IN YOUR HONOR
GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD 2020-2021
THE MARK OF THE TRULY REMARKABLE.
Girl Scout Gold Award The Girl Scout Gold Award expresses a girl’s special commitment to herself, her community, her world, and the future. To be eligible to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a girl must be a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador. For the 2020-2021 school year, 140 Girl Scouts from Northeast Texas earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. It takes a minimum of 80 hours of intensive work for a girl to complete the prerequisites for the award, develop a plan, and complete the project. The award focuses on the interests and personal leadership journey of each girl. The project fulfills a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global), creates change, and has the potential to be sustainable. This is more than a good service project. It encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. Girls who earn the Girl Scout Gold Award display more positive life outcomes than non-Girl Scout alumnae. These include positive sense of self, life satisfaction, leadership, life success, community service, and civic engagement. Other findings from the report include the following:
• Gold Award Girl Scouts have had more leadership experiences.
• Gold Award Girl Scouts feel they have had success in their lives because of the unique experiences they had in Girl Scouts.
• Over 90% of Gold Award Girl Scouts attributed their success in life to Girl Scouts. They also said that they could not have had access to the same experiences anywhere else.
* The Power of the Girl Scout Gold Award: Excellence in Leadership and Life, Girl Scout Research Institute
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The Girl Scout Promise And Law The Girl Scout Promise and Law are shared by every member of Girl Scouting. By pledging to exemplify the Girl Scout Promise and Law, each Girl Scout is committed to making the world a better place.
Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try to serve God and my country to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
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2020-2021 RECIPIENTS Laila Abdelghany
Isabella Escobedo
Zara Jones
Emilia Roco
Safiya Adatia
Lauren Faria
Juliette Jowid
Caitlyn Aenis
Anna Fent
Lauren Nichole Judy
Paolaenid Rodney Hernandez
Isha Agarwal
Victoria Feuer
Sasha Kadamba
Rashi Agarwal
Erin Fleming
Neha Kazani
Iliana Aguilar
Richa Gandhi
Ruthika Kella
Sameen Ahmad
Jordan Gardom
Unaiza Khakoo
Ila Ali
Amy Gibson
Ashlyn Knox
Naura Ali
Sarah Gill
Caroline Lai
Elinah Amlani
Cate Goglia
Gracie Lane
Avery Antes
Emily Goodwin
Amina Latif
Kathryn Atmakur
Bella Gumucio
Madeleine Lee
Sally Ayass
Shivani Gupta
Mary Kate Madden
Javon Badchkam
Meridethe Gutgsell
Noor Malik
Mackenzie Haley
Victoria Manning
Elisabeth Hamann
Minuki Medis
Sarah Hamilton
Kimaya Meherali
Katherine Hanna
Laiba Mehmood
Caitlin Hardy
Margot Meyer
Lindsie Harris
Aliah Mir
Sehrish Hasanali
Nuhaa Mohammed
Tanya Hassan
Ameena Mooers
Theresa Hayes
Aryahna Myart
Alexandra Vincent
Christina Healy
Manal Nasir
Mary Beth Walsh
Morgan Heard
Lorelei Nichols
Priyanka Warrier
Arisha Hirji
Catherine Nicodemus
Tori Watson
Natalia Houle
Sierra Osborne
Lauren Watts
Sarah Hudson
Kajal Patel
Heather Wegmann
Leena Husein
Lauren Peck
Kayla West
Aatiqah Hussain
Alana Platt
Allison Whaley
Nimeshika Devarakonda
Ayra Jamal
Page Powell
Helena Wiederkehr
Isabella Jarecke
Elizabeth Prince
Makayla Wilkins
Georgia Doering
Sonia Jivani
Arden Radford
Neely Womble
Kaitlyn Durkee
Amber Johnson
Jade Radford
Sarah Wright
Emily Edgar
Hailey Jones
Haya Rafiqi
Ifrah Zainab
Neha Bajaj Priya Bapna Alison Bell Victoria Bennett Lindsey Brightwell Emmalynn Brown Paris Bussell Emma Butler Imani Butler Hayden Calendine Gabriella Catino Katie Chang Victoria Chien Paavni Chokshi Leah Comisar Madeleine Crew Lillian Davis
Kyndra Scott Elizabeth Secor Sofia Shaikh Rachel Simms Rachel Simone Madeleine Smith Morgan Smith Katrina Snider Morgan Spann Katherine Springs Kristina Subia Ayshwarya Sukumar Simin Sultanali Allynn Terry Hannah Timmer Lauren Tompkins Kathleen Tschoepe Ariana Twiss Tishya Vadavala Natalie Vargas
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Laila Abdelghany
Caitlyn Aenis
An Educational Program for Elementary School Students on Allergy Awareness
Chemotherapy Care Kits
Girl Scout Troop 2460. Laila addressed the lack of allergy awareness after learning that 18% of students with food allergies have had a reaction in the classroom. She and her volunteers created materials for younger classrooms and for parents and teachers. She educated younger children on the importance of being mindful of allergies through animated cartoons and coloring books. For parents and teachers, she created a website with information on the most effective ways to keep their classrooms safe and how to respond to a reaction if needed. Many of the teachers decided to create a peanut free lunchtime due to her efforts. Her website and cartoons will be used to continue creating awareness. Laila graduated from Brighter Horizons Academy in 2020.
Safiya Adatia Healthy = Happy Girl Scout Troop 6435. Safiya recognized that the Covid pandemic was impacting physical health for all children, particularly as it relates to obesity. To combat this issue, Safiya collaborated with the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board to create fun and interactive zoom dance sessions. She and her volunteers designed choreography for Contemporary and West African dances. Safiya also taught about the different cultures and the history behind the dances. The participants, including some worldwide, learned about the importance of stretching, the power of expressions and the significance of healthy lifestyles, even during a pandemic. All sessions were recorded and are available to be viewed on the Aga Khan Youth Sports Board website. Safiya will graduate from Uplift North Hills Preparatory in 2021.
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Girl Scout Troop 8404. Caitlyn took her own family cancer experience and focused her project on educating about chemotherapy and how people can help chemo patients. She created a website that explains the reasons for chemotherapy treatment, potential side effects, and how sometimes all it takes is a person who is willing to listen to the patient to make a difference. She and her volunteers made over 100 chemo care kits with items such as fuzzy socks or blankets, snacks, lip balm and unscented lotion and hand sanitizer. The kits provide a way for families to show their support as the patient goes through treatment. The Stage Right Ministry, a local youth theatre group, and her website will continue the project. Caitlyn graduated from Marcus High School in 2020.
Isha Agarwal Creating Better Homes, One Kit at a Time Girl Scout Troop 3550. Isha’s project focused on poverty and the homeless. Working with CitySquare, an organization that fights the causes and effects of poverty through service, advocacy and friendship, Isha created Welcome Home Kits. CitySquare provides housing to the homeless, so the kits gave the new residents a way to get started in their new homes with items of their own. Each kit included things needed to make a home functional such as plates, cups, bowls, towels, soap, and shower curtains. Kits were made for individuals and families. Isha’s website with how-to instructions will be used by volunteers to make more kits as needed. Isha graduated from Coppell High School in 2020.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Rashi Agarwal
Sameen Ahmad
Bringing Joy to Patients at Scottish Rite One Kit at a Time!
Fun in Quarantine!
Girl Scout Troop 3550. Rashi collaborated with Scottish Rite Hospital to create activity kits for the pediatric patients. The kits helped children handle the stress and anxiety they face while hospitalized, giving them something to focus on instead of their illness. The kits were developed for 4 different age groups and contained age-appropriate activities like crayons, canvases, small board games and coloring books. Each kit also had a handwritten positivity card in both Spanish and English to encourage healing. Rahsi also made a website with general information about the hospital and how-to instructions on making additional kits as needed by the volunteers at Scottish Rite. Rashi graduated from Coppell High School in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 3326. Sameen’s project provided a creative outlet for kids ages 6+ staying at the Scottish Rite for Children hospital. Amidst the COVID-19 environment and limited socialization, Sameen recognized that staying at a hospital would feel especially isolating. To mitigate this, Sameen and her volunteers created 150 activity kits for Scottish Rite patients. Kits included four crafts, a link to her virtual tutorials that demonstrate how to complete each craft, and a hand-written note of encouragement. While children stayed at Scottish Rite to mend their physical health, Sameen’s project allowed children to foster their emotional health through a creative outlet. She also provided the hospital with videos outlining materials and craft instructions to repeat the project for future patients. Sameen will graduate from Brighter Horizons Academy in 2023.
Iliana Aguilar The Sky is NOT the Limit Girl Scout Troop 8967. Iliana used her own love of STEM to create hands-on workshops for the students at her old elementary school, Steadham Elementary. The school’s limited budget and lack of resources for STEM curriculum provided a perfect place for Iliana to serve as a role model and encourage girls to try STEM. She and her volunteers showcased women STEM leaders, while doing activities around design process and harmonic motion. They built a functioning paper rover helicopter, kazoo and catapult as part of the program. The goal was for students to see themselves as engineers and understand that failure is part of the design process. The GLO STEM club at Steadham will continue the workshops going forward. Iliana will graduate from Sachse High School in 2021.
Ila Ali Inspiring Kindness Girl Scout Troop 6435. Ila worked with middle school girls and their parents to address the issue of bullying, including cyberbullying. She and her volunteers ran several zoom sessions to discuss how to recognize bullying and actions to take. The discussions were meant to provide a safe space for participants to talk about their personal experiences and how they reacted. The girls also learned the importance of keeping a positive attitude and treating everyone with kindness. Surveys indicated that girls felt more capable of dealing with bullying situations after the sessions and that parents saw an increase in communication with their girls. Videos with bullying information were created to spread the word on a website and YouTube. Ila will graduate from Coppell High School in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Naura Ali
Avery Antes
NICU Lovies and Dolls
Garden for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas
Girl Scout Troop 227. Naura collaborated with Children’s Medical Center to create awareness about children with blood disorders and premature babies. To help the Leukemia patients feel less scared, she and her volunteers sewed over 100 comfort dolls. For the premature babies, over 300 lovie hearts were sewn. Parents of the premature babies sleep with the lovie hearts and then take them to the NICU to place in the baby’s sleeping space. The scent from the parents help the babies begin to recognize their smell and relax. A video on YouTube explains how to make these items and a how-to binder was left at the hospital to replenish the dolls and lovies as needed. Naura will graduate from The Colony High School in 2022.
Elinah Amlani Helping Hospitals Girl Scout Troop 227. Elinah worked with Scottish Rite Hospital for Children to provide support for their patients. Elinah recognized that some children have extended visits with little to comfort them during their stay. Elinah and her volunteers created 100 no-sew fleece-tie blankets for the children and attached a note of encouragement to each blanket. She designed a flier to educate others about her project and to encourage them to make more blankets for hospitals. Elinah also filmed a YouTube video showing the process of making the blankets and provided the link to the hospital so hospital volunteers could make additional blankets. Elinah will graduate from Hebron High School in 2022.
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Girl Scout Troop 3242. Avery’s project promoted healthy eating for children in low-income families by creating a new garden for the Boys and Girls Club. Avery and her volunteers planted and labeled herbs and flowers. Additionally, Avery designed, constructed, and installed an irrigation system to ensure plants receive ample water to combat the Texas heat. Her efforts have created a platform for children to learn about nutritious eating options and incorporate herbs and vegetables into their diet to promote overall health. Her garden will be used by the Boys and Girls Club community for future crop seasons and be able to survive the hot days with the new irrigation system. Avery will graduate from The Hockaday School in 2021.
Kathryn Atmakur Tai Chi for Seniors Girl Scout Troop 3561. Kathryn worked with Victoria Gardens Nursing Home to plan and implement a weekly exercise class. The facility’s staff did not have enough time to schedule and lead the classes, so Kathryn stepped up and taught Tai Chi classes to help the participants gain strength, balance skills, and have a better quality of life. She also taught about the history and development of Tai Chi in Asian Culture. Classes were in person until the pandemic and then filmed, using her volunteers to ensure that the instructions were clear. The videos were then given to the Nursing Home to use to continue the weekly classes. They are also available on a website she developed. Kathryn will graduate from Plano East High School in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Sally Ayass
Neha Bajaj
Autism Awareness
First Aid First!
Girl Scout Troop 6348. Sally’s project focused on creating autism awareness and understanding in her community. Having a family member with autism, Sally observed that people don’t know how to interact with autistic individuals. She worked with Epic Strides, an organization that serves this community, to present virtual workshops to over 60 people with the help of her volunteers. Her workshops covered the definition of autism, its levels and common characteristics, how to aid an autistic person having an emotional meltdown in public, and how to be more inclusive of this population in various interactions. Her presentation materials are available on the Epic Stride’s website and will be used to do an annual event going forward. Sally graduated from Brighter Horizons Academy in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 3580. Neha used her passion for the medical field to educate youth, specifically Girl Scout Brownies, on the importance of basic first aid. She held 6 workshops focusing on four areas, when and how to call 911, how to create and maintain a First Aid Kit, how to treat minor injuries and how to prevent and treat outdoor injuries. The Brownies learned lifelong skills, received a starter first aid kit and earned their First Aid badge. Neha’s pamphlet, website, and the HOSA group at her High School, who will run an annual first aid workshop using her materials, will continue the education going forward. Neha will graduate from Lebanon Trail High School in 2021.
Priya Bapna Farm to Table
Javon Badchkam Helping Paws Girl Scout Troop 4900. Javon collaborated with the Lewisville Animal Shelter to help provide the best care possible for their animals. Javon worked with Central Hardwoods to design, build, and install agility sets to offer entertainment and mental stimulation for the dogs. Javon and her volunteers sanded the structures and treated them with a protective deck finish. She re-purposed flowerpots for storage of dog toys by making false bottoms out of wire mesh. Javon created brochures for new pet owners to educate them about caring for their pets as they adapted to their new homes. The shelter will continue to use her brochure for adoptions and maintain the agility sets. Javon will graduate from Lewisville High School in 2021.
Girl Scout Troop 645. Priya chose to educate younger children about eating naturally grown foods and making healthier lifestyle choices. To accomplish this goal, she worked with Montessori Children’s home to create a garden and write a curriculum. She and her volunteers planned and planted a garden with fruits and vegetables, providing an interactive space to learn about nutrition, maintaining a garden, pollination, and environmental awareness through a connection to nature. The students now know how to prep the soil, plant and care for the garden and then cook using recipes designed specifically for their produce. She shared her videos with Montessori schools all over Texas and they will continue her program using her curriculum going forward. Priya will graduate from Plano East Senior High School in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Alison Bell
Lindsey Brightwell
Interactive Play Time
Adulting 101
Girl Scout Troop 3069. To help students make better social connections instead of relying on technology, Alison made an interactive playground area at Tadlock Elementary. She and her volunteers painted a variety of games on the sidewalks at the school to encourage more interaction. Four square, hopscotch, tic tac toe, leap frog, and spinning games were added. She also provided instructions on how to play the different games, as well as the importance of good sportsmanship, kindness and managing emotions. The videos will help the students be more empathetic and create better relationships with their peers. The videos and a how-to binder were left with the school to refresh the games as needed. Alison will graduate from Plano Senior High School in 2021.
Victoria Bennett Bennett’s Books Girl Scout Troop 8765. Victoria worked with the Fairoaks community in Denton to renovate and update their community room. The new room is now used as a library for the senior residents as well as a welcoming space in the neighborhood for all to come and borrow books and read. Victoria collected over 800 books which were then sorted, categorized, and shelved in the updated room. She taught people how to make bookmarks and tassels to encourage everyone to read. Victoria also interviewed several residents so that people could learn more about their own community. The new area will be maintained by the facility and will provide a social, safe and family oriented environment going forward. Victoria will graduate from Billy Ryan High School in 2021.
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Girl Scout Troop 6796. Lindsey designed a project to teach life skills to better equip students as they entered the “real world” after graduating from high school. Some of the topics covered included check writing, car maintenance, understanding insurance, budgeting, basic sewing, and time management. Lindsey taught hour-long classes after school throughout the academic year, with over 100 high school students participating. In addition to her virtual Zoom classes, Lindsey created extra resources on Canvas. The Canvas course was published on the school district’s course library so that teachers across the district can copy her program for use on their own campuses. The PALS program will use her materials to integrate them into their program going forward. Lindsey will graduate from Centennial High School in 2023.
Emmalynn Brown Art Camp for Krum ISD Elementary Students Girl Scout Troop 3892. Emmalynn researched the benefits that art offers as part of an elementary school curriculum. Realizing that Krum ISD does not currently have art education at elementary schools, she created a presentation about its importance and presented it to the Krum ISD school board for them to consider. She then held a virtual art camp for students to expand on this issue. She and her volunteers prepared for the camp and then taught students about color, different artistic techniques, and how to be creative and expressive in their artwork. Her presentation, pamphlet, and videos with art instruction have been shared throughout the school district and with the Art Club to continue the outreach. Emmalynn will graduate from Krum High School in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Paris Bussell
Imani Butler
Picture Purrfect!
Black History Class
Girl Scout Troop 8534. Paris focused on providing education and enrichment to adoptive families at the DFW Humane Society in Irving. Paris created instructional brochures for cats and dogs to explain the 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months rules for working with a new pet to facilitate a successful transition to their new home. Paris and her volunteers designed and painted a 7’ x 3’ canvas with pets on a scenic background with the shelter’s logo to serve as a backdrop for families to take photos with their new family member. Paris also organized a donation and education drive at a community event for the shelter. The shelter will continue to use the brochures and painting backdrop going forward. Paris graduated from Highland Park High School in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 1869. Imani used her interest in teaching to design and deliver an after-school Black History class to 8th grade middle school students at Reed Middle School. Her curriculum covered the history of Black people, equality issues and how they relate to today’s current environment. The discussions provided a safe place for students to talk to each other about their personal experiences and how Black people are seen in society. She also covered proactive ways for students to be involved in continuing to fight for equality for all. Her lesson plans will be used each year by the middle school to continue the education process. Imani graduated from Duncanville High School in 2020.
Hayden Calendine Emma Butler Socializing Shy Shelter Dogs Girl Scout Troop 38. Emma’s project focused on providing permanent resources to the Humane Tomorrow shelter in Argyle to assist personnel in socializing shy dogs to increase their adoption rate. Emma and her volunteers built an outdoor playground that included a ramp, steps, a platform with multiple floor surfaces, a half door structure, a tether rope toy tug, a puppy adventure box, and ten fleece snuffle mats. Emma and her volunteers created 11 table-top Wish Trees with ornaments and set them up in businesses and vet offices. She collected over 200 donations from these wish trees. Drawing on her personal experience, Emma wrote a children’s book, “Penny the Shy Shelter Dog,” currently displayed in the shelter’s lobby. Emma will graduate from Flower Mound High School in 2022.
Connect Four Girl Scout Troop 4802. Hayden addressed the lack of sustainable games for all ages at Argyle United Methodist Church. To help solve this problem, she and her volunteers built two life size wood Connect Four game boards. Two different sizes, one for children and one for teens and adults were built with drawers to store the game pieces and wheels to move the large board around the church. She also made a video to explain the rules of the game, strategies, and the importance of good sportsmanship. The church will maintain the new games and her instructions on how to build these life-sized game boards are available to be shared via her video. Hayden will graduate from Argyle High School in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Gabriella Catino
Victoria Chien
Non-Profit Ballet Organization
Books for a Purpose
Girl Scout Troop 4607. Gabriella collaborated with the Festival Ballet of North Central Texas. She and her volunteers reorganized the costume, accessories, and sewing materials, creating a more efficient storage system and improving the seamstress’ ability to stay on schedule during fittings of costumes. This in turn helped rehearsals run more smoothly and punctually. All costumes, accessories and sewing materials were sorted, labeled, and placed into boxes or rolling carts. Everything was color coded, making it easier to locate items and then re-store them. The rolling carts also saved time since more materials could be moved at once. The staff will continue to use the new organizational system Gabriella created. Gabriella will graduate from Coram Deo Academy in 2022.
Katie Chang The Portrait Project Girl Scout Troop 2601. Katie collaborated with the Boys and Girls Club of Collin County to provide over 50 families with access to professional photography services during the holiday season. Katie connected a network of photographers to underserved families who were able to have family portraits made, creating high quality family heirlooms. She and her volunteers managed the family and photographer applications, matched the photographers to the families, and ensured the portraits were taken and then distributed. Her website explained her process, displayed some of the portraits and had testimonials from the participants. The Boys and Girls Club and the network of photographers Katie fashioned will continue her work each holiday season. Katie will graduate from Plano West High School in 2022.
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Girl Scout Troop 2769. Victoria partnered with United to Learn to develop a distribution system to provide books to children across the Metroplex during the pandemic and summer to maintain literacy skills. Victoria and her volunteers collected hundreds of books to add to the approximately 12,000 books already gathered by United to Learn and sorted them for distribution. Victoria worked with 17 schools, apartment complexes, and nonprofit agencies to deliver books to their children. She developed instructional documents and a spreadsheet with contact information and maps for the distribution process for future annual drives. Victoria also worked with the YMCA after school camp at Sierra Vista apartments, creating and facilitating reading and craft activity sessions. Victoria will graduate from The Hockaday School in 2022.
Paavni Chokshi ChildCareGroup Kids Mobile Store Girl Scout Troop 3455. Paavni collaborated with ChildCareGroup, an organization that promotes, delivers and expands early care and education programs for at-risk youth and families. Working with the MLK Center and her volunteers, Paavni designed a mobile store for over 500 books, games, puzzles and toys. She created awareness about the need for educational materials and then sorted, categorized by grade and shelved all of the materials. Three mobile carts were built to make access to the materials easier. The children can now read books during school, as well as take them home over the weekend to promote more early literacy skills. The facility will maintain the mobile stores and add more books as available. Paavni will graduate from Plano West High School in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Leah Comisar
Lillian Davis
Caring Pathways: Enriching the Lives of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Special Needs
Children’s Outreach
Girl Scout Troop 6796. Leah collaborated with Caring Pathways of Carrollton, an organization that provides daily programming for underserved adults 18+ with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization was in need of a storage unit and refreshing and creating new activity kits. Leah built a storage unit with 36 cubbies for participants to store their personal items when they arrive at the facility. She and her volunteers created over 49 activity kits that promote basic fine motor skills with matching, counting, and sensory themed items that encourage focus and attention to detail. The organization will maintain the cubicle unit and use Leah’s how-to materials to update the kits as needed. Leah will graduate from Plano West Senior High School in 2023.
Madeleine Crew Equest Therapeutic Riding Center Sensory Trail Girl Scout Troop 8786. Madeleine collaborated with Equest Therapeutic Riding Center to complete a sensory trail and butterfly garden. Therapeutic riding on a sensory trail provides a learning environment for participants with physical, cognitive, sensory, coping, social, and learning disabilities. She and her volunteers built the trail using stone, sand, pea gravel and granite. The trail helps with balance and stimulating senses. The garden gives riders more sensory opportunities as well as a rich environmental option. She created awareness about Equest in her community, gathering support as well. Equest’s volunteers will maintain the trail and the garden going forward. Madeleine graduated from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 517. Lillian collaborated with her church, Holy Cross Lutheran Church to update and refresh children’s activities to be used during church services. Lillian researched and put together Bible lesson plans, along with crayons and markers for the kids to remain occupied while their parents participated in services. Each bag was unique and age appropriate for the various children. Lillian hoped that having updated activities would make it easier for parents to bring their kids to church and encourage more participation. The church will maintain the bags, which are washable and Covid safe for years to come. Lillian graduated from RL Turner High School in 2020.
Nimeshika Devarakonda Senior Empowerment Girl Scout Troop 4779. Nimeshika addressed the feelings of isolation felt by seniors at Pinewood Hills Retirement Center by creating a Jeopardy online game. As they participated in the game, the residents interacted with one another, became more social, were able to gain knowledge and keep their mental fitness intact. Nimeshika also wanted the senior citizens to know people cared during COVID-19, so she and her volunteers made over 500 Father’s Day cards and decorations with comforting messages and delivered them to multiple senior citizen centers in her area. The facility has added the Jeopardy game to its monthly rotation of activities and will use a video and instructions she provided as needed to play the game. Nimeshika will graduate from Flower Mound High School in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Georgia Doering
Emily Edgar
Bears and Blankets
Bra Buddies
Girl Scout Troop 3455. Georgia worked with UT Southwestern to improve comfort and after-care for their children and homeless patients. The hospital is not a pediatric specialty hospital, so they are not equipped to offer comfort to children like other hospitals. Georgia and her volunteers created hand sewn bears for the children and blankets for the homeless patients, sewing over 100 items for donation. The bears will make visiting the hospital less scary and the homeless children will have their own personal blankets to help keep them warm. Georgia’s website and YouTube video have information on her process and how-to make the bears and blankets, so future volunteers can continue to work with the hospital. Georgia will graduate from Plano West Senior High School in 2021.
Kaitlyn Durkee Preservation of Shed and Steel Poles on Playground Girl Scout Troop 3199. Kaitlyn’s project gave back to Mary Immaculate Catholic School, the community she grew up in. She and her volunteers preserved and restored the woodshed and playground canopies in the outdoor area. The improvements benefited the kids who use the shade structure and water fountains on the playground, as well as making the campus more inviting. Working at times in 100-degree weather, the steel poles and shed were sanded, painted, and sealed to prevent water damage. She also created posters for the incoming fall students about the importance of social distancing and handwashing due to Covid-19. The maintenance team will make touch ups as needed for the shed and poles. Kaitlyn graduated from RL Turner High School in 2020.
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Girl Scout Troop 2561. While volunteering at Mission Arlington, Emily recognized that young girls and women were frequently asking for more and different sized bras. She created awareness about this need through Facebook, Instagram, and in her high school musical program book. Donation boxes were set up in the community and over 200 bras and undergarments were donated. Emily also built a storage cabinet for the bras and underwear for use at Mission Arlington, making them easier to sort and store. She educated people about how to find the perfect bra size and how to do self-checks for breast cancer. The organization will maintain the cabinet and Emily’s website will provide information on how to donate. Emily will graduate from Hebron High School in 2022.
Isabella Escobedo The Big Blue Sea Girl Scout Troop 670. Isabella wrote a book called The Big Blue Sea to explain the importance of reusing items to reduce single use plastics. In her story, plastic water bottles, bags, mugs and straws are seen impacting the sea and turning it gray. The book then explains how to protect the ocean ecosystem by choosing reusable water bottles, bags, mugs and straws. She and her volunteers discussed multiple story ideas and then she designed and hand painted her book. Isabella explains why you can’t just reduce and recycle, but must also reuse to lessen single use plastics. Her book can be seen and heard online and copies have been donated to Boggess Elementary to read for years to come. Isabella graduated from Plano East Senior High School in 2020.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Lauren Faria
Victoria Feuer
Beautification Project at Donald Elementary
Tying Us Together
Girl Scout Juliette. As a previous student at Donald Elementary, Lauren wanted to honor the school’s recent designation as a STEM Academy. Together with her volunteers, Lauren repainted the fading map of the United States on the school’s blacktop and added an interactive STEM space-themed sensory path. The path included a blast off rocket launch pad to play four square, footprints and space boot prints to encourage sit ups, an astronaut space tether to spin and twist and a rocket hopscotch. She also sealed the blacktop to ensure the new additions will be long-lasting. The school will incorporate the new themed area into their students’ outdoor time. Lauren will graduate from Flower Mound High School in 2021.
Anna Fent St. Mary of Carmel Library Revitalization Girl Scout Troop 45. Anna revitalized the library at St. Mary of Carmel Elementary. The library had fallen into disrepair when the school was no longer able to fund a librarian. She enlisted volunteers to sort and catalogue over 1000 books. Using a free software as a starting place, Anna created a barcode for each book. The books were then shelved by type. She also created member cards to be used to check out the books. The library now provides a place for classes to come to encourage reading and to foster community engagement. A video and how-to manual with instructions on how to maintain the library will be used by the teachers going forward. Anna will graduate from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 2021.
Girl Scout Troop 8314. Victoria’s project focused on helping people feel less lonely. She collaborated with senior citizens at the Avenues of Park Forest to make friendship bracelets for the patients at Scottish Rite Hospital. Victoria and her volunteers taught the senior citizens how to make the friendship bracelets, giving them something to do over the holidays when away from family, while also improving their motor skills and socializing. The patients at the hospital got the bracelets and encouraging notes to let them know that someone cared about them as their treatment continued. Over 250 bracelets and notes were delivered to the hospital. The residents at the Avenues of Park Forest will continue making the bracelets. Victoria will graduate from The Episcopal School of Dallas in 2022.
Erin Fleming Teacher Workstations Girl Scout Troop 3201. As a volunteer at The Voice of Hope Aspire after school program for several years, Erin observed that the teacher workstations in the classrooms were outdated and inefficient. She designed and built new desks using old doors and white boards, along with wheels to make them mobile throughout the school. Eight new workstations now give the teachers and students a more 21st century classroom, where group learning and instruction is conducted in a more collaborative environment. The white boards bring more interaction to the students and the workstations are user friendly to charging educational devices. The school will maintain the new workstations as needed. Erin will graduate from Highland Park High School in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Richa Gandhi
Amy Gibson
Menstrual Health Education for Young Women
Best Buddies NTX Student Advisory Board
Girl Scout Troop 478. Richa’s project addressed the lack of awareness about menstrual health education. Her goal was to spread awareness to empower young women to take control of their own health by creating a comprehensive menstrual education curriculum. The curriculum contained information on period products, infections and disorders, health resources, and period poverty and was presented to over 200 people virtually. Richa and her volunteers also made and donated 250 menstrual care packages to Our Calling Homeless Shelter that included period products, homemade microwavable heating pads and health instruction cards. Her instructional materials will be used in the community to continue educating on this topic. Richa will graduate from Plano East Senior High School in 2021.
Girl Scout Troop 7381. Amy collaborated with Best Buddies, an organization that works with students to bring inclusion and friendships to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Amy created a Best Buddies Student Advisory Board to increase engagement and growth of the 49 Best Buddies chapters’ leaders and student volunteers. Zoom events were set up to generate dialogue and engage members such as a trivia event. Videos were also created about Best Buddies for each chapter to promote on their social media channels. The Student Advisory Board is now beginning its 3rd year and will continue using all the processes and information Amy put in place. Amy will graduate from Bishop Lynch High School in 2022.
Sarah Gill Jordan Gardom Bat Learning Project Girl Scout Troop 8404. Jordan’s project focused on creating awareness about bats and the importance they play in the ecosystem. Working with the Lewisville ISD Outdoor Learning Center, she and her volunteers designed and built eight trail post markers for the 4th grade students to view as part of their outdoor learning. She also created classroom materials and lessons that lead to an outdoor hands-on puzzle/clue box. The lessons teach about the bats, their physical characteristics, how they interact and help the environment. Students from over 40 schools, as well as the public, can now learn more about bats by visiting the center. The center will use Jordan’s materials to continue the bat education program. Jordan graduated from Lewisville High School in 2020.
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Caring Closet Girl Scout Troop 3085. Sarah chose to help students at Allen High School whose families are facing financial difficulties such as homelessness, job loss, or medical issues. She and her volunteers created a Caring Closet for school supplies, snacks, and hygiene products intending to provide these basic necessities to help students focus on their education. A location was selected, bins were obtained, and then over 5000 items were donated. With her volunteers, the items were sorted, inventoried, and then placed in bins. A system to receive and deliver the items through counselors was also devised. Several of the schools’ clubs will continue working with the closet using Sarah’s instruction manual. Community involvement for donations will be done through Staples and an Amazon Wish list that Sarah set up. Sarah graduated from Allen High School in 2020.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Cate Goglia
Bella Gumucio
United to Learn Video Series
Reformatting Camp Bette Perot Badgework
Girl Scout Troop 2769. Cate collaborated with United to Learn, an organization that works to eliminate achievement gaps for all students by utilizing volunteers and community resources to improve learning opportunities. Cate and her volunteers created easy access YouTube videos to serve as resources for teachers and students during the pandemic. Student volunteers, using instructional videos Cate made, recorded videos in both English and Spanish of their interests in areas such as reading, sports, arts, dance, and science that were cataloged and saved on a United to Learn YouTube Channel. Almost 16,000 Dallas ISD students had access to over 450 videos recorded by students, not just in Dallas but nationally and globally. Cate’s materials will be used to continue the program by United to Learn staff. Cate will graduate from the Hockaday School in 2022.
Girl Scout Juliette. Bella used her experience as a Tejas Rider to reformat horse related badge work for Camp Bette Perot. Bella and her volunteers developed written and video teaching materials relating to the 6 horse badges. These new materials will assist Tejas Riders staff in communicating more effectively as teachers while the troops are earning the badges. The videos provide an opportunity for girls to do some prework virtually on the badge basics during the pandemic. The videos cover general horse knowledge with quizzes at the end to test comprehension. The horse program at camp will use Bella’s program going forward. Bella attended Highland Park High School and graduated from Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado in 2020.
Shivani Gupta Emily Goodwin Card Creations Virtual Summer Camp Girl Scout Troop 1246. Emily used her love of stationary art and crafting cards to plan and implement a virtual summer camp for 10 to 12 year-old campers. Each session, she and her volunteers used a mix of lessons and hands-on activities to encourage socializing and being productive during the pandemic. Topics covered included calligraphy and lettering, drawing and coloring, integrating lettering skills with card aesthetics, the use of graphic shapes, and how cards can make a difference when sent. Each camper made and mailed cards to nursing home facilities as part of the program. A website with tutorials is available and has been shared with local organizations. Emily will graduate from Coppell High School in 2021.
Props for Playwrights Girl Scout Troop 38. Shivani collaborated with DFW Play, an organization that focuses on performances with a diverse variety of socially and politically relevant topics. She and her volunteers designed and built new visual aids to enhance the performances. Generic, multipurpose props were constructed to be usable in a Blackbox or large stage setting. During the pandemic, these props worked well as several skits were filmed in the organization’s garages and then streamed to over 10,000 viewers. DFW Play will maintain the props and use the how-to materials that Shivani provided when replacements or repairs for the props are needed. Shivani will graduate from Flower Mound High School in 2022.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Meridethe Gutgsell
Elisabeth Hamann
Teen Hospital Survival Kit
Playground game and US Map painting with Citizenship Kits
Girl Scout Troop 3066. Meridethe used her own personal experiences as a teen hospital patient to design and develop her project. She recognized that teen patients are often overlooked and have no age-appropriate materials to keep them occupied and in a positive state of mind. She and her volunteers created over 80 survival kits to eliminate this problem. She interviewed teens to see what types of activities they would like and then, using their feedback, made reusable kits for Children’s Hospital. The kits included high level mazes, word searches, and Sudoku puzzles on laminated pages to help stimulate the brain and avoid depression and boredom while they are being treated. Meridethe graduated from Plano Senior High School in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 2020. Elisabeth created new learning materials for Doris Cullins Lake Pointe Elementary, her elementary school. The playground area’s United States map had faded away, so she and her volunteers repainted the map and added other games to the blacktop. She designed games by grade level to encourage learning more about the geography of the US. These new resources provided interactive learning opportunities for the students, as well as promoting physical activity. Elisabeth also developed educational citizenship kits for the 5th grade students to teach about the importance of citizenship, how to get involved and make a difference in their community. Her YouTube video can be used to recreate the map and citizenship kits for other schools. Elisabeth graduated from Rockwall High School in 2020.
Mackenzie Haley Adopt Don’t Shop: A Series of Paintings Girl Scout Troop 8997. Mackenzie worked with the staff at Dallas Animal Services Shelter to provide colorful permanent artwork to enhance the shelter’s environment and make it more inviting for potential adopters. Mackenzie and her volunteers painted 20 vibrant canvases of various animals to decorate the shelter’s viewing rooms. The shelter asked her to design biography cards for the staff to furnish people with personalized information about each dog. Mackenzie and her volunteers also created a “do it yourself” cat and dog toy booklet with photos and instructions for foster families working with the shelter. Mackenzie graduated from Richardson High School in 2020.
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Sarah Hamilton Project Hope Girl Scout Troop 962. Sarah’s project provided support to critically and terminally ill youth at the Children’s Health Hospital in Plano. Recognizing the importance of mental health amidst challenging times, Sarah and her volunteers created nearly 130 comfort items (blankets, bears, and lovies) to share with children seeking care from the hospital. In addition to these items, Sarah also included encouraging notes for each child, hoping to stem some of the loneliness patients face while hospitalized. She documented her efforts on both a website and blog to provide step-by-step directions on creating each item and her church has committed to continuing annual donations. Sarah will graduate from Berkner High School in 2022.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Katherine Hanna
Lindsie Harris
Broadening Horizons through a Discovery Learning Playground
Living for Zachary Student Ambassador Program
Girl Scout Troop 3461. Katherine created a discovery learning playground at Ridge Church Preschool in Carrollton. The playground enables kids to interact and learn while outside, improving coordination, aiding with science skills, and reducing stress. Katherine designed and then, with her volunteers, built three components - a textured hopscotch, a balance beam, and a balance scale. These pieces are the first stage of an Outdoor Learning Center that the school has been planning for several years. The equipment encourages kids to learn as they play outside away from technology. The school will maintain and add to the playground going forward. Katherine will graduate from Plano West Senior High School in 2021.
Girl Scout Troop 8756. Lindsie worked with Living for Zachary, an organization that raises awareness and prevention related to sudden cardiac arrest in youth. Connecting with Plano ISD schools, Lindsie educated about sudden cardiac arrest and sought high school youth to become Student Ambassadors for the organization. The Ambassadors are advocates to promote heart screenings for youth and information about CPR and AED training. Due to Covid-19, in-person opportunities were limited, so Lindsie created an Instagram and Twitter account that was used weekly to teach about heart related issues, fitness, and healthy eating tips. A Council for the Student Ambassadors with guidelines will continue the program at the schools. Lindsie graduated from Plano East Senior High School in 2020.
Caitlin Hardy Healing with Art Girl Scout Troop 3054. Caitlin collaborated with Plano Children’s Medical Center to use art as a form of therapy for long term patients. She and her volunteers created almost 300 art craft activity kits for the patients to use during their stays. The kits had all supplies needed and encouraged drawing of different animals, people and nature. Due to Covid-19, instructions were included with the kits, so that the patients could socially distance or work on them individually. The kits helped the patients to normalize the hospital environment and cope better with their hospitalization. Her guidebook and YouTube videos will continue to create awareness about art therapy, along with her activity guides. Caitlin graduated from Plano East Senior High School in 2020.
Sehrish Hasanali Facing This Together Girl Scout Troop 4931. Sehrish’s project created awareness around women’s shelters, their role in the community, domestic violence and its impact on mental health. Sehrish and her volunteers put together stress relieving kits and journals for the women at Denton County Friends of the Family shelter. Each kit contained items for well-being, like a stress ball, tissues, and a journal. Sehrish also made masks for the shelter to pass out as needed. She educated several groups and used an Instagram account and YouTube video to promote her issue. A how-to guide was left with the organization to make more kits as needed. Sehrish will graduate from Hebron High School in 2023.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Tanya Hassan FinLit4Teens
Girl Scout Troop 4931. Tanya’s project addressed the lack of financial skills of high school students in her community and school district. Connecting with financial influencers, she created workshops virtually to connect with teens. The workshops focused on basic pillars of finance such as budgeting, goal setting, saving, and money management. She also built an Instagram account and YouTube channel for teens to consume content on the basics of finance. Her hope was that she could reach out to the Lewisville ISD school board to encourage them to make financial literacy classes a part of the required curriculum. Her social media accounts will continue the financial literacy education going forward. Tanya will graduate from Hebron High School in 2023.
Theresa Hayes Calm Down Bags
Girl Scout Troop 3158. Theresa’s project focused on social emotional health and helping young students at St Monica’s School learn how to manage anxiety and stress in their classroom environment. She and her volunteers created Calm Down Bags for the students to use to self-regulate their emotions, reactions and relationships when things got stressful. Each bag contained books, stress balls, glitter bottles, breathing pinwheels, yoga pose decks and feeling identification materials. Teachers used the materials as a starting point to build on classroom management and healthy problem-solving for the students. Theresa created a master binder and virtual file with all of the information for the school to update and use going forward. Theresa will graduate from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 2021.
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Christina Healy
St. Joseph Meditation Shade Garden Girl Scout Troop 3201. Christina worked with a team of volunteers to redesign a meditation garden at Saint Joseph’s Assisted Living Facility in Dallas. Her team created a garden that provides a quiet and shaded place to relax, move around, and enjoy the outdoors. It also provides a quiet, meditation area for the nuns who run the facility. During recent visitation and social distancing recommendations, it has also become a place for a resident to meet with their loved ones. She also created a website to share her project with others who might be interested in establishing a shade garden in their community. The garden will be maintained by the staff going forward. Christina will graduate from Highland Park High School in 2021.
Morgan Heard Bundles of Joy
Girl Scout Troop 3343. Morgan focused her project on foster families as they left the Neonatal ICU at Methodist Hospital Dallas. Often, only a short time exists between foster parents being identified and the infant being discharged from the hospital. Morgan recognized a need for basic supplies to help the family as the infants settled into their new foster home. She and her team created 100 decorated bags of newborn essentials for the foster families at the time of discharge. Since some of these infants may have been exposed to drugs during pregnancy, a virtual event was held where experts educated middle and high school age girls about the dangers of drug use and the foster care system. Morgan will graduate from Wylie High School in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Arisha Hirji
The Importance of Animal Adoption Girl Scout Troop 227. Arisha’s project addressed multiple needs of the Carrollton Animal Services Shelter. Arisha educated her community on the existence and conditions of puppy mills and the importance of adopting rather than buying puppies. She gave presentations and created a YouTube video and a website to provide education and information about helping shelters. Additionally, she designed a poster to educate people and encourage support for the shelter. Arisha worked with her volunteers to make 100 dog toys, 70 cat toys, and 30 fleece blankets, as well as coordinated a donation drive for the shelter’s animals. She also provided her project advisor with an instructional binder and samples of the toys to replenish the toys as needed. Arisha will graduate from Hebron High School in 2022.
Natalia Houle
Derby Designers Girl Scout Troop 3059. Natalia recognized that STEM is one of the fastest growing career clusters in the US and wanted to engage students in grades 4th-8th to encourage them to consider studying STEM in school and as a career. Working with Titan Robotics, she planned and implemented an engineering and physics summer camp. Using the designing of a derby car, the participants learned how to use a saw, sandpaper, and how to create an orthopedic drawing. They were able to observe the impact that gravity, friction, and aerodynamics had as the cars raced. Natalia developed a one-day and one-week lesson guide with all of the materials needed and gave it to Titan Robotics to use each summer to run this camp. Natalia will graduate from Plano ISD Academy in 2021.
Sarah Hudson Peds Play
Girl Scout Troop 2739. Sarah partnered with Windhaven Pediatrics to enhance their examination rooms by providing educational and mental stimulation activities for their young patients. Their nine “Around the World” themed exam rooms are decorated with colorful and authentic items. Sarah and her volunteers researched, created, and laminated ISPY and Fact Sheets that complement each of the nine rooms. The sheets will provide fun activities for the children and parents to occupy their waiting time and help lessen anxiety. Sarah and her volunteers also collected over 300 English and Spanish books for the rooms, some with corresponding room topics. Sarah also created a YouTube video showcasing her project and posted it on the practice’s website. Sarah will graduate from Plano Senior High School in 2022.
Leena Husein
Great Minds Reading Program Girl Scout Troop 3326. Leena’s project focused on summer reading lag and how to keep literacy momentum going for students over the summer. Her program helped children find a love of reading, develop comprehension skills, and improve on their fluency. Leena designed a weekly reading program for 6-9-year-old children. Due to Covid-19, she was forced to turn her program into a virtual one. Each week students would join virtually and read aloud, discussing the story and characters. The students became so engaged, that they sometimes did research related to that day’s discussion and came back to the next class and shared what they had learned. The program materials will be used by Leena’s school to continue the program in person and virtually. Leena will graduate from Brighter Horizons Academy in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Aatiqah Hussain
Isabella Jarecke
Girl Scout Troop 227. Aatiqah attends a new charter school with limited state funding. Recognizing the need for functional furniture to make the learning process better, she and her volunteers built a set of microwave banks and art tables with storage for the school. A master blueprint was developed, supplies bought, and materials pre-cut. The furniture was then assembled, painted and moved to the school for installation and final touch-ups. The new furniture gives the lunchroom more efficiency and the art students places to work and store their supplies. Aatiqah created awareness about this funding issue to encourage others to get involved with charter schools. The school will maintain the furniture as needed. Aatiqah will graduate from Great Hearts Irving in 2022.
Girl Scout Troop 1869. Isabella collaborated with Nolan Catholic High School to create an outside, portable Stations of the Cross and rosary garden. The school had recently renovated and opened a nature trail and Isabella added to it. The space will provide a place for students to worship in nature as well as become an outdoor learning classroom for daily events. Isabella and her volunteers used several prototypes before determining the materials and design that would work. A website and instructions on how to build the stations will continue the project, which was shared with other Catholic schools in the diocese. Isabella graduated from Duncanville High School in 2020.
Great Furnishings for Great Hearts Academy
Portable Stations of the Cross at Nolan Catholic High School
Sonia Jivani
Give Heart Disease a Boot
Ayra Jamal
T.O.S.S. – Tackle Obesity, Stay in Shape Girl Scout Troop 6435. Ayra’s project educated children on living a healthy lifestyle to mitigate increasing occurrences of childhood obesity in the United States. To do so, she created and taught a curriculum, reaching approximately 50 children, covering the importance of healthy eating habits and exercise, nutrition labels, meditation, and decoding different types of fats. She also covered examples of healthier eating alternatives for snack foods by talking about fruits and vegetables. In partnership with her school’s HOSA club, the organization will continue to share her presentation with local elementary schools annually. Her YouTube videos, both on how to teach the curriculum and a recorded example, can serve as educational tools for presenters and attendees alike. Ayra will graduate from Hebron High School in 2021.
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Girl Scout Troop 6435. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In order to help alleviate this problem, Sonia organized virtual sessions and educated people on how to adjust their lifestyle through diet and exercise to promote good heart health. She and her volunteers focused on how what you eat and how active you are can enhance heart health. Something as simple as eating more fruits and vegetables or taking a daily walk can make a difference. She also spoke about emergency heart procedures and what to do if needed. Her manual with research, activities and video presentations was given to the Plano East HOSA Board to use during Heart Healthy month annually. Sonia will graduate from Plano East Senior High School in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Amber Johnson
Zara Jones
Empowering Students to Budget for Nutrition
Mobilizing the Plano African American Museum
Girl Scout Troop 8856. Amber recognized that students at her high school were not able to effectively budget for their meals in the cafeteria, often not having enough money for a nutritious lunch. This was due to the lack of information and signage regarding the costs and meal plans that were available to students. Working with the cafeteria operations coordinator, dietician, manager, and her school volunteers, she was able to create signage that clarified both the pricing and the meal plans. Amber and her volunteers created signs clearly showing how much each item cost and what was included in the meal plans. Students now understand the costs and can budget for meals and make healthier choices. The school will maintain the new signs modifying them as needed. Amber graduated from Centennial High School in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 3461. Zara restored the Plano African American Museum, a museum closed to the public for nearly a decade. She built upon existing content from the closed physical museum and collaborated with the Plano Public Library’s Genealogy Department on additional research and in person interviews. She compiled her learnings to create five collections with over 30 virtual exhibits on display within the museum’s website. Her efforts will give schools, the local community, and others around the world access to learning about the past and present contributions of black history in Plano. Zara’s project will serve as an example and reference for other communities on preserving and sharing their local history. Zara will graduate from Plano West Senior High in 2021.
Juliette Jowid Hailey Jones The Entangled in Love Project Girl Scout Troop 8422. Hailey’s project addressed the issue of failure to thrive and bonding among preemies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Texas Health Hospital of Plano. Hailey and her volunteers were able to make over 200 “loveys”. A lovey is a small cuddle cloth infused with the mother’s scent and placed in the incubator with the preemies. This allows the mother to share her scent with her baby promoting the parent-child bond while they are in the NICU. Additionally, Hailey produced videos educating others on failure to thrive and the long-term effects on preemies’ physical and mental development. The project will be sustained through videos she produced outlining step-by-step how to create a lovey that she has shared with the hospital. Hailey will graduate from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 2021.
Project Read to Recovery Girl Scout Troop 3457. Juliette partnered with The Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The hospital treats many complex orthopedic cases, as well as certain related arthritic and neurological disorders. Her project supported the recovery and rehabilitation process of the children by supplying books and small activity kits. These items provide a healthier form of entertainment than electronics while the patients are recovering, stimulating the brain and helping the recovery process. She created awareness in the community and had books and activities donated. She and her volunteers sorted the books and then labeled and shelved them on the two mobile book carts she purchased. Book Buddies at St. Andrew’s Methodist Church will continue to give books to the hospital as needed. Juliette will graduate from John Paul II High School in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Lauren Nichole Judy
Neha Kazani
Gathering to Care for Each Other
E-Kids Super Science Workshop
Girl Scout Juliette. Lauren’s project addressed the need for more seating and shade at her church, Holy Cross Catholic Church. She and her volunteers built picnic tables, stained them and placed them at the church. They also purchased umbrellas and set them up using concrete blocks to provide shade. The new area will create more space for congregants to meet and socialize outside while building fellowship. The church will maintain the new area and touch up the picnic tables with stain Lauren left as needed. Lauren will graduate from iSchool of Lewisville STEM Academy in 2021.
Sasha Kadamba
Girl Scout Troop 6439. Neha’s project focused on STEM education for early childhood students. She realized that science education in developing areas was lacking due to funding issues. She and her volunteers created hands-on experiments, interesting presentations and fun games into her curriculum. She delivered 9 different workshops while collaborating with E-Kids. Not only were the students engaged in the program and became more exposed to different sciences, but they also gained life skills such as communication, perseverance, attention to detail and collaboration as they participated in the various activities. A curriculum workbook was developed and will be used by E-Kids to run the program each year. Neha graduated from Hebron High School in 2020.
Operation: Hunger Girl Scout Troop 8743. Sasha partnered with the Plano/Frisco Family Services organization to create awareness about food insecurity and ways to help in her local community. Using various social media, she educated about the causes of hunger, ways to volunteer, and how to host a food drive. She also created recipe cards for less popular food items, like canned fruit or beans, to encourage their selection. More people did start selecting those items, meaning less food wastage at the food pantry and healthier food choices. Her social media will continue to educate the community and her recipe cards will be reprinted as needed by the food pantry. Sasha will graduate from Lebanon Trail High School in 2021.
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Ruthika Kella Operation Smiles Girl Scout Troop 3652. Ruthika provided relief to teens with cancer at the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, taking action on her idea that teens should help fellow teens. To support these cancer patients, she and her volunteers created 100 homemade hats and tie blankets for distribution. In addition to crafting homemade items, Ruthika also created videos to educate about cancer and its causes, potential treatments, and how to help those with cancer. She also included directions for making the crochet hats and tie blankets, items cancer patients appreciate during their treatment. Her videos are posted on YouTube to encourage others to support teens with cancer. Ruthika will graduate from Flower Mound High School in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Unaiza Khakoo
Caroline Lai
A Stroke of Healing
Murals for Children
Girl Scout Troop 227. Unaiza’s project involved addressing the rising issue of mental health through her own passion: Art. She held in person and virtual guided painting workshops while speaking on the topics of stress release and mental health, specifically for teenagers adjusting to challenging times. Unaiza also held donation drives for art supplies that were given to Arts From the Streets, an organization that serves the homeless population in Austin, TX. To sustain her project, a website was created to showcase art pieces created during her classes, links to mental health resources, and raise awareness about the importance of mental health through creative expression. Unaiza will graduate from Hebron High School in 2022.
Ashlyn Knox Prosper Historical Walking Tour Girl Scout Troop 7227. Ashlyn worked with the Prosper Historical Society to create a walking tour of the area. Her goal was to create more awareness of the community so that people would feel more connected to each other. She interviewed a resident who had lived in Prosper since its inception as a starting place for what to include. The tour presents the first school, church, post office and houses of the area. She also created a brochure that can be used to follow the tour. The brochures and website have been given to the Prosper Historical Society to continue the walking tour. Ashlyn graduated from Prosper High School in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 3352. Caroline remembered how boring it was to attend Sunday School in a very plain classroom at her church. To correct this problem, she chose to paint two murals in the classrooms of the Formosan Christian Church of Dallas, her personal church. She researched, sketched, and purchased paint and then, with her volunteers, painted two murals to create a bright and inviting learning environment. The murals made the rooms more welcoming and parents were more willing to leave their children while they went to services themselves. Caroline hoped to expose more potential members to what the church offered, building the congregation as well. The church will touch up the murals as needed. Caroline will graduate from J.J. Pearce High School in 2021.
Gracie Lane Crafts for Kids Girl Scout Troop 2762. Gracie collaborated with Brother Bill’s, an organization that provides healthcare, food and educational activities to families in need in West Dallas and Oak Cliff. Due to Covid-19, Gracie’s original plan of running art classes in person had to pivot to a virtual format. She and her volunteers created craft kits with all needed materials, as well as video instructions, for the kids to use. The kits gave the kids fun things to do at home while learning new skills. Brother Bill’s uploaded the videos to their own YouTube channel, giving them easy access to the information needed to do each of the crafts. Gracie also made a binder for Brother Bill’s to replicate the crafts going forward. Gracie will graduate from Highland Park High School in 2022.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Amina Latif
Mary Kate Madden
Nursing Home Craft Classes
Education for Teen Dating Violence
Girl Scout Troop 3326. Amina worked with a nursing facility to offer craft classes for several months. The crafts were intended to give the residents opportunities for social interaction, while stimulating mental function. She and her volunteers prepared an assortment of crafts and each week brought the supplies, gave instructions, and helped the residents participate. Crafts included items such as making wreaths, decorating cookies, constructing cards, decorating ornaments, and designing flower arrangements. The class size grew as participants talked about how much fun they had to other residents. Her instructions are on her Instagram account for others to replicate her ideas at different locations. Amina will graduate from New Century Montessori Academy in 2023.
Madeleine Lee Study Buddies Girl Scout Troop 3463. Madeleine provided academic support to her elementary school, Huffman Elementary, by creating a virtual tutoring program to pair their second through fifth-grade students with high school students. Together with her volunteers, Madeleine has provided 12 students with over 35 hours of tutoring to foster the academic skills and confidence needed to succeed in the classroom, while offering social interaction as well during the pandemic. Madeleine’s project has been promoted on the school’s social media sites and has been included in grade-level newsletters. Her program will continue to grow and provide assistance for additional students in pursuit of reaching their academic potential through her website and materials. Madeleine will graduate from Plano West Senior High School in 2021.
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Girl Scout Troop 45. Mary Kate’s project addressed dating violence in the local community. Recognizing there has been an increase in domestic violencerelated arrests, Mary Kate’s project provided immediate relief to those impacted by abuse and taught local teens about warning signs. First, she and her volunteers created sanitary kits to support over 100 women and children living at The Family Place, a shelter for victims of family violence in North Texas. Kits included hand-made face masks, hand sanitizer, tissues, and a handwritten note. Next, she presented to 8th-12th graders on the dangers and signs of dating violence and then uploaded the presentation to YouTube for others to reference. Mary Kate will graduate from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in 2021.
Noor Malik Raising Awareness for Mental Health Girl Scout Troop 3326. Noor’s project focused on potential mental illness in immigrant and underprivileged communities. The stigma regarding mental illness as being weak or something to be ashamed of is rooted in many of the cultures Noor targeted as she collaborated with the ICNA relief organization. She created awareness using flyers and holding Zoom sessions. The sessions had presentations by a doctor who covered three main areas anxiety, depression, and PTSD. By presenting the information and providing a safe place for people to ask questions, Noor’s goal was to encourage people to seek help when needed. The ICNA Relief organization specializes in counseling and has placed all her materials on their local and national social media platforms. Noor will graduate from IANT Quranic Academy in 2023.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Victoria Manning
Kimaya Meherali
Generation Cozy
Blankets for Madison on the Marsh
Girl Scout Troop 4749. Victoria’s project focused on providing comfort and support to children experiencing homelessness, working with the Family Promise of Grayson County shelter. Victoria formed a club at her school to address this issue by educating members about homelessness and making no-sew fleece-tie blankets. The club was suspended this past school year due to the pandemic, so she recruited other peer volunteers and was able to provide 142 blankets to the shelter. Each blanket was tied with a ribbon and a handwritten reassuring note. Victoria wrote an article for the shelter’s monthly newsletter and obtained publicity about her project through local media. The club will resume making blankets in the fall. Victoria will graduate from Sherman High School in 2021.
Minuki Medis Believe in Your Strength Girl Scout Troop 8731. Minuki used her love of karate to host free self-defense classes. With violence so prevalent in society, Minuki wanted her participants to learn how to protect themselves, be safe, and increase confidence in their abilities. Her virtual program reached over 100 people in several states and even Sri Lanka and Australia. Students learned how to protect themselves, get away from an attacker, and how to have plans in place to prepare for anything at home. Specific karate releases, slapping and ground techniques added to their sense of taking control in unknown situations. Minuki’s website with her videos will serve as a reference to continue her project. Minuki graduated from Liberty High School in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 4931. Kimaya collaborated with The Madison on Marsh, a skilled nursing home in Carrolton, to provide needed resources for the residents of the facility. Together with her volunteers, Kimaya created 100 blankets to share with each member of The Madison on Marsh community. In addition, she recorded at-home workout videos to share with the residents to promote physical activity and socialization while in quarantine. She made several presentations to show others how simple items like blankets and workout videos can make a difference their community and encourage them to volunteer for something they are passionate about. Her blankets and workout videos will continue to be used by the nursing home going forward. Kimaya will graduate from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 2023.
Laiba Mehmood Project Picnic Girl Scout Troop 968. Laiba’s project addressed the Islamic Center of Frisco’s need for outdoor seating to accommodate the growing community, especially during community events and religious holidays. Recognizing the significance of the support needed by the mosque, she and her volunteers built two weather-resistant picnic tables and benches. The new outdoor area has allowed more interactions in a safe environment during the pandemic. The impact of the project will help the Frisco Muslim community in the expansion of the mosque’s identity and will contribute to the increased development of the city and support in the community. Laiba left instructions on how to care for the tables and benches to be used as needed. Laiba will graduate from Independence High School in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Margot Meyer
Nuhaa Mohammed
Healthcare at Burnet Elementary School
Daycare Toddler Room Renovation
Girl Scout Troop 2769. Margot’s project focused on the difficulty of accessing timely healthcare in at-risk communities such as Burnet Elementary. Margot launched a campaign to improve the adoption of Telehealth for the students, allowing them an easy way to access quality healthcare without interrupting their parent’s work schedules. She and her volunteers renovated the school’s clinic space to make it more welcoming for providers and students by painting colorful murals and adding new functional furniture. She also created a database of physicians to educate the students about the importance of healthcare and provide ongoing health information. The clinic space will be maintained by the school and the physician’s database will be updated annually by the Hockaday Medical Club. Margot will graduate from the Hockaday School in 2022.
Girl Scout Troop 968. Nuhaa’s project focused on remodeling a classroom into a toddler room at a local childcare center to create a safe, fun and engaging learning environment for children. Recognizing the importance of creating a welcoming atmosphere, she and her volunteers repainted walls, refurbished the furniture, contributed new toys and supplies, and added decorations to renovate the space. She also designed themed areas in the room, including a reading nook, art corner, and dress-up area. Nuhaa produced a video documentary on YouTube that highlights her renovation work so that others could replicate her idea in different childcare facilities. Nuhaa will graduate from Plano Senior High School in 2022.
Ameena Mooers College Readiness
Aliah Mir Hear Me Out Girl Scout Juliette. Aliah created awareness about Noise Induced Hearing Loss, an issue that impacts people of all ages. This is caused when an individual is around loud noises for long periods of time, damaging the inner ear and leading to hearing loss. This issue is especially important for youth, who tend to listen to music at high volumes. Aliah and her volunteers created and delivered a lesson plan for elementary students to teach about this possible hearing loss, the symptoms, and prevention. Her pre- and post-tests indicated that students understood the dangers and how different volumes of sound could affect their hearing. She made a TedEd presentation and a YouTube video to continue educating about this issue. Aliah graduated from Heritage High School in 2020.
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Girl Scout Troop 3326. Ameena’s project focused on giving students at New Century Montessori Academy a step-by-step process for applying to and then successfully navigating college. She and her volunteers created presentations, developed an academic calendar, and established a checklist for teachers and students to start on the college journey. She introduced the students to the importance of resume building, volunteer hours, extracurricular activities, how to select a major, and testing requirements. Her presentations provided the students with an overview of the application process in the hope that they wouldn’t find it too intimidating to attempt. Her website will be maintained and updated by the school as they continue to use it going forward. Ameena graduated from New Century Montessori Academy in 2020.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Aryahna Myart
Lorelei Nichols
Swim Safety
Microplastics and Me
Girl Scout Troop 1485. Aryahna’s project focused on swimming pool safety for pool owners and young adults in her community. Stressing the importance of CPR, Aryahna became certified in CPR and taught others swim safety. She planned several online workshops with information, a comprehensive video, and links to additional information about CPR. Aryahna also created a laminated CPR poster that pool owners can keep near their pools for times of emergency. These posters have been given to local pool supply stores and are handed out to each customer, spreading awareness. Her video is available on YouTube for others to learn the importance of CPR in a pool emergency. Aryahna will graduate from Naaman Forrest High School in 2021.
Girl Scout Troop 9323. Lorelei created awareness about microplastics and their impact on the environment. Microplastics are small pieces of plastic, less than 0.2 inches in length, that occur in the environment as a consequence of plastic pollution. She and her volunteers wrote and then produced an educational video explaining the dangers of microplastics and ways to decrease them for school-aged students. Virtual sessions were also held to spread the word. Participants learned how their actions can make a difference by doing something as simple as using reusable plastic products. The video has been shared with schools, on Facebook, Instagram and is available on YouTube. Lorelei graduated from McKinney High School in 2020.
Manal Nasir
Catherine Nicodemus
Encouraging Sensory Play in the Hearts of Children
Interactive Learning Stimulations
Girl Scout Troop 968. Manal worked with the Beaty Early Childhood School in Plano ISD to create calming bins and texture boxes for all 18 classrooms. Focusing her efforts on the three-to-four-yearold students, Manal recognized younger children may have difficulty sitting still, focusing in the classroom, and following directions. Together with her volunteers, Manal compiled items and toys to stimulate the brain and improve social skills. The sensory items help improve fine/gross motor skills as well as calm down the students. Manal also created a video presentation for parents interested in implementing similar resources at home. She also designed an online brochure to share with other early childhood schools in Frisco and Plano ISD. Manal will graduate from Liberty High School in 2023.
Girl Scout Troop 2561. Catherine recognized that students have different learning styles that impact their understanding and retention of materials. To address these different learning styles, Catherine developed and implemented kinesthetic learning stimulations around math and measurements. Working with Prestonwood Elementary’s kindergarten through 3rd grade classes, she and her volunteers made giant building blocks that the students can use to learn about addition and subtraction in a tangible and interactive way. Life-sized measuring sticks also provided interactive lessons based on measuring. Catherine met with the school’s teachers to coordinate her plans and provide lessons to go with her materials. The school will continue to use her materials, which were also shared through Richardson and Dallas ISD learning boards. Catherine will graduate from J.J. Pearce High School in 2022.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Sierra Osborne
Lauren Peck
Music in Action
The Be-YOU-tiful Leadership Project
Girl Scout Troop 8422. Sierra supported the residents at a senior center by providing them with handmade musical instruments and music resources. After reflecting on her experience as a tuba player and the associated benefits it has provided in her life, Sierra aspired to provide a creative outlet for the senior community and share her love of music. Benefits like improved mobility, better speech skills, increased memory and stress reduction can all be attributed to participation in musical events. Together with her volunteers, Sierra created 50 noisemaker gift bags with three handmade instruments and a recorded CD to play the shakers along to. Her website and YouTube videos can be used to replicate her project at other facilities. Sierra will graduate from Flower Mound High School in 2021.
Kajal Patel Taking the Next Step Girl Scout Troop 478. Kajal’s project focused on easing the transition between middle school and high school for incoming students. She worked with Inspiration Masters to plan and hold 2 virtual week-long seminars to address this concern. The seminars used a variety of presentations like Ted Talks, roundtable discussions and emotional intelligence leadership activities. Topics covered included academic issues, studying, balancing a school and home life, prioritizing mental health, and making and keeping friends. She also wrote a book covering these topics and gave them to youth organizations and the Plano ISD counselors for distribution. Inspiration Masters has her materials to replicate her project in the future. Kajal will graduate from Plano East Senior High School in 2021.
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Girl Scout Troop 4778. Lauren implemented a leadership camp for rising 8th and 9th grade girls. The virtual 4-day camp featured leadership activities, breakout sessions led by her volunteers, and prominent speakers to educate the girls on how to be successful in high school, the importance of community service, and how to follow their passions toward a career. Working with the Dallas Tennis & Education Academy, which supports youth education through sport and community service, Lauren organized and hosted a tennis tournament. Funds raised allowed her to donate 12 iPads and conditioning equipment and fund her virtual camp. Her instruction materials will be used to replicate her program by the organization going forward. Lauren will graduate from Flower Mound High School in 2021.
Alana Platt Building Birdhouses for Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve Girl Scout Troop 3561. Alana recognized that there was a lack of suitable housing for bluebirds in her area, meaning the local parks’ ecosystems were not sustainable. She recruited volunteers and built and installed sturdy bluebird houses in the Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. She also created awareness about bluebirds through presentations, brochures, and a website. The birdhouses will support the bluebird population, keeping them off the endangered list and providing places to stop during their migration. The bluebirds will also be monitored by the Plano Parks and Recreation staff ensuring they are healthy and safe. The park staff will maintain, repair, and clean the houses as needed. Alana will graduate from Plano East Senior High School in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Page Powell
Arden Radford
Turtles Not Trash
Marching Band Health
Girl Scout Troop 3352. Page’s project addressed the issue of single use plastics and their impact on the environment, specifically the ocean and turtles. Working with the North Padre Seashore Visitor Center and Geneva Heights Elementary, she was able to educate about proper ways to recycle plastic and make a difference. She and her volunteers created a fun activity book all about turtles and the harmful effect of plastic to their ecosystem. The students used the book to learn about their role in helping to save the sea turtles. Her website and videos will continue spreading the word about the importance of recycling and supporting the environment by highlighting her recycled Styrofoam turtles. Page will graduate from Woodrow Wilson High School in 2021.
Elizabeth Prince Second Chance SPCA Shelter Girl Scout Troop 3069. Elizabeth worked with the SPCA Second Chance shelter in Plano to fulfill a number of “wish list” items. She and her volunteers gave several rooms a fresh coat of paint in bright and cheerful colors. They beautified the outdoor yard area by spreading mulch and planting perennial flowers and bushes. Elizabeth coordinated a donation drive through social media and collected supplies for the shelter. She made a video about her project and posted it on YouTube and the shelter’s website. She also created a listing of all required dog and cat vaccinations for the shelter to include in an informational “take home” folder for each adopted pet. Elizabeth will graduate from Plano Senior High School in 2021.
Girl Scout Troop 131. Arden provided comprehensive education to her band community in Frisco ISD about heat trauma and sun exposure during marching band season. Working with medical professionals, Arden and her volunteers created two videos to teach students about band physical challenges, how to prepare and cope with them, and the dangers and prevention of skin cancer. She designed “Summer Survival Tips” documents for parents and students. Arden secured support from the band booster club to set up and maintain sunscreen stations and assemble and replenish a heat trauma kit. She coordinated First Aid and CPR training for the band’s leadership team. All of her materials were shared with the other marching bands in Frisco ISD. Arden will graduate from Liberty High School in 2021.
Jade Radford Inspiring Girls to Enter the Field of Architecture Girl Scout Troop 131. As a woman in a traditionally male dominated field, Jade wanted to inspire more girls to consider architecture. She and her volunteers created an informational video and poster to explain to incoming high school girls what joining a course curriculum in architecture would look like. Often girls think because they aren’t excellent at math or drawing that architecture might not be a good career path. The video and poster were intended to dispel these misconceptions, which Jade then used to lead several discussions to grow the architecture program at her school. Her video and poster will be used by the Career and Technical Education Center to continue promoting this course curriculum. Jade will graduate from Liberty High School in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Haya Rafiqi
Paolaenid Rodney Hernandez
Spreading Smiles
International College Readiness Walkthrough
Girl Scout Troop 913. Haya collaborated with Islamic Circle of North America to organize their storage warehouse. Prior to her involvement, the warehouse had no system in place for staff to locate items in a timely and efficient manner to give to families. She and her volunteers removed and then sorted all of the items from the warehouse into categories such as bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and cleaning. An inventory and app were then created cataloguing all usable items. They were then re-shelved in a logical and organized manner, making everything easier to locate. Haya also created awareness about the needs for the warehouse and collected donated items. The staff will continue to use the inventory system Haya created to serve their at-risk community. Haya graduated from Plano West High School in 2020.
Emilia Roco A Story About Autism Girl Scout Troop 3580. Emilia was inspired by her cousin with autism to create awareness about what it means to be autistic. She and her volunteers designed a children’s book named after her cousin to use as a vehicle to educate kids and their families about autism and how to be inclusive towards everyone. The book was translated into Spanish and Tagalog to reach a larger population and expand the conversation using coloring pages in the book and additional educational materials. Over 15 Zoom story time events were held, reaching over 300 participants who learned about autism nationally. A website, physical copies of the books, and a mobile app will continue the project. Emilia will graduate from Lebanon Trail High School in 2021.
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Girl Scout Juliette. Pao and her volunteers wanted to educate students at DISD’s Benjamin Franklin International Exploratory Academy about college opportunities locally and globally. Her team sketched and painted 26 school seals in the halls of the academy that included QR codes to provide students with information about various college options. Her goal was to get middle school students thinking about college and careers before high school. A school-wide scavenger hunt was also developed to help the students become familiar with the schools using the QR codes and learning more about what each featured college has to offer. Teachers will use the seals and QR codes in their curriculum to encourage college planning going forward. Pao will graduate from Hillcrest High School in 2021.
Kyndra Scott Missions of Charity Book Library Girl Scout Troop 3130. Kyndra’s project supported literacy education for Missions of Charity, an organization that provides resources and shelter for pregnant, homeless mothers. When visiting the shelter, Kyndra saw food and other items being distributed but noticed an absence of children’s books. Recognizing the importance of having a strong reading foundation, Kyndra and her volunteers created 150 handmade book bags filled with 5-6 books each. She also amassed a collection of books on a variety of topics for the women and children living at the shelter to encourage reading time and help them bond. Her project will be sustained by the Lindsey Lone Star Student Lighthouse team that will collect books and create bags annually. Kyndra will graduate from Allen High School in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Elizabeth Secor
Rachel Simms
Lettuce Build a Garden
Shoot for the Sky
Girl Scout Troop 3461. Elizabeth collaborated with Mater Filius, a residence for homeless pregnant women in need of support. She and her volunteers updated the outdoor area of the home by designing and building two raised garden beds. The raised beds made the garden area more accessible for the pregnant women. They built an herb box, switched the size of the landscape rocks so they wouldn’t wash away, and built a table for the women to spend more time outside. Elizabeth also taught the residents how to make tie baby blankets. The facility will maintain the garden with the equipment and seeds Elizabeth provided for each new planting season. Elizabeth will graduate from Plano West Senior High School in 2021.
Sofia Shaikh LEO Club Girl Scout Troop 3326. Sofia’s school requires each student to volunteer 20 hours per school year. Sofia noticed that many students had trouble figuring out how to meet this requirement, so she planned and implemented the LEO Club to assist students. Working with the Lions Club International organization for a leadership model, she found a school sponsor and advertised about this new club. Officers were elected and numerous meetings held to determine what organizations they wanted to work with. Options for this year included working with community partners such as Wal-Mart on their Wellness Day and an Autism Walk. A leadership conference was also offered. The school will continue the club using the format that Sofia established. Sofia will graduate from Brighter Horizons Academy in 2021.
Girl Scout Troop 3059. Rachel collaborated with Plano ISD 6th grade science teachers to improve the required bottle rocket labs each 6th grade student completes. The old method to launch bottle rockets used water and was inconsistent and messy. Rachel researched and designed a new launching method which used compressed air, no water, and produced more consistent launching. She and her volunteers built 27 new launchers working virtually. She directed her volunteers on the building process and ended up troubling shooting problems that she then addressed in her YouTube video detailing the construction process. The middle schools will continue using the rocket launchers and the video to build replacements as needed. Rachel will graduate from Plano East Senior High School in 2021.
Rachel Simone W. E. Woods House Girl Scout Troop 3892. Rachel used her love of history to educate her community about their local Denton past. The project focused on the Quakertown story, a thriving African American community from the 1880’s to 1920’s, that was forcibly removed and replaced with a park. Rachel completed paperwork and photographs to obtain a historical marker for one of the few remaining houses, the W. E. Woods house from Quakertown. She also produced an educational video for the Denton County Office of History and Culture. She presented this video and information to the Denton Council of PTA’s, which has led to many schools in the area using this virtual format to promote this history in their curriculum. Rachel will graduate from Denton High School in 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Madeleine Smith
Katrina Snider
You Can’t Be What You Can’t See
Changes Comfort Shelf
Girl Scout Troop 2653. Madeleine worked with elementary-aged girls in her community by hosting a virtual coding camp. In recognition of the disparity between the number of men versus women in STEM, Madeline and her volunteers created an engaging curriculum to inspire more girls to pursue STEM-related careers. She partnered with a local elementary school to teach the girls the basics of coding and building websites. She also educated the girls about different women in STEM fields and their contributions, using them as role models to encourage confidence and empowerment. Her curriculum is being adopted by technology teachers at the elementary school, who will implement her lesson plans at the school’s STEAM club moving forward. Madeleine will graduate from Lake Highlands High School in 2022.
Girl Scout Troop 3130. Katrina’s project benefitted patients at Changes, an outpatient mental health clinic. Recognizing both the stigma around mental health and the extra support patients would benefit from, Katrina created a bookshelf with comfort and sensory items for young patients seeking treatment at the facility. In addition to building the shelving unit, Katrina and her volunteers created stress balls, stress donuts, stress bunnies, blankets, and provided heating and cooling packs to fill each shelf. Using her social media accounts, Katrina shared how to make the various stress relieving items and created awareness about the importance of mental health education and treatment. Katrina will graduate from Acellus Academy in 2021.
Morgan Spann Morgan Smith Teaching the Google Suite Girl Scout Troop 3549. Morgan used her knowledge of Google Suite to bridge the gap between the school district’s required technology and the students and parents who needed to use it. Morgan realized that many students and most parents were not familiar with Google Suite. She and her volunteers created videos and presentations to explain the components of Google Suite and how to use the various applications. This allowed the students to feel more comfortable communicating with their teachers for assignments and classroom management, while providing a new comfort level for parents to support their students. The videos and presentations are available online to be used by incoming parents and students going forward. Morgan graduated from Northwest High School in 2020.
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Quick Defense for All Ages Girl Scout Troop 3054. Morgan’s project focused on creating awareness and actions related to sexual and physical abuse. Her target audience of women and teens were given skills she advanced to make them feel safe. She held a self-defense seminar to instruct participants on how to recognize signs of abuse and steps to take to protect themselves that were simple and practical in everyday life. She also educated at her school and spearheaded a collection drive to aid a women’s shelter. Her YouTube video centered on identifying abuse signals, defending yourself from abuse, and tips on staying safe in public. Morgan graduated from Plano East Senior High School in 2020.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Katherine Springs
Ayshwarya Sukumar
CPR and AED Education in Business
Arts and Crafts Activity Guidebooks and Games for Abused and Neglected Children
Girl Scout Troop 3184. Katherine partnered with the Richardson Chamber of Commerce to share her training on hands-free CPR and how to operate an AED. Building on her research from the American Heart Association and conversations with the Richardson police and fire departments, Katherine created an informational video on CPR and AEDs that the Chamber of Commerce has circulated with local business leaders. Her goal was to educate community business leaders to have more confidence to act in an emergency. The training will potentially make a difference in the roughly 10,000 cardiac arrests that occur in the United States each year and save more lives in the workplace. Her video has been shared on social media and on the Chamber’s website. Katherine will graduate from Berkner High School in 2021.
Kristina Subia Garden Beds for Outdoor Learning Area Girl Scout Troop 3345. Kristina’s project benefitted Smith Elementary School in Wylie. Having attended Smith Elementary, Kristina wanted to give back to her community by revamping the school’s outdoor learning area. To do so, Kristina and her volunteers created five garden beds, one for each grade. The beds were enclosed and had rock pebbles as filler to enhance the area. She also sent all students home with an informational handout to share more about the garden beds and how the garden would complement their learning. The school agreed to maintain the garden and integrate it into their curriculum, supporting the opportunity for students to learn about plants and how to tend to them. Kristina will graduate from Wylie East High School in 2021.
Girl Scout Troop 645. Ayshwarya sought to help children cope with the harsh impact of abuse by collaborating with Johnathan’s Place. Working with this local orphanage, she and her volunteers created different types of activities to foster therapeutic expression and donated games to provide socialization. The activities, like origami, drawing, and various crafts, helped to encourage creative and positive outlets for the traumatized children to relieve their stress. Her instructor’s manual and videos were left with Johnathan’s Place and will be used to add activities. Sharing Our Smiles will replenish supplies and keep the activity books updated as needed. Ayshwarya will graduate from Plano East Senior High School in 2021.
Simin Sultanali Yearbooking at Cottonwood Creek Elementary Girl Scout Troop 227. Simin worked with the yearbook club at her old elementary school to improve the 4th and 5th graders yearbook making skills. Recognizing that the students were having difficulty using their iPads to take pictures, she and her volunteers created a series of lessons with tips and tricks to improve their photographic skills and produce a higher quality picture for the yearbook. She also purchased new camera equipment allowing them more options for higher quality picture taking around the school. Simin talked about the importance of documenting history using photography during the club. The cameras and educational materials will continue to be used by the club going forward. Simin will graduate from New Tech High School at Coppell in 2022.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Allynn Terry
Lauren Tompkins
Lacy Elementary Sensory Hallway
Exploring Español
Girl Scout Troop 2021. Allynn worked with Lacy Elementary school’s Special Education department to design and install a sensory hallway. The hallway helps autistic students to take a quick break to refresh and then focus back on a task. The hallway was divided into four different ecosystems, the ocean, rainforest, pond and prairie that were all connected by “the Maze” to the classrooms. Each ecosystem has visual sensory items such as an octopus, sloths, and activities on the walls and floor. The new area has improved attention spans and teamwork as reported by the teachers. The hallway is being used as a model to replicate in other school locations in the district. Allynn will graduate from Princeton High School in 2021.
Hannah Timmer
Kathleen Tschoepe
Operation Nursery Makeover!
My Surgery Pal
Girl Scout Troop 3457. Hannah’s project revitalized the nursery at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, where she has been a volunteer for the past six years. Hannah and her volunteers supported the program through multiple avenues including renovating the nursery by repainting walls, providing new seating, creating seasonal bulletin boards, and constructing a portable mural. Hannah organized and provided movies and books to complement their existing inventory. She also created a volunteer system to promote a consistent base of caretakers and encourage community members to give back. The church now has a welcoming place for families to bring their children during Sunday masses and a new volunteer sign up system for years to come. Hannah will graduate from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 2021.
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Girl Scout Troop 3085. Lauren taught beginner Spanish lessons to seniors at the Allen Senior Recreation Center. The classes gave participants an interactive and fun way to learn a second language while staying engaged mentally, improving memory and other brain functions. Working with Spanish National Honor Society volunteers, Lauren planned and implemented weekly classes for over two months. The classes focused on practicing speaking, writing and understanding basic Spanish to help communicate with more Spanish speaking people in their communities. The Spanish National Honor Society will continue the classes annually, using Lauren’s website and instructions to replicate the program. Lauren graduated from Allen High School in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 3457. Kathleen collaborated with Medical City Children’s Hospital to improve young patients’ experiences while being treated. She added supplemental materials to their mock operation room providing a more comforting environment. She and her volunteers cut and sewed over 50 handmade dolls and gowns for doctors to use to demonstrate exactly what will happen during their surgeries. The dolls then go home with the patients when they leave the hospital. She also made labels for felt body parts that are used by the doctors on felt display boards. The parts are in 3 languages, recognizing the hospital’s diversity in treating various cultures. Her video instructions can be used to make additional dolls as needed. Kathleen will graduate from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Ariana Twiss
Natalie Vargas
Here’s a Hug
VWD...Do You Know?
Girl Scout Troop 1485. Ariana collaborated with the counselors at Spring Creek Elementary School to create stress relief dolls. The dolls were designed to help the counselors provide tangible assistance to the children who were in crisis calm down. She and her volunteers worked an assembly line cutting, sewing, pinning, and stuffing the dolls. Each doll had hands, feet and a drawn face and were given to the children to keep as a comfort companion. She created a how-to video posted on YouTube for others who would like to make the stress relief dolls. Ariana will graduate from Berkner High School in 2021.
Tishya Vadavala Videos for Aarti Kids Girl Scout Troop 7924. Tishya collaborated with Aarti Home in Kadapa, India to produce 5 different videos focusing on basic hygiene and social skills. The residents of this home are generally abandoned girls who have come from extreme poverty. She and her volunteers created videos covering the importance of hygiene, hand washing, personal hygiene, and Indian and World Geography. The videos were close-captioned in English so that they can also be used as a language learning tool. She educated her local community about this facility and conducted a drive to deliver soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and menstrual pads to the home. Her videos will continue to be used by the home as new residents arrive. Tishya will graduate from Plano West Senior High School 2021.
Girl Scout Troop 3652. Natalie created an awareness campaign about Von Willebrand Disease (VWD), the most common bleeding disorder. Recognizing how easily VWD Type 1 is overlooked in children, Natalie aimed to educate the local community about VWD through creating and promoting an informational video. To do so, Natalie attended and interviewed attendees at the NOW Conference in Phoenix- a national conference for individuals living with this chronic disorder. Her video included an explanation of VWD from a doctor, as well as stories from affected families. After compiling her information, Natalie shared her video with leadership at area schools, daycare centers, and parents. Her video will continue to be viewed on a variety of social media channels. Natalie will graduate from Flower Mound High School 2021.
Alexandra Vincent Prevention and Coping with Anxiety and Stress Correlated with School Girl Scout Troop 7229. Alexandra’s project focused on stress that teenagers face through school, how to cope, and preventing possible teenage suicide. Using her experience on a peer team at her school, Alexandra and her volunteers created a variety of materials to give students options for dealing with their anxiety. She created business cards and posters with QR codes that referenced stress and anxiety mechanisms to cope, along with phone numbers to counselors and medical experts if required. She and her volunteers also recorded a roundtable with local mental health professionals, school counselors and students to discuss these issues. She shared her materials with the entire school district and they will be used and updated annually. Alexandra will graduate from Rock Hill High School in 2022.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Mary Beth Walsh
Tori Watson
Absorbing Period Poverty
Scientific Sounds of Art
Girl Scout Troop 3457. Mary Beth addressed the issue of period poverty working with Hope Supply, an agency that works with at-risk children and the homeless. There is a lack of knowledge among those who take period products for granted as a readily available item. Mary Beth raised awareness about this issue through Instagram posts, creating a website and emails. She planned to create 50 period packs which included pads, deodorant, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a greeting card, but was surprised when her community support donated enough items to make 110 period packs. Her volunteers also made heating pads to donate in the packs. Her website, along with her video on how-to make heating pads, are viewable on the Hope Supply YouTube channel. Mary Beth will graduate from Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 2021.
Priyanka Warrier
Lauren Watts
Project Plant a Tree
SPCA Guided Tours
Girl Scout Troop 4779. Priyanka addressed the issue of deforestation throughout her community and globally. She educated people about the impact of cutting down trees and how it contributes to the destruction of wildlife habitats, reduction in air quality, soil erosion, and climate change. Priyanka learned how to plant trees through research and then held workshops on the importance of trees and the planting process. She contacted the Arbor Day Foundation and received donated trees to plant throughout her community as the culmination of her workshops. Her website and community flyers can be used as a resource to continue planting trees. Priyanka will graduate from Flower Mound High School in 2021.
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Girl Scout Troop 2244. Tori followed her passion for music by teaching at-risk primary and secondary students. Many students in the community don’t have access to music education due to budget cuts and instrument expenses. She and her volunteers held workshops where participants made DIY instruments by recycling household and disposable items. She helped the students make shakers out of paper towel tubes and drums from Girl Scout cookie cardboard boxes. Her participants learned to use their creativity to develop enthusiasm for music, even when resources are scarce. Tori also exposed the students to a diverse group of artists and music genres. The Townview High School Orchestra will continue her program using it as outreach and volunteer hours. Tori graduated from Townview Magnet High School in 2020.
Girl Scout Troop 3561. Lauren worked with the SPCA in McKinney to develop a guided tour curriculum handbook for volunteers. The shelter was unable to fill tour requests from small groups who want to learn about and contribute to the shelter. Lauren created a facilitator notebook with a detailed step-by-step curriculum, including a checklist and a question and answer section. She conducted eight tours while developing the guide and then trained 8 volunteers to give the tours. Lauren and her volunteers created enrichment toys and conducted two donation drives, collecting almost 700 items for the shelter. She also created an educational video about children and animal safety. The SPCA will continue the tours using Lauren’s materials. Lauren will graduate from Plano East Senior High in 2021.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Heather Wegmann
Allison Whaley
Equestrian Obstacle Course
Little Elm Goes Batty
Girl Scout Troop 3153. Heather collaborated with Woodhaven Stables to refresh and update their equestrian obstacle course. She researched and designed 12 new obstacles, and then with her volunteers built and placed them on the course. The course is now an area where horses and riders can not only have fun, but work on training as well as emotional and mental bonding. It also provides an area for riders and their horses to gain new skills, as they are challenged with new obstacles to learn. Heather also created an instructional video describing each obstacle and how to build it that other stables may replicate. The facility will maintain and repair the course as needed. Heather will graduate from Allen High School in 2021.
Kayla West
Girl Scout Troop 8657. Allison’s project addressed the large amount of pesticides used to control mosquitos around Lake Lewisville to combat diseases like West Nile and Zika Viruses. Trying to be more ecologically friendly, she and her volunteers designed, constructed, and installed bat houses to decrease the mosquitos around the lake. The houses were placed along the hiking trail to attract migrating Mexican Free Tail bats and to enhance natural insect control. She also positioned informational plaques on the bat house poles to educate about the bats and shared this information with the Little Elm marketing department for use in a newsletter. The Little Elm Parks and Recreation department will be monitoring and maintaining the bat houses. Allison graduated from Little Elm High School in 2020.
East Lake Paintings Girl Scout Troop 2653. Kayla and her volunteers drew on their artistic abilities to create eight bright and colorful paintings of cats for the East Lake Cat Care Center in Lake Highlands. The framed paintings will add a pop of color and warmth to the hallways of the center. She made cat toys and constructed a cat playhouse with manipulatives for the felines to enjoy in their playroom. Kayla also designed an educational brochure about cat ownership, as well as the benefits of fostering, for adoptive families to encourage cat adoption. She worked with volunteers to coordinate a successful donation drive for the shelter. Her brochure will continue to be used by the shelter to aid in adoptions. Kayla will graduate from Lake Highlands High School in 2022.
Helena Wiederkehr Comforting Shelter Pets Girl Scout Troop 3652. Helena worked with Fort Worth Animal Care and Control Shelter to improve animal comfort and adoption rates. Helena planned and implemented several small in-person and online sewing classes to make handmade blankets and then coordinated with Pet Supplies Plus to collect new and gently used blankets at their store locations. Over 200 blankets were donated to the shelter. Stressing the importance of an adjustment period for newly adopted pets, Helena created an information sheet to be taken home with each new owner, providing helpful insights for a successful transition with their new family member. Pet Supplies Plus will continue to collect blankets for the shelter and her information sheet will go home with every newly adopted pet. Helena will graduate from Flower Mound High School 2021.
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PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS Makayla Wilkins
Sarah Wright
Teen to Parent
Healthy Habits – Preventative Healthcare for Migrant Families
Girl Scout Troop 7233. Makayla’s project addressed teen driver safety, especially for new drivers, a fifth of whom will have an accident in their first year of driving. She focused on creating family discussions and negotiations to reach Parent-Teen Safety Agreements. She and her volunteers produced an online safety video to cover the dangers and responsibilities of driving and then offers families a process to use her Safety Agreement to determine expectations and consequences. The RED program, Reality Education for Drivers at Baylor Scott & White, will continue her project by using her Parent-Teen Safety template, video and brochures. Makayla will graduate from New Tech High School at Coppell in 2022.
Neely Womble
Girl Scout Troop 3457. Sarah’s project educated migrant children and their families on preventative healthcare. She partnered with the University of Arizona’s nursing program to support Casa Alitas, an organization supplying food, bus tickets, shelter, and medical care for families released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Sarah and her volunteers crafted block puzzles, coloring books, guides, and videos to teach children about healthy habits to instill practices that will help them uphold their health as they get older. Through preventative healthcare education, the model Sarah helped create will reduce the need for future expensive medical appointments for those without health insurance. Sarah’s work will be integrated through the model she helped develop for the Nurse Practitioners at Casa Alitas. Sarah will graduate from The Hockaday School in 2021.
Food Pantry Display Tables Girl Scout Troop 2762. Neely worked with Voice of Hope, an organization that serves the atrisk community of West Dallas by providing after school and summer camp programs and a food bank for the area. Due to the pandemic, the food bank has started providing fresh produce and had no way to display or distribute the food items. Neely and her volunteers constructed two weather-proofed mobile market tables to address this need. The tables are multi-purposed and can be used for other displays or discussions. Neely also created awareness in her community about the Voice of Hope to encourage others to volunteer. Voice of Hope will maintain the tables going forward. Neely will graduate from Highland Park High School in 2022.
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Ifrah Zainab Roo Rescue: Aiding Wildlife Orphaned by the Australian Bushfires Girl Scout Troop 968. Ifrah collaborated with Warriors for Wildlife, a nonprofit in Southern Victoria, Australia, to aid animal rescue shelters in the aftermath of the devastating Australian Bushfire Crisis. Infant kangaroos and wallabies live for 8 months in their mother’s pouch, which is a vital time for their development. Countless vulnerable joeys had been orphaned and seriously injured by the fires. Ifrah led virtual sewing workshops and distributed supply packages to her volunteers, who were able to sew mock hanging pouches for the rescued animals. The pouches mimic the natural environment and facilitate the rehabilitation process. Ifrah filmed video tutorials on how to make the pouches, which can be found on her Roo Rescue website. Warriors for Wildlife will use her information to instruct future volunteers. Ifrah will graduate from Liberty High School in 2023.
MANY THANKS TO THE GOLD AWARD COMMITTEE Wanda Amyx
Lynn Johnson
Amy McCarty
Sandy Stansbury
Janice Boomstein
Mary Jones
Carolyn Parr
Debbie Thompson
Kathy Beardsley
Susan Krnic
Karen Post
Madonna Russell
Martha Coleman
Sherrie Kubiak
Karen Proctor
Wendy Weber
Marco Cosby
Lissa Leibson
Laura Robicheaux
Girl Scouts has fed the female leadership pipeline since 1912. And so can you. Whether you are a Girl Scout for one year (or 10!), you’re part of a dynamic sisterhood of more than 50 million alums who are blazing trails and changing the world. Discover how your fellow alums are making an impact across the globe and promote women’s and girl’s empowerment through the Girl Scout Network TM Linkedin page! Follow the Girl Scout Network LinkedIn page today:
Girlscouts.org/GirlScoutNetwork
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The Betty Richardson Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship Established in honor of former Tejas Council President Betty Richardson, this Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship was created to encourage girls to remain in Girl Scouting as well as to help girls reach their full potential as women through higher education. To be eligible for the scholarship, the recipient must: • Be registered with Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas and be an active member of the organization. • Be a resident of Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas’ 32-county jurisdiction at the time of the award. • Be a Girl Scout Gold Award recipient. • Be a high school graduating senior. • Be accepted into an accredited institution of higher learning. The Betty Richardson Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship selection committee takes into consideration the applicant’s academic and GPA record in high school; participation in Girl Scouting; leadership experience; extracurricular/community involvement/work experience; essay; and letters of recommendation. We are deeply grateful to Ericsson for supporting the Betty Richardson Scholarship for Gold Award Girl Scouts this year. Their commitment to uplifting opportunities for girls in STEM, leadership, and making the world a better place is truly inspiring, and we are grateful for their ongoing investment in our girls. Thank you, Ericsson! Donations may be mailed to: Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship Fund Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas P.O. Box 797447 Dallas, TX 75379-7447
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The Benefits Through lifetime membership in Girl Scouts, you’ll help bring the fun, excitement, and life-changing adventure of Girl Scouting to more girls. You’ll also maintain a permanent connection to a mission-focused, values-driven organization that helps girls reach their full potential. When you become a lifetime member, we’ll keep you updated on what’s new, continue to inspire you with stories of girls who are making the world a better place, and share opportunities for you to speak up for girls. Other benefits include:
Become a Lifetime Member today!
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Continuous membership in Girl Scouts for the rest of your life
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A lifetime membership card and pin
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10% off Girl Scout merchandise from girlscoutshop.com
Who is Eligible?
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A variety of limited-time discounts from brands led by women
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An invitation to join an annual call hosted by GSUSA’s CEO
Lifetime membership is granted to any person who is at least 18 years old or is a high school graduate or equivalent who (1) accepts the principles and beliefs of the Girl Scout Movement and (2) has paid lifetime membership dues.
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The monthly Girl Scout Network enewsletter
Simply register at girlscouts.org/gradltm
Dues are a one-time fee of $400. We also offer a reduced cost lifetime membership of $200 to any Girl Scout alums between the ages of 18 and 29.