issue. 3. Get help: Invite others to support and take action
with you.
As Gold Award recipients, these extraordinary girls are part of an elite group of women. Starting in 1916, the best and brightest undertook projects that improved their communities—and the world. The Golden Eaglet insignia, the highest award in Girl Scouting from 1916 to 1939, marked the beginning of a long tradition of recognizing the extraordinary efforts of extraordinary girls. From 1940 to 1963, the Curved Bar Award was the highest honor in Girl Scouting. From 1963 to 1980, 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. The Girl Scout Gold Award is an earned honor and must meet a rigorous review process. We are proud to honor these young women who have proven themselves as the next generation of leaders.
4. Create a plan: Create a project plan that achieves
sustainable and measurable impact. 5. Present your plan and get feedback: Sum up your
project plan for your Girl Scout council. 6. Take action: Take the lead to carry out your plan. 7. Educate and inspire: Share what you have
experienced with others.
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Commonly Asked Questions:
Who can earn the Girl Scout Gold Award? A girl must be in grades 9–12, a registered Girl Scout and have completed the Gold Award prerequisites. What does it mean to have a sustainable project? A sustainable community project is one that continues after the girl’s involvement ends.
This Gold Award project empowered me to make a difference in the world and to hopefully lead others to do the same.
—Kristen Fort Worth Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient
2 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
Are there college scholarships available for Gold Award recipients? Yes, visit www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/facts/scholarships If a Girl Scout didn’t earn a Bronze or Silver Award, is she eligible for a Gold Award? Yes, as long as she completes two Senior or Ambassador Journeys. What are the benefits of Going Gold? Girl Scout Gold Award recipients do well in life! They rate their general success in life significantly higher and report higher success in reaching their goals within many areas.
Robyn Battles
Claire Beckley
Benefiting: High Point Church
Benefiting: Keller Oaks Nursing Home
Keller, TX Troop 3374
Arlington, TX Troop 3551
Robyn has always had a love for math and
After volunteering many times at the
learning. When she discovered the lack
Keller Oaks Nursing Home, Claire noticed
of interest in reading and math within her
that they had an outside garden for the
community’s church, she used her passion
residents but realized that the residents
to create a free tutoring program known
were having a difficult time enjoying it.
as the Homework Helper. Robyn and
With the help of her team, she updated the
her group of volunteers made a learning
garden beds by making them into raised
environment that focused on one-on-one
gardens. This way the residents would be
teaching methods. Students in and outside
able to enjoy them, without physical stress.
of the High Point Church were invited to
She even worked with the maintenance
attend. Her program was so successful
supervisor to install a sprinkler system
that her group of volunteers has agreed to
within the beds, so that the garden could
carry on this tutoring program.
be watered on a regular basis.
Aashna Bharwani
Sarah Bhimani
Benefiting: Bryan’s House
Benefiting: MHMR Tarrant
Euless, TX Troop 1563
Colleyville, TX Troop 1563
Aashna has a huge passion for helping
Sarah saw the need to bring awareness
children and when she found out
to
about Bryan’s House, she wanted to do
mentally challenged individuals within
something for that organization. After
their community and how they should
speaking with Bryan’s House, Aashna realized the children had a classroom to attend but no books available for them to enjoy during their stay. With the help of her volunteers, she gathered books for
the
younger
generation
about
be treated with equality and respect, and to become aware of how they can make a difference in the world. So Sarah reached out to her local MHMR center and discovered they were in need of a children’s resource library within their
newborns to 10 years of age and built a
facility. With help from her team of
children’s library inside Bryan’s House. The
volunteers, Sarah built a children’s book
library is now a weekly treat for the children
area and an adult resource area for
to enjoy within the class schedule.
parents and children to utilize when going through the MHMR program. GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 3
Faith Bruton
Fort Worth, TX Juliette Girl Scout Benefiting: St. Joseph’s Mission, Swaziland Faith and her team of volunteers built a playground for St. Joseph’s Mission located in Mzimpofu, Swaziland. Her project addressed two issues. One was the fundamental lack of playground equipment, which creates a space for social and motor skill development. The second issue that her project covered was the awareness of Swaziland, its situation with poverty and lack of educational and
recreational
resources
for
the
students. Faith not only was able to bring a playground to the students but also had them help build their playground which taught them the value of working for something you want.
Megan Buchanan
Jacqueline Campbell
Benefiting: Wise Hope Shelter and Crisis Center
Benefiting: Communities of Arlington, Grand Prairie & Mansfield
Keller, TX Troop 3374
Grand Prairie, TX Troop 2195
Megan’s project addressed the need for
After
comfort items for children of victims who
cyberbullying,
suffer from domestic violence and sexual
motivated to take action, she decided to
assault. Megan and her volunteers from the
create something to educate peers and
Keller United Methodist church – Sisters
parents how to overcome and prevent the
of Sewing Circle, created workshops
effects of cyberbullying. With the help of
where she and her peers learned how to sew. They created 50 children’s printed pillowcases with inspirational quotes on the inside. Not only did this project fill a need for the shelter but it will continue thanks to her church’s sewing circle.
watching
a
Jacqueline
about
was
so
counselors from her local church, school and hospital, she was able to assemble a support group and create an online support page about cyberbullying for her community. This page and meetings which have helped her community, will continue and be overseen by the East Broad Outreach Center.
4 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
movie
Caroline Carr Bedford, TX Troop 1527
Benefiting: City of Bedford
Caroline noticed the creeks and parks she explored as a child were being progressively polluted with trash and pollution from storm drain run off. She knew this would severely affect the urban wildlife and future exploration of the creeks and parks. With her team of volunteers, she brought this issue to the city of Bedford and organized a creek and park cleanup day and permanent pollution awareness signs with QR codes. The QR codes provided the community with education on how they can help prevent storm drain pollution. As a result of her Gold Award project, Caroline was awarded the top honor for the Don’t mess with Texas® Scholarship Contest.
Elizabeth Catanzaro
McKenna Cherry Keller, TX Troop 3374
Fort Worth, TX Troop 3374
Benefiting: Students of Arlington ISD
Benefiting: Students of Keller ISD
Benefiting: WildRescue, Inc. Rescued Rabbits
Arlington, TX Troop 1925
Elizabeth saw two needs within her community. One was seeing peers fall victim to technology dependency, drugs, alcohol, pregnancy and anxiety of life after high school. The second was seeing how difficult and increasingly expensive it was for theater teachers to get new performing material with little to no budget. With her passion for the fine arts and writing, Elizabeth worked with her school’s theatre teachers to script a play that brought awareness to teen issues and created performing material that could be shared with any high school at no cost. The play was created in such a way that each performance could cater to certain issues the school needed to address.
Bailey Coleson
As McKenna prepares for her future after
Bailey noticed a need for more sheltered
high school, one of the concerns she
cages to hold rabbits at the WildRescue
had was how to be safe on her own. After
facility. Many rabbits in need of shelter
researching what her community offered,
were turned away due to lack of housing.
she decided there needed to be more
So she assembled a team of volunteers to
information for students her age. McKenna found a program called “Just Yell Fire” which gave information on safety issues of dating, substance abuse, abduction and other potential violent situations. With help from the Keller Lions Club, McKenna brought this presentation to many peers
update and build more sheltered cages. Since her project created more housing, the organization was able to recertify as a partner with the ASPCA to provide emergency housing for up to 200 abused or neglected rabbits.
throughout her community, who after attending, left with the knowledge and skills to keep themselves safe.
GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 5
Abigail Cuellar
Christina D’Aquila
Wendy Davidson
Benefiting: Amarillo Zoo
Benefiting: Safe Haven
Benefiting: Elementary students of the community
Amarillo, TX Troop 5099
Bedford, TX Troop 1544
Fort Worth, TX Troop 3015
The Amarillo Zoo was in need of a corral
Christina wanted to bring awareness
Wendy has a strong passion for books
for reptiles to roam in a safe environment.
about Safe Haven’s need for food. Along
and when she learned there was a
Abigail built a corral and this facility will
with help from her peers at Wedgewood
decrease in reading, she decided to
help children see the animals up close,
Academy, she created fliers about her
take a more technical approach. With a
and better educate the youth of the
hunger awareness drive. She sent home
group of volunteers, Wendy brought two
community about reptiles. In addition, the
paper bags with every student to collect
children’s books to life through voicing
project specifically impacted the turtles
canned food. She made presentations to
and animating the pictures within the
by giving them more sunlight and space
the student body about the importance of
books on video.
to roam, thus giving them a healthier life.
collecting and donating food. Christina was
these videos on YouTube for teachers to
This is also an excellent way for the zoo
able to donate over 500 canned goods to
use with their students.
to increase the the knowledge of these
Safe Haven and has secured a younger
reptiles in the classroom.
Girl Scout troop to pass on this hunger
She then published
awareness project for years to come.
Kate DesHotels Keller, TX Troop 4041
Benefiting: Students of Westlake Academy
Kelly Edwards
North Richland Hills, TX Troop 3374 Benefiting: Indian Spring Middle School
Stephanie Eubank Keller, TX Troop 1122
Benefiting: Baylor All Saints
Kate noticed the 5th and 6th grade
Kelly’s project addressed the issue of
Stephanie discovered that the room
students at Westlake Academy did not
the student to coach ratio in the tennis
where kids went to get counseling about
fully understand what patriotism and
program at the school. She saw that the
losing a loved one, or having a loved one
giving back to the community meant or
students who wanted to experience
go through a terminal disease, was in
tennis were having a hard time getting
need of a makeover. She worked with the
the most out of the class, since they only
hospital and a group of volunteers to paint,
had one coach. So to address this need,
decorate, fix the furniture and create
Kelly and her volunteers created tennis
shelving for the room. The new room now
some soldiers to speak with the students
backboards that the students could
has a more homey feeling and creates
about what receiving these care packages
use to practice on in between getting
a better atmosphere for the children to
meant to them. The in-service day was so
instructions from the coach.
have more successful counseling.
how a simple act could change so many lives. She created an in-school community service day. With her team of volunteers, Kate created care packages and sent them to soldiers overseas. She invited
successful, the school is already preparing for next year’s in service day. 6 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
Miranda Fatum
Meagan Gardner
Benefiting: Grapevine High School
Benefiting: The Warm Place
Colleyville, TX Troop 1741
Keller, TX Troop 1741
With her love for animals, Miranda wanted
The Warm Place is a grieving support
to make the large animal pens within her
center for those who have recently
school’s ecology center more sanitary
experienced the death of a loved one.
and protected from the weather. After
Volunteers make up more than half of this
starting the project, Miranda decided the
organization and Meagan wanted to create
center needed more improvements. So with the help of her team, she created a larger walled-in pen, created pens with concrete floors with drainage, cleared and manicured the flowerbeds and walkways and fixed a drainage problem with the pond. In doing this, Miranda’s project was able to create a more pleasant ecology center for
a recognition wall for them, as well as a memory wall for the participants to use. Meagan and her volunteers designed, built and painted two displays for the center. The volunteer recognition wall displays all the volunteers’ names and the memory wall has locations where participants can display artwork they created to represent their lost loved ones.
the students and animals.
Monique Gassaway
Holly Green
Benefiting: Hilltop Senior Citizen Center
Benefiting: Camp Holland
Amarillo, TX Troop 5678
Poolville, TX Troop 8147
Monique’s Project Lots of Love involved
Holly created a nature trail in Camp
updating the Hilltop Sr. Citizens Center.
Holland. The trail identifies native plants
Her project included renovating the
and is for Weatherford and the surrounding
Fellowship Hall with fresh paint to update
area schools and other groups to use. The
the entertainment room and game area.
trail is a self-guided trail with plant markers
Monique’s team secured new furniture, computers and lighting that was donated and installed. Her team also renovated the main office and bathroom, and cleaned out the front garden where sustainable xeriscaping was installed. Additionally, they removed dead trees, painted the outside
to identify the plants that are native to the area; this will allow everyone who uses Camp Holland to discover the beauty of the local plants. It will be open all year round and available for educational and fun learning opportunities for many years to come.
building, and cleaned and organized storage buildings. GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 7
Sarah Guenther Benbrook, TX Troop 2507
Benefiting: City of Benbrook Cemetery Sarah always wondered how difficult it would be to find someone buried in the Benbrook Cemetery and she wanted to help people in the community by solving this problem. She was inspired when she
discovered that identifying burial
plots at the cemetery was cumbersome. Sarah worked with cemetery staff and volunteers to update the cemetery listing and database and to make sure the data matched the cemetery map. She also helped build a directory kiosk for the cemetery, which held this information.
Payton Hernandez Southlake, TX Troop 4007
Benefiting: Humane Society of North Texas Payton’s project addressed the issue of dogs having to sleep on cold, and sometimes wet, concrete floors in shelters. Payton assembled a team of volunteers to help her make raised dog beds to be donated to the Humane Society of North Texas. Peyton had to research, create and locate fabric that would be comfortable yet durable for the beds.
8 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
Haley Hines
Heather Hines
Kellie Hunn
Benefiting: Medical Center of Arlington
Benefiting: Medical Center of Arlington
Benefiting: Northstar School
Arlington, TX Troop 2126
Kennedale, TX Troop 3504
Arlington, TX Troop 2126
Haley addressed the issue of NICU babies
Heather addressed the issue of NICU
Kellie noticed that children and teens
needing smaller hats to keep them warm.
babies needing smaller blankets to keep
these days are overcome by the power
Since babies who stay in the NICU are
them warm. Since babies who stay in the
of technology and she wanted a way to
not always in contact with their mother,
NICU are not always in contact with their
get them off the electronics and outside.
mother, they need extra care in keeping
So with the help of her volunteers, Kellie
they need extra care in keeping their body temperature warm. Hats that the hospitals have are almost always too big for the NICU babies. Haley was able to get multiple Girl Scout troops, her debate team and her community to help make crocheted hats.
their body temperature warm. The blankets that the hospitals have are too large for a NICU baby. Heather was able to involve the Mansfield nursing home and her community to help make crocheted baby blankets. After reaching out and teaching
After reaching out and teaching everyone
everyone to crochet the blankets, she
to crochet hats, she was able to donate
was able to donate over 100 extra small
over 200 hats to the NICU.
blankets for the NICU.
poured concrete slabs, set the poles and even installed a drainage system for a sand volleyball court. Now the school and the community have a place for everyone to enjoy - that does not involve being on an electronic device.
GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 9
Arial Hunter
Emily Inglis
Baylie Jeppesen
Benefiting: Safe Haven
Benefiting: Fitzgerald Elementary
Benefiting: Students of Westlake Academy
Fort Worth, TX Troop 3015
Arlington, TX Troop 3504
Photo not available
Westlake, TX Troop 4041
Arial wanted to bring awareness to the
Emily wanted to bring a more hands-on
Baylie noticed how the 3rd and 4th grade
need for toiletry items for adults and
learning experience to the children of
students at Westlake Academy did not
after school snacks for the children. So
Fitzgerald Elementary. The gardening
fully understand what giving back to the
along with help from her peers at the
club has an interactive garden at
community meant or how a simple act
Wedgewood Academy, she created fliers
the school but Emily wanted to add
could change so many lives. She created
about her project and set up collection
another component by creating a bird
an in-school community service day,
stations at her school. Then with her group
observation arbor and feeding station.
of volunteers, she created toiletry grab
With the help of her volunteers Emily was
bags for the adults and snack grab bags for
able to construct the arbor and feeding
the children of Safe Haven. Arial’s project
area for the school.
with her project bringing awareness to homelessness within their community. With her team of volunteers, Baylie and the students collected books and toiletries for multiple homeless shelters
was so well received that her school will
around the area. The in-service day was
continue to collect items for Safe Haven.
so successful that the school is already preparing for next years in-service day.
Danielle Johnson
Kristen Keane
Benefiting: Knights of Columbus
Benefiting: Trinity High School
Arlington, TX Troop 1925
Bedford, TX Troop 1527
Danielle’s project addressed the issue of
Kristen noticed how the Special Education
no proper storage container for American
students were always separated from the
flags needing retirement. The Knights of
rest of the student body and missed out
Columbus receives an abundant amount
on group activities around the school. So
of flags that can no longer be flown, and at
Kristen decided to bring an out-of-the-
times the flags cannot be retired as quickly as they are donated. With help form her volunteers, Danielle created a very large wooden chest that the Knights of Columbus could use to respectfully store the worn flags awaiting retirement.
classroom hands-on learning activity to the Special Education program. With the help of her volunteers, she created a community garden for the students to learn about protecting the environment, recycling and team work on a large project.
10 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
Sarah Kleinwechter
Lindsay Lehman
Sarah Lindsay
Benefiting: St. Martin in the Field Church
Benefiting: Sherrod Elementary
Benefiting: City of Benbrook Cemetery
Keller, TX Troop 1705
Arlington, TX Troop 1604
Benbrook, TX Troop 2507
Sarah’s project addressed the back corner
Lindsay noticed that the outdoor learning
In the Benbrook community, the cemetery
of the Church’s memorial garden. Before
material on the blacktop at the school
is one of the few central aspects that
her project the corner was bare and had no
had become weathered and was no
has preserved the city’s history. Sarah
purpose. With a team of volunteers Sarah
longer functional. So with the help of her
wanted to contribute to her city’s history
was able to build multiple brick paths to
team, Lindsay repainted the hopscotch
preservation by creating a covered
different areas of the garden, including a
area, time’s table, U.S. map and other
newly added gate to different areas of the church. By doing this, church members and the community who utilize the garden can now access it with ease.
paintings. She also created flower beds underneath the school marquee and around the bus pick-up area.
kiosk that would contain the map and information on how to find those who are buried. With a team of volunteers, Sarah was able to gather all the building materials she needed to build the foundation and construct the kiosk.
GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 11
Micayla Lynch
Holley Lynn
Miranda Maceyra
Benefiting: Students of Westlake Academy
Benefiting: Church at Quail Creek
Benefiting: City of Burleson
Amarillo , TX Troop 5099
Keller, TX Troop 4041
Burleson, TX Troop 3422
Micayla noticed how the 1st and 2nd
Bringing pride and a closeness back to the
To assist businesses in Burleson, Miranda
grade students at Westlake Academy
Church at Quail Creek was an identified
put together a “help your city day” located
did not fully understand what giving back
need. The worship room has always been
at Russell farm. There she had many
to the community meant. She created
a focal point for church activities, but the
activities for the community to participate
an in-school community service day.
outdated décor seemed to drag down the
in. During the event, participants brought
With her team of volunteers, Micayla had
congregation’s creativity. By updating and
pet food to be donated to the local animal
revamping the worship area, the project
shelter or books that will be donated to the
brought inspiration to the youth members
local library. Thanks to Miranda’s efforts,
to take action and serve once again, their
the Burleson Teen Court has decided to
church and their community. The project
take on the project for years to come.
the students create “birthday boxes” to donate to the Roanoke Food Pantry. Micayla presented the project to the students and sent home a list of items needed for the boxes. After the students collected the supplies, they prepared the boxes for donating. The in-service day was so successful that the school is already
demonstrated Holly’s commitment to her community through her renovation of the youth worship center.
preparing for next year’s in-service day.
Rebecca Matlock
Serena Meghani
Madeline Mendoza
Benefiting: Shackelford Junior High School
Benefiting: Landauer Child Care Center
Benefiting: Casa Senior Living Apartments
Arlington, TX Troop 1604
Arlington, TX Troop 1604
Euless, TX Troop 1563
Rebecca wanted to give back to her
Serena has a passion for our environment
Madeline decided to earn her Gold
Junior High. She discovered that the
and children so she decided to help a pre-
Award by giving back to seniors within
gym’s foyer was in need of remodeling.
school become eco-friendly. With the help
her community. The Casa Senior Living
With the help from her volunteers,
of her team, Serena was able to create
Rebecca was able to get the supplies
rainwater harvesters for the playground
donated, created the mural design, and
and garden, water-saving faucets for the
repainted the foyer with the school’s
bathroom, energy-saving window screens
colors and name along the walls. Without
in the classroom and educational material
She had enough supplies to leave for
Rebecca’s project the school would not
to teach the children of the school about
the maintenance staff to maintain the
have been able to update this area of the
being eco-friendly.
common areas.
school, due to budget cuts.
12 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
Apartments was in need of a makeover within each floor of their building. With her team of volunteers, Madeline collected enough supplies to paint and refresh the five common areas on each floor.
Macy Merritt
Lubbock, TX Troop 6102 Benefiting: Lubbock Meals on Wheels and the Dream Center Macy worked with the Dream Center and Meals on Wheels to collect donations of
My true inspiration to pursue
non-perishable food for Friday deliveries
the Gold Award was to fulfill the
to supplement weekend meals. Macy
pledge I made to my troop leader,
challenged businesses and individuals
Janice Faggan, and my fellow
in the community to commit to pledge
Girl Scouts. She pledged to us
food donations. The food pledges
that we were capable of earning
were compiled by Macy and she has
our Gold Award during President
since handed them over to the Dream
Obama’s second term. She was really struck by the fact that we
Center. Now the Dream Center can send
could be the first African American
out messages to the businesses and
Gold Award recipients in Amarillo.
individuals that pledged to donate and
It was basically Janice’s faith in us
their food pantry will be re-stocked on a regular basis.
and the fact that she was willing Veronica, 2014 Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient Now a student at Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana
to help us in any way she could to accomplish the Gold Award.
Megan Metcalf
Veronica Miles
Victoria Miles
Benefiting: City of Benbrook Cemetery
Benefiting: Hilltop Senior Citizen Center
Benefiting: Hilltop Senior Citizen Center
Amarillo, TX Troop 5678
Fort Worth,TX Troop 2507
Amarillo, TX Troop 5678
Megan’s project improved the appearance
Veronica’s Project Lots of Love involved
Victoria’s Project Lots of Love involved
of the Benbrook Cemetery with plants
updating the Hilltop Senior Citizens Center.
updating the Hilltop Senior Citizens
and section markers. With her volunteers,
Her project orchestrated updates to the
Center’s main office and bathroom.
landscape and porch area.
Veronica’s
She installed an All-In-One printer and
improvements included cleaning out the
Neat Scanner which will help the staff
front garden, removing dead trees, painting
with faxing and filing. She and her team
the outside building, and cleaning and
installed computers with simple step
organizing storage buildings. She ensured
by step instructions that will assist the
Megan created stone markers for each row and worked with a fellow Girl Scout member to update the cemetery map with her markers. With this project Megan has been able to being much needed
that xeriscaping and the utilization of
organization to the cemetery.
desert plants and gravel installed in the front garden could retain soil moisture and withstand a drought, making it sustainable for the Senior Citizens staff. Her team also renovated the main office, bathroom, and Fellowship Hall.
seniors when exploring the internet. Her team also renovated the fellowship hall and front garden where sustainable xeriscaping was installed. Additionally, they removed dead trees, painted the outside building, and cleaned and organized storage buildings. GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 13
Lydia Miller
Autumn Mizer
Kimberly Overstreet
Benefiting: Safe Haven
Benefiting: Community of Boise City
Benefiting: City of Bedford
Fort Worth, TX Troop 3015
Boise City, OK Troop 5179
North Richland Hills, TX Troop 1305
Lydia wanted to bring awareness to the
With the rising number of obese children
Kimberly discovered that the creeks within
need for school uniforms and clothes
in the US, Autumn discovered the
her community were becoming more
for women and children of Safe Haven.
importance of helping them learn the
polluted with storm drain run off. Kimberly
So along with help from her peers at
benefits of being active and maintaining
knew her community needed to know the
Wedgewood Academy, she created fliers about her project and set up collection stations at her school and church. Lydia’s project was so well-received that her
a healthy lifestyle. Students in Boise City and Keyes, Oklahoma participated in her program, inspired by NFL PLAY 60, a campaign designed to tackle childhood
importance of what was going down the storm drains and how it was affecting area creeks and streams. With the guidance
obesity by getting kids active every day for
of the city of Bedford and help of her
school will continue to collected items
60 minutes through in-school, afterschool
volunteers. Kimberly was able to create
for Safe Haven.
and team-based programs. Autumn’s
awareness door hangers and permanent
project even inspired a young girl to play
curb markers for storm drains. She and her
football for her high school team. The
team were able to mark over 200 storm
program will continue to be implemented within the schools.
Melissa Parham
Lubbock, TX Troop 6226 Benefiting: Xere & Moiyabana Primary Schools in Botswana, Africa Melissa’s project addressed the need for books in Africa to improve literacy rates. Melissa collected over 2,000 books to help build two primary school libraries in Botswana, Africa. Melissa involved her local Girl Scout community by holding a Brownie badge workshop and talked with the girls about her project and the positive impact that libraries have on the citizens of Africa.
drains within her community.
Noelle Prax
Haslet, TX Troop 2747 Benefiting: Northwest ISD
Noelle’s project provided a day of girl empowerment for the students of one of her community’s elementary schools. With the help of volunteers and a school counselor, Noelle was able to create a workshop that gave girls insight into how not to fall for peer pressure and how the media affects how girls look at themselves. The church where the event was held was so impressed with Noelle’s message that they will be continuing the workshop for years to come.
14 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
Abigail Raef
Salwa Rahaman
Benefiting: Saint Mary’s Cathedral School
Benefiting: Colleyville Montessori
Amarillo, TX Troop 5099
Colleyville, TX Troop 1563
The need for families to spend quality
Salwa wanted to give back to the
time together is greatly needed in today’s
Montessori school that she attended
society. Abigail’s creation of “Family Fun
as a child, so with the help of her
Night” was introduced as a way to bridge
volunteers she was able to renovate
that gap and create a lifetime of memories
major parts of Colleyville Montessori.
for families at Saint Mary’s Cathedral
They repainted all the walls, modernized
School. The now annual event introduces
the decor, deep cleaned and repaired
families to new and innovative ways
the bathrooms, replanted the gardens,
to spend time together. The inclusion
and repaired broken benches.
of publishing a family brochure and Facebook page will continue to support the project, and thus keep families in the school connected.
Baleigh Roberts
Madison Roe
Benefiting: Cimarron County Hospital
Benefiting: Cook Children’s Medical Center
Boise City, OK Troop 5179
The
hospital
benefits
through
Arlington, TX Troop 1612
the
Madison noticed that many local business
updates made to the very rundown and
would donate toys and games to the
outdated facility. The project connected
patients of Cook Children’s but many
Baleigh with the community and updates to the hospital were completed. After seeing the difference and impact her
items were not age appropriate for teen patients. Madison created a donation program called “Swag4Teens”, where local charity groups or organizations could
project made, the hospital has now
donate age appropriate items to be given
formed a committee to identify and
to teenagers admitted to Cook Children’s.
continue hospital improvements.
Madison created a Facebook page about Swag4Teens, held many presentations with community groups and created fliers, posters and t-shirts. Her project will be sustained for years to come by The University of Dallas College of Business with the help of Girl Scout troop 1612.
GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 15
Rachel Sakakeeny
Melissa Sides
Benefiting: Briarwood Retreat Center
Benefiting: Global Training Network
Colleyville, TX Troop 1741
Lubbock, TX Troop 6141
The Briarwood Retreat Center had an
Melissa worked with Global Training
existing nature trail that was under-
Network to create salvation bracelets for
utilized. So Rachel made it her mission
women in third world countries. Melissa
to make improvements to this trail
worked with groups in the community to
and create an educational experience
educate them about the services that
for the campers. With the help of her
are offered by Global Training Network.
volunteers, Rachel was able to build a new
In rallying community members to help
entrance sign, 15 informational trail signs,
create the salvation bracelets, Melissa
birdhouses and a mailbox outfitted with
was able to help support the mission of
brochures and pencils for the campers to
Global Training Network, which is to equip
use while on the trail.
pastors and leaders around the world to effectively spread the gospel.
Anisse Sircar
Cierra Sollecito
Benefiting: Students of Westlake Academy
Benefiting: Keller Harvel Elementary
Southlake, TX Troop 4041
Keller, TX Troop 3374
Anisse noticed how the Kindergarten
Cierra’s project addressed conflict
students at Westlake Academy had not
between students at Keller Harvel
had the opportunity to experience giving
Elementary.
With
back to the community. So she decided to
volunteers,
Cierra
bring community service to the school by
painted a conflict and resolution
creating an in-school community service
wheel for the teachers to use with
day. With her team of volunteers, Anisse
their students. She placed the wheel
decided to have the students create
outside on the concrete play area,
care packages and thank you cards for
so students can physically move
soldiers overseas. The in-service day was
around on the wheel to see what they
so successful that the school is already
can do to make better choices.
preparing for next year’s in-service day.
16 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
her
group
created
of and
Aliya Somani
Sharmeen Somani
Abby Tisdale
Benefiting: Bryan’s House
Benefiting: Buckner Foster Care
Benefiting: GRACE
Colleyville, TX Troop 1563
Photo not available
Colleyville, TX Troop 1563
Grapevine, TX Troop 1741
Aliya’s project helped the children of
Sharmeen’s project addressed the need
Abby noticed that the volunteer and
Bryan’s House by organizing a back-
for an interior makeover in the foster
information video for Grapevine Relief
to-school
students;
center. With her team of volunteers,
And Community Exchange (GRACE) had
she redesigned the outdoor area for
Sharmeen brought a much updated
become outdated and did not convey
students and families to enjoy, and
look for the teen area of the center. This
all the new volunteer opportunities the
created birthday boxes for the children
way the teens felt like they had a place
organization had, which in turn severely
of Bryan’s House. Aliya presented this
of their own and not just a building they
affected the number of volunteers that
project to her school’s community
were placed in.
GRACE received. So with her team of
night
for
the
service clubs to request they sustain this
volunteers, Abby was able to recreate the
project for the future.
volunteer video and update it with new volunteering opportunities with GRACE.
Megan Trantham
Nikita Uppal
Dawn Valden
Benefiting: Boise City Livestock community
Benefiting: Texas Academy of Math and Science
Benefiting: Safe Haven
Boise City, OK Troop 5648
Arlington, TX Troop 1852
Granbury, TX Troop 3015
Megan designed a special clinic to
After attending a semester at her
Dawn wanted to bring awareness of the
teach basic showmanship in sheep,
school, Nikita noticed that she and other
need for toiletry items for adults and after
goats, cattle, and pigs. She focused her
students were so busy with classes,
school snacks for the children of Safe
clinic on how to feed the animals, show
they would disregard their nutritional
Haven. Along with help from her peers at
preparation, and showmanship. Megan’s
health for the sake of time. To help
Wedgewood Academy, she created fliers
passion has always been in livestock,
counteract this growing problem, Nikita
about her project and set up collection
and agriculture is a large part of Boise
and her team created a Healthy Cooking
stations at her school. Then with her group
City’s livelihood. The kids learned about
Club, workshop and blog within the
of volunteers, she created toiletry grab
responsibility and the showing industry
school. Students learned to have a well-
bags for the adults and snack grab bags for
discovered that involving youth in their
balanced meal and still had time for their
the children of Safe Haven. Dawn’s project
local projects can make a difference in
educational responsibilities.
was so well received that her school will
the community and its sustainability.
continue to collect items for Safe Haven.
GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 17
Serena Wadhwani Euless, TX Troop 1563
Benefiting: Rupani Foundation & Agahi Waldein Program As Serena did research for her Gold Award project, she discovered the problem with the lack of schools in developing countries. When she was on a trip to Pakistan, she found a group that was just starting out and their objective was to teach mothers to be their child’s first teacher and to introduce them to English. So with the help of this organization and volunteers,
Serena
created
learning
materials in English for ages 3-6.
Abby Walterscheid
Lora Walterscheid
Margaret Watkins
Benefiting: Myra Park
Benefiting: Denton Presbyterian Hospital
Benefiting: Cook Children’s Medical Center
Muenster, TX Troop 4614
Muenster, TX Troop 4614
Fort Worth, TX Troop 1122
Abby’s project brought much needed
Lora saw a need at the Denton
Margaret’s love for literature was her
attention to the local area park in Myra,
Presbyterian Hospital to re-organize
focus for her Gold Award. When Margaret
Texas. She wanted to address the issue
the information closet. This closet was
discovered that the majority of patients
of Keep Texas Beautiful. She made the
intended to be used for pamphlets to
in
playground a safer and cleaner place for
be stored and handed out to people
always relied on an electronic device
children in the community to play. She updated and learned to repair broken playground equipment and gave everything a fresh coat of paint. Abby also made an agreement with the city to keep the park mowed and empty trash bins whenever needed. Abby said “I learned to assert myself as a leader, by doing this project”.
about their illness. Lora organized the closet, making it very easy for doctors and nurses to find the pamphlets they needed.
Lora also started a program
called the “Vials of Life”. This program puts the patient’s medical information into a bottle and places it on the top shelf of their refrigerator. This helps Emergency
Cook
Children’s
Medical
Center
for entertainment, she knew she had to create a way to make reading more accessible. With the help of the hospital and her volunteers, Margaret was able to create a bedtime reading program. Trained volunteers came in to read to the children. When there were not
Medical Services to quickly treat patients
enough volunteers, Maggie helped create
and contact family members.
recordings of each book.
18 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
Community Impact The pursuit of the Gold Award is a remarkable time in a girl’s life. It’s a time when a young woman digs
6,290 hours
deep, works hard, and ends up making incredible impact. Each of our Gold Award recipients has completed amazing projects that will continue to have positive impacts on our 81-county service area for years to come. Working alongside their volunteers, girls who completed their Gold Award this year donated their time and energy to the communities they serve by completing an awesome amount of service hours.
GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS 19
Girl Scout Gold Award Project Beneficiaries The hours that girls and their volunteer teams put into Gold Award projects have a positive influence on entire communities. Most often, this impact is focused by working with established organizations like schools, churches, and non-profit organizations. The following is a list of organizations that benefitted from Gold Award Projects completed in 2013-2014: Agahi Waldein Program
Crisis Center in Decatur, Texas
Rupani Foundation
Amarillo Zoo
Denton Presbyterian Hospital
Safe Haven
Baylor All Saints
Dream Center
Saint Mary’s Cathedral School
Bedford Elementary students
Fitzgerald Elementary
Shackelford Junior High School
Boise City Livestock community
Global Training Network
Sherrod Elementary
Briarwood Retreat Center
GRACE
St. Joseph’s Mission, Swaziland
Bryan’s House
Grapevine High School
St. Martin in the Field Church
Buckner Foster Care
High Point Church
Students of Arlington ISD
Camp Holland
Hilltop Senior Citizen Center
Students of Keller ISD
Casa Senior Living Apartments
Humane Society of North Texas
Students of Westlake Academy
Church at Quail Creek
Indian Spring Middle School
Texas Academy of Math and Science
Cimarron County Hospital
Keller Harvel Elementary
The Warm Place
City of Bedford
Keller Oaks Nursing Home
Trinity High School
City of Benbrook Cemetery
Knights of Columbus
WildRescue, Inc. Rescued Rabbits
City of Burleson
Landauer Child Care Center
Wise Hope Shelter
Colleyville Montessori
Lubbock Meals on Wheels
Community of Grand Prairie
Medical Center of Arlington
Xere and Moiyabana Primary Schools in Botswana, Africa
Community of Arlington
MHMR Tarrant
Community of Boise City
Myra Park
Community of Mansfield
Northstar School
Cook Children’s Medical Center
Northwest ISD
The girls’ dedication is evident in the quality of work, attention to detail, tenacity, and ability to mobilize the community to join in the effort. - Benbrook Mayor Jerry Dittrich
20 Texas Oklahoma Plains Gold Awards 2013–2014
The Girl Scout Gold Award Manifesto GO within. See yourself as pure gold, free to shine and way too good to play small. GO deeper, Into problems and places where help is needed, with the strength to spark worldwide change. GO ALL OUT, As a golden-gifted gi-normous force of nature owning your power to lead. Imagine what will happen if we show a girl the heights of achievement, Then promise to get her there. Her inner light will take on an incredible new hue. She’ll see so many paths she can take, She’ll join hands with girls around the globe– Learning, leading, lifting, climbing, shining. shaping the future, They’ll dream anew, in color. And together, they will go boldly forward. We’re inviting you to participate in the power of a billion bright lights. A world ignited. When every girl believes that she can GO GOLD. So how do we get her there? We ALL GO gold. We GO to her side with the encouragement she needs. We GO public with her incredible story. We get everyone talking about what Gold Award means so when girls seek out community support, it’s there. And for every Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador we put Gold firmly on their radar, and in their hearts. We reignite the passion of Gold Alumnae, we get the entire community on the same glorious page with a clear-cut mission and a powerful rallying cry–a cry that will be heard, and felt, across this nation. Everyone, together, LET’S… GO GOLD.
>>> www.gs-top.org/gold