GSNC's Gold Award Recipients
Since 1916, Girl Scout’s highest and most prestigious award has stood for excellence and leadership for girls everywhere. The Gold Award focuses on the interests of individual Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Each girl chooses and thoroughly researches an issue she cares about, designs her action plan, builds community collaboration, and takes the lead in implementing the project. Gold Award distinction is recognized by a number of college-scholarship opportunities, and by an immediate rise of one rank in the U.S. military branches.
At our 2012 Gold Award Ceremony, GSNC honored 121 young women who earned the highest award in Girl Scouting. As a Council, we are proud of what they have achieved, what they have become, and what they will be, as leaders in the 21st century.
Marissa
Massapequa Association
Troop 2384
Marissa partnered with the National Organization for Women’s Safety to provide teens with information and tips about how to remain safe. As part of her efforts to educate teens, Marissa has appeared on local radio and has done other public speaking to advocate for her cause. To further continue her project, she has created a website and contact point for teens who want to learn more or who want to share their experiences.
Marissa is a senior at Massapequa High School, where she has starred in the drama club musical production of “Hello, Dolly”. She is also sports editor of the yearbook, a member of the orchestra, and of SADD club. Among her many community activities, she has been a cheerleading coach for 5 years. She plans to attend Ithaca College.
Kathleen
Manhasset Association
Troop 513
Kathleen created and ran a Vacation Bible School for children entering grades K-2 at her church, since she felt that it would fill a need in her community. Not only did the children learn Bible stories, and have fun in the fresh air, they also gained some independence from their parents.
Kathleen is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School, where she is a member of the diving team, speech and debate club, Blue & Gold, and works on the literary magazine. Outside of school, she participates in gymnastics, lifeguarding, and diving, and is an active member of her church. She will attend Siena College in the fall.
Kimberly
Merrick Association
Troop 2545
Through a series of discussions in her community, Kimberly’s Gold Award project brought the issue of distracted driving to light. Kimberly spoke to various youth groups, and led discussions with the teens regarding the dangers of car accidents caused by such things as texting, putting on makeup, and eating while driving. Through her efforts, many more teens now have an understanding of the dangers of doing these mundane activities while behind the wheel.
Kimberly is a senior at S.H. Calhoun High School where she is a member of the SADD club and the school choir. She is also an active member of her church youth group. Kimberly plans to attend Farmingdale State College in the fall.
Victoria
Garden City Association
Troop 1373
Victoria designed her Gold Award project to inform children in particular, and her community in general, about the importance of the right balance of healthy eating and exercise. Through presentations to younger students, she provided them with information about a healthy lifestyle and its long-term benefits. To further promote her message, Victoria created a web site that addresses the importance of proper nutrition.
A senior at Garden City High School, Victoria is a member of the Italian club, and plays soccer on the school team as well as on a club team. She also volunteers at Winthrop University Hospital. She will attend the University of Delaware in the fall.
Reema
WARM Association
Troop 1859
Reema’s Gold Award project was created to help prevent bullying, and to raise awareness of the negative effects of bullying. Working with sister Girl Scout Amanda Nish, Reema created a Power Point about the topic, which the girls presented to a group of seventh graders. After the presentation, which featured stories from victims of bullying and from some bullies, Reema and Amanda conducted a discussion with the class, to get their reactions and to determine what they had learned about this important topic.
Reema is a junior at Sacred Heart Academy, where she is a member of the math team and the choir. She also participates in sports, and volunteers at her parish outreach center and a local soup kitchen.
Alexandra
Hempstead Association
Troop 1475
Alexandra wanted to help senior citizens to become confident in using a computer and the internet. Working with the residents of a local assisted living facility, she designed and delivered lessons to give them the tools and confidence they would need to use a computer, surf the net, and email their families and friends. Her instructional lessons were put in binders for the residents to refer to when needed, and many of her “students” are now mentoring others in basic computer skills.
Alexandra is a junior at Oceanside High School, where she is a member of the varsity cross country team, the recycling club, world language honor society, and social science research club.
Shannon
Massapequa Association
Troop 2009
Shannon sought to educate teenagers about the dangers of drinking and driving. Connecting with local police and fire personnel, and AAA, she was able to bring a wealth of information to her audience. By creating and presenting a documentary and interactive skit about the topic, including statistics, pictures, and interviews with those affected by this issue, she was able to “drive home” her point.
A junior at Massapequa High School, Shannon is a member of the soccer team and art club. An enthusiastic science student, Shannon has earned a spot on the High Honor Roll. She is also a member of the Massapequa Junior Fire Department, a soccer referee and a camp counselor.
Bridget
Garden City Association
Troop 1426
Ensuring that families could have the opportunity to read together was the focus of Bridget’s Gold Award project. She connected with a preschool program in Brentwood and created a library of books for them, written in English and Spanish. In this way, the students could bring home a story book that their parents, many of whom speak limited English, could read to them.
Bridget is a 2011 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, where she was a member of the track and dance teams and the yearbook staff. Her community activities included volunteering at Winthrop University Hospital, working with special needs children and volunteering with her church. Bridget has completed her freshman year at Providence College.
Cheyenne
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
Cheyenne’s Gold Award project “Living with Autism” addressed the issues of awareness, tolerance and acceptance of those with autism. She ran workshops for elementary and middle school students in the community so that they could better understand those with autism and could be more accepting of those who perceive the world differently.
Cheyenne is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is captain of the varsity cheerleaders, and is a varsity athlete on the cross country and track and field teams. She is also a member of the Fiddlers, Mariachi Band, and Orchestra. She is a member of National Honor Society, as well as honor societies for Music, Math, Italian, and Science. She plans to attend Lehigh University in the fall.
Alyssa
Massapequa Association
Troop 2384
Alyssa’ s Gold Award project dealt with teen unemployment. Working with her sister Stephanie, Alyssa created a video which included original skits, tips on interviewing, and advice on how to “dress to impress”. In addition to the video, the girls planned and ran an event that showcased all of the information they had gathered, and gave the teens lots of valuable information to help with the job hunt.
Alyssa is a senior at Massapequa High School, and participates in SADD, robotics, character ed, the school newspaper, mathletics, volleyball team, chess, anime and book clubs, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is also a member of the youth group at her church. She plans to attend The University of Scranton in the fall.
Stephanie
Massapequa Association
Troop 2384
With her sister Alyssa, Stephanie organized an event and created a video presentation and brochures to help teens to be more successful in the job interview process. Focusing on everything from the types of jobs that are out there, how to write a resumé, to body language and proper dress, Stephanie was able to bring together many aspects of job-hunting in a way that is both interesting and instructional.
A senior at Massapequa High School, Stephanie participates in SADD, High School Heroes, character ed, Science Olympiad, chess, anime, and book clubs, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is also a member of the youth group at her church and is on a travel volleyball team. She plans to attend The University of Scranton.
Marilyn
Floral Park/Bellerose Association
Troop 1635
Focusing on girls aged 7-11, Marilyn created a weeklong summer program that included activities to help girls feel good about themselves, work as a team, and to learn anti-bullying techniques. Using arts and crafts to express their feelings, by the end of the week the girls had learned more about themselves, and had begun to develop an inclusive attitude of tolerance and acceptance of differences. Marilyn also created a website that summarized the daily activities and the positive outcomes of the week.
Marilyn is a senior at Floral Park Memorial High School, where she participates in the Cosmetology Program and Skills USA. She also volunteers at Ronald McDonald House. Marilyn will attend Molloy College in the fall.
Samantha
East Meadow Association
Troop 1406
Samantha decided to create a more solid connection to the church for its younger members. By creating an active youth group for children in grades 3 through 8 she was able to be a positive influence on them and instill those values that would keep them connected to their church. She also felt that by fostering friendships among the youngsters at an early age, they would want to continue as teens to meet their friends and grow in their faith.
Samantha is a senior at W. Tresper Clarke High School, where she is a member of the Jazz Choir, Red Cross Club, and Peer Mentoring. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and honor societies for music, math, science, and English. Samantha is also an active volunteer at her church. She will attend Molloy College in September.
Kirsten
Park Association
Troop 1015
Kirsten wanted to educate her community about prevention and detection of various forms of cancer. After gathering research on the disease, she created handouts that contained information to educate the public. She spread her message even further by using her public speaking and communication skills to talk to attendees at a local Relay For Life event.
Kirsten is a senior at Sacred Heart Academy, where she has participated in the Jones Beach Strides Walk, usherettes, guiding at open house tours, and is captain of the golf team. She also volunteers at Winthrop University Hospital. Kirsten will attend Fordham University.
Kelsey
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
Seeing that many senior citizens are struggling to live on a fixed income, Kelsey designed her Gold Award project to help the seniors to stretch their budgets. After interviewing several older citizens to determine their needs, Kelsey then asked local businesses to offer discounts to this group. She created a booklet which listed the participating businesses and the discounts available. In this way, she not only helped the elders to make ends meet, she also helped local stores and services to gain additional business.
Kelsey is a 12th grader at Manhasset High School, where she is captain of the varsity swim team. She also is a member of National Honor Society, Exemplars Club, Italian Honor Society, Key Club, student government and peer responders. She will attend Wake Forest University.
Alexa
West Hempstead/Franklin Square Association
Troop 1879
The issue of animal cruelty was addressed by Alexa’s Gold Award project. Through her efforts to educate her community about the ways that animals, domesticated animals and wildlife, are mistreated and abused, she hopes to start a chain reaction of animal advocates who will not only speak up, but who will act to improve the lives of all animals.
Alexa is a senior at H. Frank Carey High School, where she is a member of National Honor Society, and honor societies for music, English, Spanish, and art. She is on the staff of the yearbook and the school newspaper, and participates in student government, choir, drama club, Dad’s Club, and PTSA. She plans to study nursing at the University of Delaware in the fall.
Samantha
East Meadow Association
Troop 1406
Samantha wanted to use her Gold Award project to tackle the issues of body image and low self-esteem. Targeting a group of younger children, including boys, she conducted a series of sewing lessons that taught basic sewing and clothing construction skills, while also serving as forum for the discussion of issues such as eating disorders, body dysmorphia and self-harm. As the children learned a new skill, they also gained confidence and saw Samantha as a positive role model.
Samantha is a junior at W.T. Clarke High School, where she studies fashion illustration. She is a member of the art honor society, chamber orchestra and the music honor society. Outside of school she enjoys skiing and snowboarding, and pursues her interest in fashion through classes and competitions.
Kelly Ann
East Meadow Association
Troop 1472
The transition from elementary school to middle school, and then to high school, can be challenging, and Kelly’s Gold Award project was designed to give students some valuable tips to help them succeed. Kelly spoke tomany high school students to gather their ideas, and also did online research to develop a brochure and a presentation for students in 6th grade and 8th grade, to better prepare them for their new school environments. Her brochures will continue to be distributed to all incoming freshmen at her high school.
A senior at East Meadow High School, Kelly is a member of model congress and peer leaders, and is an avid member of the field hockey team. She will attend Nassau Community College for one year before transferring to SUNY Oneonta.
Emily
Merrick Association
Troop 2545
Emily hoped to impact her community by addressing the issue of fire safety. Her Gold Award project was designed to educate young children about this topic. Emily created brochures, posters, and a PowerPoint to spread information about fire safety awareness. She also spoke to classes of students at a local elementary school to further underscore her message.
Emily is in the 11th grade at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, where she in on the cross country, winter track and spring track teams. She is a member of the orchestra and chamber orchestra, and is in the National Honor Society.
Sabrina
Hardscrabble Association
Troop 3504
Sabrina’s Gold Award project “I Like Who I Am” was designed to build self esteem and self confidence in girls age 9 to 14, in an effort to deter bullying. By sharing stories of bullying experiences, and through some positive hands-on activities, Sabrina sought to empower the girls who attended. She also created and distributed a packet of resources for girls and their parents to help them to better deal with bullying.
A 2011 graduate of Farmingdale High School, Sabrina was a member of the Dalerette kick line team, the National Honor Society, and the Italian Honor Society. She has just completed her freshman year at Molloy College where she is a member of the American Red Cross Club, the Education Club, and the Italian Society.
Sabrina
Jericho/Syosset Association
Troop 3412
To earn her Gold Award, Sabrina decided to spread awareness of organic foods to various community groups. Her talks included information about what “organic” means, and about the importance of reading food labels. Inspired by her volunteer work at The Farm at Oyster Bay, she saw that the organic fruits and vegetables raised and donated were improving the diets for clients of the local food pantries. She decided that organic eggs would be a welcome addition to the menu. Due to Sabrina’s efforts, the farm is now home to a group of very productive, organically raised hens.
A junior at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, Sabrina is a member of the lights, stage crew and craft clubs. She is an active volunteer in her church and its youth group.
Carmela
East Meadow Association
Troop 1741
Carmela used her love of the game of tennis to address the issue of childhood obesity. Since one of the contributing factors is lack of exercise, she decided to teach younger children, ages 7 – 12, some basic tennis skills. Her workshops consisted of a mix of tennis and information on healthy eating, in an effort to encourage them to stay fit and to eat healthy.
Carmela is a junior at East Meadow High School, where she plays varsity tennis. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and honor societies for music, business and Italian. She also covers sports for the school newspaper, and plays clarinet for her church’s youth mass.
Julianna
East Meadow Association
Troop 1741
Julianna designed her Gold Award project to address the issue of self-esteem in girls. Focusing on the portrayal of girls in the media, Julianna used magazine advertisements and photos to launch discussions with younger girls. From images of women to implied messaging about “women’s jobs” vs. “men’s jobs,” she led her discussion groups to realize that they could build their self-esteem and follow their dreams, regardless of negative media influences.
An 11th grader at East Meadow High School, Julianna is on the varsity tennis team, and is a sports writer for the school newspaper. She is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as honor societies for music, Italian, and business.
Brittany
West Hempstead/Franklin Square Association
Troop 1422
Brittany and Stephanie Smith wanted to make some changes to a local park. The girls approached local officials, including Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray to present their plan for the park. Due to their efforts, Rath Park is now home to a new volleyball court and welcome sign, and sports two original murals that were designed and painted by Brittany and Stephanie.
Brittany attends Kellenberg Memorial High School, where she is in 11th grade. She is a member of the National Honor Society, General Student Organization, St. Martin afterschool recreational and tutoring program, Latin club, culinary club, and Blue and Gold dance group. Outside of school, she dances in a kick line, volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, and plays softball and basketball.
Amylisa
Manhasset Association
Troop 513
Amylisa felt that many children do not have the opportunity to express themselves creatively. By giving them the opportunity to learn various art techniques, and then having them create works of art, she was able to give some youngsters in her community a big boost to their self-esteem. To further spread her message, Amylisa created a web site with information that will give anyone a chance to be more creative.
Amylisa is a senior at Sacred Heart Academy, where she is student council vice-president and captain of the Red dance team. Outside of school she is an active community volunteer, working with Haitian Orphan’s Wish, and traveling to Costa Rica to work on community service projects. She plans to attend Cornell University in the fall.
Danielle
Massapequa Association
Troop 2384
The goal of Danielle’s Gold Award project was to inform and educate her community about issues that teens deal with on a daily basis. By collaborating with various local counseling and human services organizations, she was able to plan and run an event for teens and their parents that provided important information and resources. She also created educational brochures for the attendees and was able to help people to talk about issues that often go unaddressed.
A senior at Massapequa High School, Danielle is in the SADD club. Outside of school, she is on Force All-Stars cheerleading team and volunteers at an animal shelter and at local soup kitchens. Danielle will attend St. Thomas Aquinas College, which has given her an annual $2,000 grant for earning the Gold Award.
Sabrina
West Hempstead/Franklin Square Association
Troop 1422
Sabrina felt that the sorry state of her school’s courtyard was affecting school spirit. Through her Gold Award project, she mobilized the student body, bringing together different groups of students for one purpose – the renovation of the courtyard. Under Sabrina’s direction, students planted, painted, and installed benches and decorative items around the area. The courtyard is now an inviting area, and is something in which all the students can take pride.
Sabrina is a junior at H. Frank Carey High School where she is a member of the National Honor Society and Foreign Language Honor Society. She is on the varsity tennis team and is a member of the school orchestra. Sabrina also volunteers at Winthrop University Hospital and coaches a local volleyball team.
Shannon
Seaford/Wantagh Association
Troop 3448
Shannon’s Gold Award project showed children in her community how they could take action to improve their surroundings. Targeting a neglected garden area at her local public library, Shannon developed a plan for its renovation. She also ran a series of workshops, at which children learned about gardening, both as a way to beautify the environment and as a means to grow healthy foods for their families. The new “fairy tale” garden at the Wantagh Library is an example of what can be accomplished by one person with a desire to make a difference.
Shannon is a senior at Wantagh High School, where she is a member of the drama club, wind ensemble, National Honor Society and music honor society. She is an altar server at her church, dances on a competition dance team, and has earned a brown belt in kenpo karate. She will attend Hofstra University, and has received their Gold Award Scholarship.
Rebecca
Manhasset Association
Troop 517
Rebecca’s Gold Award project focused on helping children who were struggling with reading. Working with the reading specialist at a local community center, Rebecca designed lessons targeting the particular skills with which the children were struggling. The curriculum was tailored to the ages of the students, and included tools such as flashcards and other activities to build the students’ skills and their comfort with reading, both in school and at home. Rebecca’s curriculum will continue to be available to young readers at the community center, now and in the future.
A senior at Manhasset High School, Rebecca is class vice president, and is active in Key Club and student government. She will attend Yale University in the fall.
Bethany
Garden City Association
Troop 1275
Through her time volunteering at Anna House, a local community service agency, Bethany became aware of the needs of children who were served there. Seeing that Anna House could benefit by more community awareness of their work, Bethany mounted a campaign to spread the word. Speaking to local Girl Scouts and to school clubs, she educated them about the work of the organization, and about their needs. While some of those she spoke to collected art supplies, books and clothing, others donated their time. She has laid the groundwork for clubs at her school to “adopt” Anna House as their ongoing service commitment.
A senior at Garden City High School, Bethany is a member of the Key Club, and is co-president of the Spanish Club. She is also on varsity fencing and kick line teams and the yearbook staff. She will attend the University of Richmond in the fall.
Emily
Merrick Association
NTA
Emily worked to mobilize her community to lend support to Momma’s House, a local residence for young mothers and their children. When storm damage destroyed a playground at one of their homes, Emily used her Gold Award project to recruit volunteers and community support to enable her to rebuild it. She also developed a booklet of games and activities for the families. Thanks to her efforts, the playground has been restored, awareness of Momma’s House has been increased, and the children have a place to play.
Emily is a 2011 graduate of John F. Kennedy High School, where she was a member of the culture club, wrestling team, jazz band, and wind ensemble. She has completed her freshman year at Stevens Institute of Technology, where she is a member of the equestrian team.
Tina
Massapequa Association
Troop 2384
Tina used her Gold Award project to educate her community about the issues surrounding pet adoptions and puppy mills. Working with the Town of Oyster Bay Animal Shelter, Tina developed a brochure with facts and statistics on pet adoption. She then publicized and ran a pet adoption day at the shelter, in an effort to have more families adopt their pets at shelters, rather than purchasing them at pet stores.
A senior at Massapequa High School, Tina is a member of the SADD club and plays varsity tennis. She plays CYO volleyball and basketball, participates in gymnastics, and takes classes in acting. Tina will attend Molloy College, where she will receive a $2,500 Gold Award scholarship for each of her four years.
Stephanie
The Plains Association
Troop 3619
Stephanie’s Gold Award project was designed to address the fact that dance is just as beneficial a physical activity as is soccer, football or any other sport, and can be used as a means to maintain a healthy weight, decrease blood pressure and increase strength and balance. By offering a series of dance workshops to students at local afterschool programs, Stephanie taught them a variety of dance moves, set to a range of musical accompaniments. By showing the students that they could learn specific dances, or just make up their own dances, she allowed them to have fun, and has given them a tool that will help them to a healthier life.
A 2011 graduate of Division Avenue High School, Stephanie was in National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, and the SADD club. An active Girl Scout volunteer, Stephanie also volunteers at Garvies Point Museum and for her Chamber of Commerce. She has completed her freshman year at SUNY Old Westbury.
Julie
Bellmore Association
Troop 911
As a wildlife rehabilitator, Julie saw the need to inform people about the importance of knowing the difference between an animal that is hurt or abandoned, and an animal that is just living in your yard or neighborhood. She prepared and distributed a leaflet that outlines the most common animals and behaviors you might see, and gave advice at a community fair about how these animals should (or should not) be approached.
A senior at W. H. Mepham High School, Julie is on the volleyball and lacrosse teams, and is a member of the drama club. She is a member of her church choir, and is a wildlife rehabilitator. She will attend Stony Brook University where she plans to major in marine vertebrate biology.
Katie
Garden City Association
Troop 1275
To address the issue of poor nutrition among the elderly, Katie designed her project with a three-prong approach. To encourage seniors to eat a more balanced diet, she prepared a cookbook with healthy, easy-to-prepare meals. After further researching the topic, she prepared and presented a PowerPoint presentation to a local senior center. Her final piece was a display to illustrate how to read nutritional content labels. Armed with all of this information, the senior citizens that benefited from Katie’s Gold Award project will be shopping, cooking, and eating healthier.
Katie is a senior at Garden City High School where she is a member of the fencing team and the orchestra. She is a member of the youth group at her church, and volunteers at a local soup kitchen. She plans to attend Loyola University Maryland in the fall.
Chiara
Garden City Association
Troop 1373
Chiara’s volunteer work at a local homeless shelter led her to design her Gold Award project to impact the residents of their long term housing. Since most of the residences had only the most basic of household goods, she reached out to her community for donations of bedding, bath and kitchen items. Chiara decided to use her artistic talents to provide some “food for the soul”. She secured donations of picture frames, and then framed her original photography and paintings to further make a house a home.
A 2011 graduate of Garden City High School, Chiara was a member of the gymnastics team, Italian club and Voice for Africa club. She has just completed her freshman year at Bentley University.
Gina
ELLM Association
Troop 2188
Gina’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of childhood obesity. She created a presentation for children that educated them about nutrition, taught them recipes and tactics for making healthy food choices, and showed them that making healthy snacks can be easy, fun, and delicious. To further spread her message, she wrote an article for the local newspaper, and placed her project information on a web site.
Gina is in the 11th grade at Lynbrook High School, where she is an active participant in student government, and a member of the varsity swim team. Gina has worked as a camp counselor, and is a certified lifeguard.
Kathryn
Seaford/Wantagh Association
Troop 3622
Kathryn’s Gold Award project was to help children to unlock their creative potential. She designed a workshop for children that would allow them to brainstorm, write their ideas into a book, and then decorate it. Kathryn arranged to have her project posted online at her local library and created a Facebook page to share her ideas, thus ensuring that children would benefit from this project going forward.
Kathryn is in 11th grade at Sacred Heart Academy, where she writes for the school newspaper. She is a member of the Speech and Debate team, and plays varsity golf and tennis. She is on the CYO swim team, is an active member of St. Agnes Church, and serves on the Mayor’s Youth Task Force in Rockville Centre.
Stephanie
Massapequa Association
Troop 2009
Stephanie used her Gold Award project to educate children and adults in her community about exotic animals such as snakes, lizards and frogs. She researched the topic, created a PowerPoint presentation, handouts, video, and an educational coloring book, and then presented the information to various groups. She taught each group what to do if you encounter one of these animals, possible dangers, and how to handle them.
Stephanie is a senior at Massapequa High School, where she is in the SADD club, and is an avid student of biology. She is an active member of her church, and takes classes in karate. Stephanie plans to attend Suffolk Community College to study veterinary technology.
Alexandra
Manhasset Association
Troop 513
The goal of Alexandra’s Gold Award project was to promote environmental awareness to young children and to encourage them to make an impact on their environment through reducing, reusing, and recycling. Connecting with local environmental and government agencies, she was able to run events in her community that included fun, hands-on activities, guest speakers, and recycling stations. An article in her local newspaper further shared her message with the town.
Alexandra is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is a member of the National Honor Society, Latin Honor Society, Peer Responder program, and the Key Club. She will attend Cornell University in the fall.
Jacqueline
Garden City Association
Troop 1650
Jacqueline addressed the issue of loneliness among the aged with her Gold Award project. Along with, Jessica O’Connell, she created a Friendly Visitor Program, in which teenagers from her parish visited and formed bonds with local senior citizens, many of whom are homebound. By pairing up the teens and the seniors, both groups benefitted through the new relationships they forged.
Jacqueline is a senior at Sacred Heart Academy, where she participates in Red and Gold, softball, and is a member of the National Honor Society. She also volunteers at Winthrop University Hospital, and with a respite volunteer program. She plans to attend the University of Delaware to study nursing.
Megan
Massapequa Association
Troop 2108
Megan’s Gold Award project was designed to help young children deal with their fear of hospitals and medical procedures. In order to address the situation, Megan used her creative and artistic talents to write a comforting short story in coloring book format. As children read Megan’s story about a puppy that goes to the hospital, it helped to alleviate their fears. She distributed her story books along with security blankets she had made and was able to make a difference for many young patients.
Megan is a senior at Our Lady of Mercy Academy, where she is a member of the lacrosse, equestrian, and cheering teams. She also is a member of the SADD club and the chorus. She will attend Villanova University as a student in their nursing program.
Isabelle
Manhasset Association
Troop 513
Her experience as a volunteer on an international project inspired Isabelle to design a Gold Award project that would raise awareness of other cultures for children in her community. Researching various cultures, Isabelle designed a series of lessons for the youngsters, in which they learned about culture through a variety of means, including songs and dance. She also encouraged the children to learn more about their own cultural backgrounds by discussing the topic with their parents.
Isabelle is a senior at Sacred Heart Academy, where she is a member of the National Honor Society, student council, and French club. Outside of school, she is president of the Junior Board of the Josephine Foundation, which promotes sports and arts programs for youth. She has not yet decided on a college.
Olivia
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
For her Gold Award project, Olivia developed a swimming safety program. Along with partners Annie Hull and Nicole Kiess, Olivia was able to design and deliver a week of camp activities for a community in West Virginia. By teaching some basic swim safety, Olivia was able to give children important skills that could help them to survive, as well as building their comfort level and respect for the water.
Olivia is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is on the varsity swimming and rowing teams, and a member of the National Honor Society, and honor societies for math, Spanish and science. She participates in Physics Olympics, Key club, and World of Difference clubs. She is active in St. Mary’s Youth Ministry, and swims and rows on club teams. She will attend Harvard University.
Annie
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
Working with partners Olivia Henry and Nicole Kiess, Annie ran a day camp in an impoverished area of West Virginia. Annie was responsible for the arts and crafts portion of the weeklong session. To achieve her goal, she not only needed to plan and run the activities, but wrote to solicit donations of supplies, books and toiletries to benefit the children and their families.
Annie is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is a member of the volleyball team, Italian Honor Society, Key Club, and orchestra. She is a member of St. Mary’s Church youth group, and volunteers at North Shore-LIJ Hospital and for the Manhasset Women’s Coalition Against Breast Cancer. She plans to attend Wake Forest University in the fall.
Jennifer
Bellmore Association
Troop 911
The goal of Jennifer’s Gold Award project was to show kids how much fun science can be. By engaging a group of younger students with exciting demonstrations and hands-on activities, she was able to show them that science is interesting and exciting. Jennifer developed a how-to manual outlining her workshop activities. The AP Scholar Society at her school will be continuing to offer her program.
Jennifer is a senior at Massapequa High School where she is a member of the chorus, chamber chorus, orchestra, pit, and chamber orchestras. She also competes on the rifle team, mathletes, and science Olympiad teams. She is an active member of her church, and participates in travel soccer, dance and Venturing. She will study chemical molecular engineering at Stony Brook University.
Danielle
East Meadow Association
Troop 1472
Danielle observed a problem in her neighborhood that led her to develop her Gold Award project. The issue her project addressed is the proliferation of feral cats, and the problems they can become. To educate the community about this issue, she developed literature about the importance of spaying and neutering of pets, and about the benefits of pet ownership. She partnered with a local animal shelter and built them a feral cat shelter, as well as some furnishings that would give prospective adoptive families a comfortable place to meet and greet their new pets.
Danielle is a senior at East Meadow High School where she is an active booster of the sports teams. She is an active member of her church, an avid skier, and writes about animal rights and veganism.
Jennifer
Garden City Association 
Troop 1624
The aim of Jennifer’s Gold Award project was to foster a love of reading in children at a local residential facility. Since the families at this facility often have limited financial resources, the ability for the children to have access to a library of children’s literature is a great benefit. Through Jennifer’s efforts, the residence received books, bookshelves, and couches so that the “reading corner” would become a gathering place for all.
Jennifer is a senior at Garden City High School, where she is a member of the Key Club, works on the school newspaper, and is in the Chamber Choir. She is also an active member of her parish youth group. She plans to attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall.
Pauline
Park Association
Troop 1520
Pauline’s Gold Award project was designed to inform girls in her community about the variety of careers available in the Math, Health and Technology fields. Through her presentations to middle school students, she sought to encourage students to stay in school and to study these important subjects. By showing them the practical applications of these subjects, and the career paths they could lead to, Pauline was able to show them the connection to their future.
Pauline is a senior at New Hyde Park Memorial High School, where she is a cheerleader, a Peer Leader, and a member of the Key Club. She has volunteered for the Long Island Chinese Center Dragon Boats competition, and for the American Cancer Society. She will attend Penn State University.
Maxine
Bay Association
Troop 203
Knowing that the college admissions process, particularly the campus visit, can be stressful, Maxine designed her Gold Award project to provide a means for high school students to visit multiple colleges in their search for the perfect fit. Working with a local high school guidance counselor, and with the support of her parents, Maxine created a campus tour experience that has evolved into an ongoing business. She developed a Facebook page and website for the company, and is now able to give tours from the perspective of the college student.
Maxine graduated in 2011 from Oyster Bay High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society and honor societies for Spanish and science. She was a member of Student Council and played on the varsity volleyball team. Maxine has just completed her freshman year at Villanova University.
Lauren
Massapequa Association
Troop 2108
Lauren’s Gold Award project was designed to create support and awareness for the hearing impaired population on Long Island. She created a reference book and resource kit for the hearing impaired and their families. To further educate the public, Lauren also created a website that features videos and additional information to inform people about the resources available.
Lauren is a senior at St. Anthony’s High School, where she is captain of the varsity golf team, and a member of the varsity cross country, volleyball, and winter track teams. She is a member of the National Honor Society, ski club, MSG varsity club, and yearbook staff. Lauren has received Duns Scotus certification for scholastic excellence. She will enter the Army Corps of Cadets at Norwich University.
Nicole
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
Nicole worked with fellow Girl Scouts Olivia Henry and Annie Hull to deliver a summer camp program to the children of Webster Springs, West Virginia. Nicole delivered sports equipment which she had collected, and then ran sports activities during the camp sessions. Through her instruction, the children learned more about various sports, and were left with the equipment to continue to play. While running the camp, Nicole saw that many of the tweens were in need of toiletries and other items not available for purchase with food stamps. When she returned home, she ran a donation drive and collected more than 15 boxes of toiletries which she shipped to West Virginia.
Nicole is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is on the softball and basketball teams. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and honor societies for math, science and Spanish. Nicole will attend Villanova University.
Melanie
Rockville Centre Association
Troop 805
The goal of Melanie’s Gold Award project was to introduce elementary school students to the French language in hopes that an early launch into French language and culture might awaken an interest and passion for another culture and further understanding between different countries. She conducted a series of lessons in elementary French for students in a local elementary school. Her young students learned some basic vocabulary and a few French phrases, enough, she hopes, for French language classes to become “de rigueur” in her school district.
Melanie is a senior at South Side High School, and is very involved in their theatre department. Outside of school, she is an active member of the local chapter of the BBYO Youth Board. Melanie plans to attend the University of Richmond in the fall.
Rachal
The Plains Association
Troop 3035
Members of the youth group at her temple were unhappy with the state of the youth lounge, so Rachal decided to do something about it. She recruited support from the community to assist her in the renovation. Rachal felt that there was no “kid-friendly” information available to prepare youngsters for the High Holy Days, so she also researched and created a Nitzanim packet and taught a class to the younger members of the synagogue.
Rachal is a senior at Division Avenue High School, where she is a member of Best Buddies, Key Club, SADD club, peer leaders, and newspaper club. In her community, she is in her temple youth group, coaches cheerleading, and is on the Teen Advisory Board at her public library. She will attend East Stroudsburg University to study Sports Management.
Deanna
Plainedge Association
Troop 3543
Deanna’s Gold Award project was aimed at girls in 4th through 8th grade, and was designed to boost their self-esteem through the dramatic arts. In her workshops, she taught the girls acting exercises that promoted self-expression. She also taught activities that required the use of emotion and teamwork. As a result, the students learned how to better deal with stress, to be themselves, and to be open with their feelings.
Deanna is a senior at Plainedge Senior High School, and is a member of the drama club and choir. She is in the Tri-M music honor society, and works on the staff of Ventures literary magazine. Her plans for the fall are undecided.
Amanda
WARM Association
Troop 1859
Since obesity is an increasing problem in our society, Amanda wanted to make an impact on young minds through her Gold Award project “Nutrition for Kids.” After doing extensive research about children and nutrition, she organized a series of workshops for pre-schoolers and kindergartners. Using the “Choose My Plate” diagram of the 5 food groups, she created a presentation and hands-on activity that got the children excited about this important topic.
Amanda is in 11th grade at Sacred Heart Academy, where she participates in Red and Gold competition, and is in the Catholic League. She is a lector at Church of St. Aidan, and is a counselor at their Vacation Bible School. She also dances on a competitive dance team.
Corinne
Seaford/Wantagh Association
Troop 3089
Corinne’s Gold Award project was focused on sports, both as a pastime and as a career. She taught younger girls about various career opportunities in sports, and as part of her workshops, she collected used sports equipment which was then distributed to youngsters not able to afford the equipment needed to participate in organized sports.
Corinne is a 2011 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, where she participated in theater tech, speech and debate, media, and Sacred Heart Academy Morning News clubs. She has just completed her freshman year at St. Bonaventure University.
Darbey
East Meadow Association
Troop 1143
Alzheimer ’s disease, and its effects on individuals and their families, was the subject of Darbey’s Gold Award project. She researched the topic and created a PowerPoint presentation and workshop for the public. She educated the attendees about the disease, and gave some coping strategies for families affected. She further shared the information through a blog, and has posted her PowerPoint information on YouTube, so that others may continue to learn about this disease.
Darbey is a senior at North Shore High School, where she is a chair of Relay for Life. She is also head of sound tech and design for her school’s theater department. Darbey plans to attend Siena College in the fall.
Michelle
Garden City Association
Troop 1650
Michelle used her Gold Award project to educate the community about the plight of the homeless. Speaking to different groups, she not only gave them information about this problem, but she also encouraged them to share their ideas for making things better. As part of her project, Michelle requested that her audiences and her community donate items that could be distributed through a local homeless shelter.
Michelle is a senior at St. Mary’s High School, where she is a member of the varsity swim and badminton teams. She is an officer of the National Honor Society, and participates in sports night, Scholar Service Institute, yearbook staff, and campus ministry. She plans to major in secondary education at Molloy College.
Taylor
Massapequa Association
Troop 2384
Taylor’s Gold Award project addressed the importance of proper nutrition, physical fitness, and making healthy choices for a healthy life. By collaborating with a local church, she was able to establish a new, innovative health program for children in grades K-3. She further shared her information through a blog and brochure which she created so that the children would have some specific tips to take home to share with their families.
Taylor is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School, where she participates in Sodality, library service, PREP (Parish Religious Education Practicum) and band. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and volunteers for a local afterschool recreation and tutoring program. Outside of school, she works as a lifeguard, and plays CYO basketball and volleyball. Taylor will attend Mount Saint Mary College.
Victoria
Hardscrabble Association
Troop 3504
Victoria’s Gold Award project provided a boost to those in our community who are struggling to enter the job market. Working with Nassau County’s Department of Social Services, Victoria took a storeroom and created an organized, well-stocked “store” of career clothing. She conducted a series of clothing drives and brought them to the site. Knowing that donated clothing would not be used if people couldn’t find what they needed, she created a floor plan and procedure guide to help future volunteers or staff who will be working in the shop.
A 2011 graduate of Farmingdale High School, Victoria was an intern in the child study lab. She has just completed her freshman year at Nassau Community College.
Christina
Seaford/Wantagh Association
Troop 3448
Christina’s Gold Award project was designed to teach younger children the importance of knowing basic first aid. She ran a series of workshops that taught the basics, and then supplemented the class with a handout that would help the children to remember what they had been taught.
Christina is a senior at Wantagh High School, where she participates as a Class of 2012 representative, and is a member of the French club. She is a member of the Wantagh Fire Department Explorers, and plays PAL basketball and CYO volleyball. She plans to attend LIU Post to study secondary biology education.
Heather
Plainedge Association
Troop 3543
Heather’s Gold Award project brought together the community, including musicians, high school students, and a local food bank, to address the issue of hunger on Long Island. She organized a concert which had an admission price of an item of food. At the concert, Heather presented information about the problem to further educate the students who attended. She also ensured that the work would continue by arranging for food drives to continue at her school.
Heather is a senior at Plainedge High School, where she is a member of the FIRST Robotics club. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and honor societies for math, English, and science. Outside of school, she mentors altar servers at her church, and is in an engineering program at Northrop Grumman. She plans to study biomedical engineering at Tufts University.
Gabrielle
Plainedge Association
Troop 3543
Gabrielle used her Gold Award project to educate her community about cancer. She researched the topic, and created an event that would present the information in a variety of ways. After reaching out to various cancer societies, she was able to create seven stations at which her attendees learned about everything from how to avoid skin cancer, to the importance of avoiding tobacco products.
Gabrielle is a senior at Plainedge High School, where she is a peer mentor and a member of the international club and the yearbook club. She is a member of the Tri-M music honor society, and is an active member of St. Luke’s Church. She plans to attend LIU Post in the fall.
Lynn
Floral Park/Bellerose Association
Troop 1635
Lynn designed her Gold Award project to build girls’ self-esteem through dance, and teach them that it is okay to be different. Working with a group of 8 – 12 year olds, she choreographed and taught them a dance routine. In addition to the routine, the girls learned to get along, make new friends, and their confidence soared, as they put on a show for their families and friends at the conclusion of her workshops.
Lynn is a senior at Floral Park Memorial High School, where she is a member of the volleyball team and the marching band. She is an active member of her church, and teaches dance at a local studio. She will attend LIU Post in the fall.
Nicole
Floral Park/Bellerose Association
Troop 1635
Nicole’s Gold Award project “Camp Summer Fun” was designed to encourage younger girls to try new activities, and thereby build their confidence. At Nicole’s weeklong camp, the girls learned new games, tried different arts and crafts activities, and built their self-esteem while enjoying themselves in the day camp setting.
Nicole is a senior at Floral Park Memorial High School, and is a member of the field hockey team and marching band, as well as the National Honor Society and foreign language honor society. She plans to attend SUNY Geneseo in the fall.
Toriann
West Hempstead/ Franklin Square Association
Troop 1888
Toriann saw that the courtyard area of her high school was not being used due to the condition of the area. Overgrown trees and shrubs, tree stumps, vines and poison ivy did not make the site very inviting. To correct this, she got the approval of the principal, and then got to work cleaning and renovating the area. Enlisting the help of many individuals and groups, she was able to get the area cleaned, planted, and even had a fish pond installed. She created the Carey Courtyard Club, so that students can maintain the courtyard while learning about gardening.
Toriann is a sophomore at H. Frank Carey High School, where she is President of the Courtyard Club, Historian for the Class of 2014, and member of FutureBusiness Leaders of America and of the 21st century scholars. She works on the school literary magazine and is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and the World Languages Honor Society.
Catherine
WARM Association
Troop 1859
Catherine’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of cultural awareness and acceptance. Using folk stories, games from different cultures, and of course, the foods of the cultures, she taught students at a local school. Using a PowerPoint presentation that she researched and created, Catherine wove all the elements together to give the students an appreciation for the world’s cultures and how they all enrich our own lives.
Catherine is a junior at Our Lady of Mercy Academy where she is a member of Leaders’ club, Student Council, and SADD. She does service through Mercy Action and the Mission Committee, and is a member of the Pro-Life club. Catherine also volunteers at Winthrop University Hospital.
Brittany
Seaford/Wantagh Association
Troop 3656
Brittany saw a need in her community for a place for kids with special needs. She worked to locate a space for a play group, and then coordinated a group of volunteers to work with the children at these monthly gatherings. The children who attended not only had fun, but they made new friends. The SEPTA (Special Education PTA) will run the playgroup in years to come, ensuring that children with special needs will continue to have a place to play together.
Brittany is a junior at Wantagh High School, where she has been a member of the varsity dance team since freshman year, and is now captain of the color guard.
Linda
Herricks Association
Troop 1364
The issue that Linda addressed with her Gold Award project is bullying in schools and in the community. She took national statistics and incorporated them into a presentation that she made at an elementary school assembly. She also presented the information to the middle school, at the local library, and initiated a bullying program in the health classes at the high school. Her PowerPoint presentation will be added to the anti-bullying curriculum. To ensure that students stay focused on the issue, she initiated an annual bullying awareness day at her high school, and wrote an article for the website teennewsnet.com.
Linda is a junior at Herricks High School, where she is a member of student government, Justice League, Key Club, Model Congress, Student Action for the Environment, and the Bullying in Schools Board. She also volunteers for many local organizations and at the Herricks camp and Saturday Rec programs.
Amanda
WARM Association
Troop 1859
Working with sister Girl Scout Reema Al-hijazin, Amanda designed a workshop and presentation to raise awareness of bullying, and to give students some tactics for dealing with these situations, whether as a target or as a bystander. The girls interviewed many students who had either acted as bullies, or who had been bullied, and used the information to create a PowerPoint presentation which they presented to different groups.
Amanda is a junior at Our Lady of Mercy Academy, where she enjoys sports and socializing. She works as a camp counselor and babysitter, and volunteers at a local soup kitchen.
Jacqueline
Bellmore Association
Troop 924
Jacqueline and sister Girl Scout Courtney Wright wanted to increase their community’s awareness of composting and its benefits. Focusing on the Town of Hempstead’s Marine Nature Study Area, they built and installed a 3-bin compost structure for the site. The compost created will help to enrich the soil at the site and to grow healthier plants. The girls also researched and created educational flyers and videos about composting, to further educate the community about this important topic.
Jacqueline is a junior at W.C. Mepham High School, where she is a member of the Drama Club’s stage crew. Outside of school, she volunteers for HorseAbility, and is an active member of her church.
Mary
ELLM Association
Troop 2188
Mary’s Gold Award project helped children to become closer to nature while being able to creatively express themselves. She created an art program that will be used by the nursery school program at Tanglewood Preserve. Building four wooden benches for her young artists, she tested her activities at a local event, and then rolled out the program at the nursery school, where it is being used on a weekly basis.
Mary is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School, where she is a member of Sodality, CROSS (Christians Reaching Out, Spreading Spirituality) and portfolio prep art class. She plays CYO basketball, and is a member of her church youth group. Mary plans to attend LIU Post in the fall.
Jessica
Garden City Association
Troop 1650
The goal of Jessica’s Gold Award project was to recruit a corps of volunteers that would visit the homebound in her community. Working with sister Girl Scout Jacqueline Hausner, they began the “Friendly Visitors Program” to bring companionship and prevent loneliness to those who cannot easily get out of their homes.
Jessica is a senior at Holy Trinity High School, where she volunteers for the Respite program at St. Anne’s school, spending time with children with special needs. She plays softball and is an active member of her church. She plans to attend the University of Delaware in the fall.
Kristin
Floral Park/Bellerose Association
Troop 1133
The Gold Award project that Kristin and sister Girl Scout Jenn Proscia created was meant to increase the usage of a local park. Feeling that the park could use some more publicity and more visitors, Kristin used her artistic talents to create a map of the park, which featured the key points of interest. The map was enthusiastically received by the community, and will continue to be available to park visitors.
Kristin is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School, where she is a member of the cross country, track & field, and lacrosse teams. She participates in Eucharistic Ministers, Marianist Mentors, tutoring, and lab squad. Kristin is vice-president of National Honor Society, and co-captain of the JV dance team. She will attend Fordham University.
Grace
Herricks Association
Troop 1089
Grace designed her Gold Award project to raise awareness of the deaf community. She presented interactive workshops to children at her church about the differences between Deaf and deaf communities. She taught them some basic sign language, and about deaf lifestyle and manners, along with awareness of various medical ailments that can lead to hearing loss.
Grace is a senior at Herricks High School, where she is president of the student government executive board. She is student representative for the Board of Education, president of model congress, and Girls State representative for Herricks and Mineola. She is also in Chamber Choir. Outside of school, Grace is on the executive board of her church youth group, volunteers at LIJ North Shore Hospital, and is an intern at the Ubuntu Education Fund. Grace will attend Wellesley College.
Kelly
Bellmore Association
Troop 911
Kelly used her Gold Award project to inform and educate the community about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. She conducted a series of informational seminars for teens and adults, which included facts presented through a PowerPoint presentation, as well as personal stories of those affected by this issue. The seminars also included different strategies for coping with addictions and how to stay “above the influence."
Kelly is a senior at W.C. Mepham High School, where she is a member of the chorus and vocal jazz club. She also performs at Open Mic Night and in the Talent Show and is in a local band. She plans to attend Nassau Community College in the fall.
Marguerite
Garden City Association
Troop 1650
The goal of Marguerite’s Gold Award project was to educate people about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted, and how it can be prevented. Focusing specifically on teens, she created a brochure and videos that gave them information about the disease, with an emphasis on the risky behaviors that teens engage in, and how these behaviors can lead to serious consequences.
Marguerite is a senior at Garden City High School, where she plays softball and is a member of the Voices for Africa club. Marguerite is an active member of St. Anne’s Service Club and plans to study architecture at New York Institute of Technology.
Allison
Seaford/Wantagh Association
Troop 3089
Allison wanted to increase the community’s awareness of the work of Massapequa Cares, a local organization dedicated to helping military veterans. After meeting with a representative of the organization, she started her education campaign, writing to businesses, family, friends, and neighbors. She was able to enlist many of these to donate items needed by veterans at the VA Hospital in Northport. In addition to the information she shared, she taught youngsters flag etiquette, further increasing their appreciation of our country and those who serve it.
Allison is a 2011 graduate of Our Lady of Mercy Academy where she was a member of the National Art Honor Society. She played varsity volleyball and was also a Club Volleyball player which included competing in a National Junior Olympics in Dallas, Texas. She has just completed her freshman year at Adelphi University, and is a member of the Future Teachers Association, Circle K International and the Green Council.
Jenn
Floral Park/Bellerose Association
Troop 1133
For her Gold Award project, Jenn worked with sister Girl Scout Kristin O’Grady to create more awareness of a local park. Noticing that this property was underused and overlooked, the girls worked to create a map and brochure to help visitors learn more about the park. They researched the history of the park and created a brochure, maps and a display case so that visitors can now fully appreciate this scenic location.
Jenn is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School and is a member of the bowling and varsity volleyball teams. She is in Latin club and and officer of Catholic League, and tutors students in math and Latin. Jenn is captain of her travel soccer team and plays CYO volleyball. Jenn will major in mathematics at Adelphi University, in their Five-year Teacher Certification program.
Tara
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
Tara’s Gold Award project addressed an important childhood holiday – Halloween. Seeing that some families cannot afford Halloween costumes, Tara collected costumes from around her community. She then sorted them by size and created an inventory list. Collaborating with a local agency, she stocked their facility with the costumes and developed a system for their loan, so that the costumes can be used and enjoyed for years to come.
Tara is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is a member of the softball, basketball and field hockey teams, and of the Be Like Rachel club and Junior Coalition Against Breast Cancer. She plans to attend Bucknell University.
Jennifer
The Plains Association
Troop 3619
Jennifer used her Gold Award project to make a change in the lives of special needs children and their parents. Knowing that it can be difficult for these children to find playmates, and for their parents to find support, Jennifer’s project created both. She started a play group for the children, and also gave the parents the opportunity to share their challenges and to give each other support.
Jennifer is a senior at Division Avenue High School, where she is a member of SADD, the Key Club, Best Buddies, and cooking club. Jennifer plans to attend Nassau Community College in the fall.
Allison
Bellmore Association
Troop 924
Allison’s Gold Award project used the hobby of geocaching to spread awareness of Girl Scouting, and to promote a cleaner environment. She created caches which were placed in locations around our area, and which would educate those who found them about Girl Scouting, while also encouraging them to “leave a place better than they found it”. She posted her caches on geocaching.com, so that others could have the fun of locating them.
Allison is a senior at W.C. Mepham High School, where she is a member of A World of Difference Cub and Habitat for Humanity Club. She is a member of the National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society. She plans to attend LIU Post in the fall.
Emily
Plainedge Association
Troop 3543
Emily wanted to address the issue of asthma with her Gold Award project. She was aware that many students spent time receiving asthma treatments in the school nurse’s office. To make the experience more positive, Emily created an activity booklet to help them to pass the time, while also learning more about their condition. She also conducted classes for other students and the community, to give them an appreciation of how serious asthma can be, and how to help someone who is having an asthma attack.
A senior at Plainedge High School, Emily is a member of the National Honor Society and the English Honor Society, jazz choir, robotics team, SADD, and the varsity bowling team. She will study nursing at SUNY Farmingdale in the fall.
Loren
Garden City Association
Troop 1650
Loren’s Gold Award project “Memories in the Making” was aimed at helping the residents of a geriatric facility. Since the elderly residents faced various challenges, both physical and mental, Loren worked with them to make memory books. Using her artistic skills, she collaborated with the residents to create a scrapbook of family photos and important events in their lives. Since this project was so important to Loren and to the residents and their families, Loren spoke to other organizations and community groups to encourage them to get involved.
Loren is a senior at Sacred Heart Academy, where she is a member of the Red kickline team, varsity swim team, Key Club, art program, and National Honor Society. She will attend Manhattan College.
Elise
Merrick Association
Troop 2545
Elise’s Gold Award project sought to educate non-English speaking members of the community about healthcare opportunities available to them. Because of a language barrier, it can be very difficult for these families to receive the healthcare services they need. Elise created a PowerPoint presentation and pamphlets for a local agency. To further spread the information, she spoke (in their native language) at a series of meetings held at the Family Literacy center, and posted a blog and her presentation to the internet.
Elise is a senior at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, and is a member of Key Club, National Honor Society, and the Advanced Science Research group. She is also on the tennis team, a volunteer at St. Francis Hospital, and a member of her church youth group. She will attend Johns Hopkins University in the fall.
Alexandra
Garden City Association
Troop 1426
Alexandra’s project was designed to allow a group of special needs children to express themselves through art. The children who attend the special needs mass at her church were invited to create banners on canvas squares. Alexandra worked with the children as they created designs that related to their religion, and that showed their individuality. The banners are now displayed at the church, and they add to the sense of love, belonging, and welcome.
A 2011 graduate of Garden City High School, Alexandra was a member of the Miracle Club, and the field hockey team. Alexandra volunteers at St. Anne’s respite program, and teaches religion to special needs children. She also volunteers at the Anchor program and at Winthrop University Hospital. She has just completed her first year at Xavier University in Ohio.
Jasmine
Rockville Centre Association
Troop 834
Jasmine’s Gold Award project addressed the issues of overuse of landfills and the need to find more ways to recycle. She focused on shoes, collecting all types of shoes and footwear. Some of the shoes were donated to thrift shops, which are in need of shoes for low-income families. The athletic shoes she collected were donated to be recycled into sports surfaces such as tracks, artificial turf, and rubber playground mats.
Jasmine is a senior at South Side High School, where she is a member of the varsity cross country and spring track and field teams and plays violin in the orchestra. She also does individual research in biology. She is a member of her church’s youth choir and youth group, and is on the Rockville Centre Youth Council and Anti-Drug Community Task Force. She also serves as an assistant to the Leader of a Daisy and a Brownie Troop.
Elizabeth
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
Bicycle safety was the topic of Elizabeth’s Gold Award project. Collaborating with town officials, a local bike shop, and the Coalition for a Safer Manhasset, she organized a bike safety day for the children of Manhasset. Elizabeth publicized her event in the schools and in the local newspapers. She and her volunteers taught children riding techniques and safety skills, as well as maintenance and safety tips.
Elizabeth is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is a member of Green Club, French Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is a member of the Coalition for a Safer Manhasset and the Manhasset Junior Coalition Against Breast Cancer. She will attend Fordham University .
Michele
Bay Association
Troop 30
Michele’s Gold Award project filled two needs in her community. After speaking with a local animal shelter, she found that they received a surplus of donations of pet food, and that they had a real need for blankets and towels, and of course, more volunteers. She then connected with a local senior citizens center where she asked them to donate towels and blankets for the animals. In exchange, she provided the senior citizens with the shelter’s extra pet food to use for their own animals.
Michele is a junior at Kellenberg Memorial High School.
Victoria
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
Victoria’s Gold Award project was designed to give elementary school students a taste of the auditioning process in theater and to interest and prepare them for the drama program in middle school. Using teachers, and volunteers from her high school drama group, she conducted workshops to develop the drama skills of the youngsters and to build their enthusiasm for the middle school theater program.
Victoria is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is active in the musical, dramatic and repertory productions. She is a representative to Broadway Equity Fights AIDS, and is in the Thespian Honor Society. She is vice-president of women’s chorus, and a member of the vocal jazz group and Peer Responders. Victoria studies tap dance and is an active member of St. Mary’s Church. She plans to attend the University of Southern California.
Marion
ELLM Association
Troop 2188
Marion’s Gold Award project taught those who use a local shelter/soup kitchen/food pantry how to eat healthier by growing an organic vegetable garden on the site. She partnered with a local gardening group to plant the garden and teach the residents how to care for it. To ensure that the garden will continue, she created a book of how-to instructions for the shelter, and also posted the information on a web site.
Marion is a senior at Sacred Heart Academy, where she is a member of the Catholic League, the drama club, and National Honor Society. She takes voice lessons, enjoys skiing and ice skating, and is an active member of her church. She plans to attend Marist College in the fall.
Kaitlyn
Valley Stream Association
Troop 1070
The goal of Kaitlyn’s Gold Award project was to promote understanding of the challenges and rewards of adoption and foster care. She had various adoption and foster care agencies and adoption attorneys speak at her event. Those who attended learned about adoption and foster care, and the agencies involved met many prospective clients. Some were interested in adoption, and others in becoming foster parents, but all were able to network, have their questions answered, and get a better understanding of the issues.
Kaitlyn is a senior at Valley Stream South High School, and is a member of the Language Honor Society, and President of the Occupational Honor Society. She is a soprano in the school and district chorus, and a member of the school Peer Mediation team. Kaitlyn is an active member of her church and volunteers at Mercy Medical Center. She will attend SUNY Cortland in the fall.
Elizabeth
Hardscrabble Association
Troop 3504
Elizabeth’s Gold Award project improved the appearance and the safety of the grounds at her local elementary school. The roots of a large tree were protruding aboveground, creating a safety hazard for children playing in the area. She connected with local gardeners for design help and advice, and then put her plan into action as she planted an attractive garden for the students, parents, and teachers to enjoy for years to come.
A 2011 graduate of Farmingdale High School, Elizabeth played on the soccer, volleyball and badminton teams. Outside of school, she plays on the Suffolk Interleague Soccer team, and is on a beach volleyball team. She is president of Venture Crew 46, and is a student at Suffolk Community College.
Megan
Manhasset Association
Troop 513
The loss of educational progress over the summer vacation was the topic of Megan’s Gold Award project. Knowing that children can lose some of what they have learned, she designed tutoring sessions, which she delivered to students over the summer. To ensure that her work will continue, she has left her lesson plans and materials to future volunteers, so that children can return to school better prepared for success.
Megan is a senior at Sacred Heart Academy, where she is a member of SADD, Key Club and National Honor Society. She serves as a Eucharistic Minister, teaches religious education and at Vacation Bible School. She also plays CYO volleyball. Megan will attend Villanova University.
Krystin
Seaford/Wantagh Association
Troop 3448
Krystin’s Gold Award project was a series of healthy living workshops, presented to children at the Long Island Children’s Museum. At each workshop, the children learned about the components of the USDA My Plate plan for healthy eating and about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. To continue the learning, she created a poster and pamphlet that were shared with local schools.
Krystin is a senior at Wantagh High School, where she is President of the Key Club, and a member of National Honor Society, and honor societies for foreign language, and music. She is on the varsity tennis and track teams, and the varsity academic team. Krystin is in the school orchestra, science Olympiads science research teams. She plays CYO volleyball and volunteers at Vacation Bible School and the Long Island Children’s Museum. She plans to major in applied mathematics at Bryant University.
Sundra
Massapequa Association
Troop 2108
Sundra’s Gold Award project was twofold – to educate the community about pregnancy prevention, and to redecorate a room at Momma’s House, a home for young unwed mothers. Her goal was to lift the self-esteem of the young women staying there and support the process of raising a child. She developed a brochure and display to educate the community and to hopefully prevent additional teen pregnancy.
Sundra is a senior at Our Lady of Mercy Academy, where she plays varsity soccer and is captain of the sports night cheer team. She is in the Spanish, forensic, and Mercy Action clubs, and is on the staff of the yearbook. Sundra plays travel soccer, and volunteers at Winthrop University Hospital. She plans to attend Philadelphia University to major in Fashion Industry Management.
Hannah
Rockville Centre Association
Troop 834
Hannah’s Gold Award project was designed to keep used bicycles out of landfills and to recycle them to those in need of a bicycle. She mounted a publicity campaign to raise awareness of her project, and to encourage people to donate their old bikes. She then did any necessary repairs that the bikes needed, and arranged to bring together the members of her community to give and to receive the bicycles.
Hannah is a senior at South Side High School, where she is a member of the cross country and spring track and field teams, military history club, art club, and environmental social awareness club. She is in the wind ensemble and a soloist in the pit orchestra. Outside of school, she is president of Venture Crew 1, and a member of the youth group at her synagogue. She works as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Hannahplans to attend the University of Rochester.
Julia
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
The goal of Julia’s Gold Award project was to raise awareness of the Holocaust, and to stress the importance of remembering what took place, in an effort to prevent its reoccurrence. After interviewing a local woman who is a survivor of the Holocaust, Julia created a presentation and workshop that was presented to over 150 middle school students in her district. The film and hands-on activities she created were designed to promote understanding and tolerance.
Julia is a senior at Manhasset High School and is a member of the cross country and track teams, the debate team, the orchestra and is on the staff of the school newspaper. She volunteers at a local community center, and teaches Sunday school. Julia plans to attend Colgate University.
Christina
Bay Association
Troop 203
The goal of Christina’s Gold Award project was to provide an informative, interactive, and fun children’s art history map for the Nassau County Museum of Art’s outdoor sculpture exhibit. Remembering how she used to enjoy visiting the museum with her grandmother, she decided to make the museum experience more meaningful to the children who visit today and in the future. Using her artistic and organizational skills, she created an art history map and brochure so that children could enjoy finding the sculptures and learning more about them and the artists who created them.
A 2011 graduate of Oyster Bay High School, Christina was a member of student council, Interact and the wind ensemble. She was a member of National Honor Society and honor societies for art and music. She volunteers for LIJ Hospital in Glen Cove, and has just completed her freshman year at the University of Rochester.
Stephanie
West Hempstead/Franklin Square Association
Troop 1422
The goal of Stephanie’s Gold Award project was to improve the appearance and facilities at Rath Park. After outlining their ideas for Town and Parks Department officials, Stephanie and her sister Girl Scout Brittany Chajkewicz began their renovation. They designed and painted two murals, had a sign made to welcome visitors to the park, and got the town to repave a neglected volleyball court.
Stephanie is a junior at St. Mary’s High School, where she is a member of the volleyball and softball teams. She has played softball for Garden City South Little League for the past 11 years, and she is an active volunteer for school events and for Habitat for Humanity.
Alexis
Meadow Association
Troop 1512
Alexis designed her Gold Award project to increase children’s knowledge about how to care for the environment. To help deliver her message, she held a series of workshops for children to create art from recycled materials. At the workshops, she also distributed a brochure which she developed to give the participants more tips about recycling. To further spread her message, she wrote an article and posted videos to the East Meadow Patch.
Alexis is a senior at W.T. Clarke High School, where she is a member of the track and cross country teams. She is in the Key Club, Red Cross, and Color Guard, and has volunteered at the Long Island Marathon. She plans to study Radiologic Science at St. John’s University.
Deirdre
Seaford/Wantagh Association
NTA
Deirdre wanted to create a fun-filled day of physical activities for a group of special needs children at Camp Anchor. She researched games and activities that would build endurance, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, accuracy and balance. The field day had an Olympic theme and was a “golden” experience for all who competed, attended, or volunteered. She has left an outline of the event, and it will become an annual event at the camp.
Deirdre is a 2011 graduate of Wantagh High School, where she was a member of the National Art Honor Society, the yearbook committee, and the Leaders Club. She completed her freshman year at Scranton University, where she is in the Student Education Club, and is a tour guide in the Royal Ambassadors.
Claudia
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
The goal of Claudia’s Gold Award project was to encourage younger girls to develop self-esteem and to be aware of media messages that pressure them to look or act in a particular way. After compiling a short collection of video clips that highlighted media messages about body image, Claudia showed the video and then had the girls participate in a variety of activities to underscore her message. The girls also talked about bullying and how it affects everyone, but finally left with a positive message and some skills to help them to cope.
Claudia is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she runs cross country and track & field. She is a member of the Astronomy Club, tutors middle school students, and is a peer responder. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and Art and Spanish Honor Societies. She will attend Cornell University.
Melissa
Seaford/Wantagh Association
Troop 3089
Melissa addressed the issue of declining membership in school and community choirs. She educated children about the importance of music in their lives, encouraging them to attend the Summer Musical Workshop in her community. She created an itinerary of daily events, and a list of performance guests for the musical director to use for future reference. Melissa also created an informative brochure about the summer workshop, and also created pieces to advertise her church’s music ministry and to encourage Girl Scouts to join the GSNC chorus.
Melissa is a 2011 graduate of St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School and has been an active member of St. William’s Music Ministry. She is currently a freshman at Marist College studying psychology, elementary special education, and music and she is a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts.
Alexa
Bellmore Association
Troop 911
Alexa wanted to make a difference in the world by tackling the issue of pollution. She targeted a local park and recruited a group of volunteers to help clean the park and lake. In order to recruit those volunteers, she spoke to various clubs at her school, and to fellow Girl Scouts. By raising their awareness of the problem, she was able to affect a change that will continue beyond her Gold Award project.
Alexa is a senior at W. C. Mepham High School, where she is in the Art Honor Society, Art Service Club, and the Literary Club. She is a runner, enjoys photography and drawing, and advocates for animal rights. Alexa will attend Pratt Institute in the fall.
Daniella
Massapequa Association
Troop 2108
Daniella’s Gold Award project was to educate the community about the importance of recycling. The community recycles at home, but Daniella found that they were not recycling at the beaches and marinas. After speaking to town officials, she was able to have a large recycle igloo installed at the marina. She then spoke to and worked with SPLASH, a volunteer cleanup group, and the Jones Beach Power Squadron to help spread her message.
Daniella is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School, where she is a varsity cheerleader, and participates in Blue and Gold. She is on the Board of the INN and volunteers for Winthrop University Hospital and SPLASH. Daniella is an assistant catechist at her church, and works as a lifeguard. She will attend Catholic University.
Rachel
Floral Park/Bellerose Association
Troop 1635
Rachel’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of low self-esteem among girls. Through dance, and various self-awareness activities, she worked to have the 30 girls in her program think more positively about themselves. Recruiting members of her kick line dance team to help her run her workshops, she was able to provide a week of fun and positive messages for the girls.
Rachel is a senior at Floral Park Memorial High School, and is a member of the National Honor Society, pride committee, and is a PTSA liaison. She also participates in dance and soccer. Outside of school, she volunteers as an altar server at her church, and studies dance. She will attend Quinnipiac University in the fall.
Kate
Merrick Association
NTA
The goal of Kate’s Gold Award project was to make gardening accessible to those with physical disabilities. She built raised planters for the residents of a local nursing home so that they can now enjoy the benefits of being out in the fresh air and working with plants. The garden boxes are also beautifying the grounds of the facility.
Kate is a senior at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, where she is a member of the science club, works on the homecoming committee, and participates in drama improv night. She plans to study biochemistry at Stony Brook University in the fall.
Megan Ann
ELLM Association
Troop 2188
Megan’s Gold Award project addressed the issues of teenage pregnancy and what happens after they have their children. She researched the ongoing needs of residences that serve these young women and their babies, and set up ways to get that information out to the public. After meeting with community members, Megan created a website, flyers, and bookmarks to get people involved and help to get the supplies needed.
Megan is a senior at Sacred Heart Academy and is a member of the Key Club, SADD, and Pink Club. Outside of school, she is a past president of the Lynbrook Squirettes of Mary, volunteers at Winthrop University Hospital, and is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus. She plans to study nursing at Molloy College.
Nicole
WARM Association
Troop 1118
The goal of Nicole’s Gold Award project was to create a medical information form to be used in case of emergency. She hoped that the use of her form would make members of her community more aware of the importance of knowing your medical history in an emergency. Once she had developed her form, she then spoke at many community gatherings in an effort to explain her idea and to distribute the forms.
Nicole is a 2011 graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, where she was a member of the National Honor Society, the Irish Society, SADD, Key Club, and served as a Eucharistic Minister. She is currently attending Adelphi University, where she has received a Gold Award Scholarship. At Adelphi, she is a member of the Newman Club and the Biology Club.
Valentina
Massapequa Association
Troop 2028
Valentina wanted to use her Gold Award project to educate the community about the work of the AMT Children of Hope Foundation. This organization supports teenager mothers that have no place to go with their newborn. After researching the organization, Valentina met with students at her high school, speaking to them from the teen perspective. She also created a display highlighting the main work of the organization. To further help the teen mothers, she was able to fill and distribute baskets with items that their babies would need.
Valentina is a senior at Massapequa High School where she is secretary of the Italian Club and a member of the Broadcasting and Winthrop Health Explorers clubs. She plans to study at Loyola University Maryland majoring in Biology and following a Pre-med program.
Melissa
WARM Association
Troop 1859
Melissa’s Gold Award project addressed the difficulty of making a career choice. As students think about courses to take in high school and college, having a future career in mind could help them to prepare for their futures. She presented a career fair for St. Aidan School which featured speakers from various careers, who were able to speak to the students about their career paths. She also created handouts for the students that would give them more information on this important topic.
Melissa is a junior at Kellenberg Memorial High School, where she is a member of Sodality, Catholics Reaching Out Spreading Spirituality, the Student Organization, and Science Olympiad. She is an altar server at her church.
Victoria
Manhasset Association
Troop 517
Victoria’s Gold Award project was initially planned to beautify her community, but in the execution, it became much more, as it brought children together to express what “community” means. Working with a group of children from a local community center, Victoria talked with them about what community means to them, and then led them to interpret their thoughts in a mural that they painted at the community center.
Victoria is a senior at Manhasset High School where she is a member of the Best Buddies club and works with autistic children through the afterschool BOCES program. She is a member of the varsity swim team, and the Key Club, and is a member of the Manhasset Junior Coalition Against Breast Cancer. Victoria plans to attend Trinity College.
Jillian
Manhasset Association
Troop 513
Jillian focused her Gold Award project on the issue of childhood obesity. Knowing the odds for increased risk of health problems, as well as the impact on self-esteem, she designed a clinic that gave children some education about healthy eating and the importance of exercise. Jillian and her volunteers introduced different sports, showing the children how to incorporate activity into their everyday lives. She also educated them about healthy food choices and maintaining overall health.
Jillian is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is on the track team, and is a member of the international club, marching band, and peer responders. She also volunteers at Palisades Medical Center. Jillian will attend the University of Michigan in the fall.
Courtney
Bellmore Association
Troop 924
Courtney and her sister Girl Scout Jacqueline Nuñez wanted to improve their environment by educating the community about the benefits of composting. The girls researched the issue and created informational brochures on the topic, as well as building a 3-section compost bin that was installed at the Oceanside Marine Nature Study area. To further spread their message, the girls created a PowerPoint presentation and posted several videos on YouTube.
Courtney is a junior at W.C. Mepham High School, where she is in the drama club (working on the stage crew), and is in the art club and photography club. Courtney works as a Camp Aide at GSNC’s Summer Fun Day Camp and volunteers at Camp HorseAbility.
Alexandra
Manhasset Association
Troop 522
Alexandra’s Gold Award project was designed to educate children in grades 5 through 8 about the contributions of the men and women who presently serve in the military, and of military veterans. Alex ran workshops at which she provided information on the branches of the service, military holidays, and flag etiquette. To make her topic come alive, she also invited several local veterans to share their experiences from World War II and the Korean War. The children who attended her workshops then created cards and gift bags which were distributed to veterans on November 11th (Veterans Day).
Alexandra is a senior at Manhasset High School where she has been on the varsity softball team since middle school. She is a member of the National Honor Society, and honor societies for art and Spanish. She is also a member of the Be Like Rachel club. Alex will attend Emerson College.
Allison
Manhasset Association
Troop 513
The goal of Allison’s Gold Award project was to immerse students in a world of different kinds of music and instruments. Allison saw that many school children begin lessons on an instrument without having had the opportunity to experiment and explore many different instruments. She ran a series of workshops for a group of summer campers in an effort to spark an interest and open doors to help them pursue music and its benefits, both emotional and intellectual.
Allison is a senior at Manhasset High School, where she is in the select choir ensemble, marching band, symphonic choir, and works on the literary magazine. She plans to attend New York Universityin the fall.
Celina
WARM Association
Troop 1859
Celina designed her Gold Award project to help the students at her school gain more understanding of the deaf community. Working with an advisor from the Mill Neck School for the Deaf, she developed lesson plans and activities and then ran a series of workshops at which she taught her classmates the basics of American Sign Language and gave them some insights into deaf culture.
Celina is a junior at Sacred Heart Academy, where she is a member of the speech and debate club, and in the band. Outside of school, Celina volunteers at a Hofstra summer camp program, takes art classes, and is an active member of her church.
Anna
East Meadow Association
Troop 1476
Anna wanted teens on Long Island to be aware of all the choices they have for community service opportunities. She did research into the various community agencies and organizations in our area, and then created a guide and PowerPoint presentation. She presented her information at local schools and churches, and left her guide with the local library, school, and church so that students needing or wanting to do community service would be able to choose the service that is most meaningful to them.
Anna is a senior at East Meadow High School where she is a member of the Italian Honor Society and the environmental club. She is a volunteer at St. Brigid’s Church, where she teaches Sunday school. She plans to attend LIU Post.
Ashley
Hardscrabble Association
Troop 3504
Ashley has spent many hours volunteering for HorseAbility, a program that gives children with special needs the chance to participate in a therapeutic horseback riding program. To raise awareness of the work of this program, she held a carnival event for the community. By bringing people together for a day of fun, she was able to educate them about the work of HorseAbility, and bring in a new group of volunteers and clients for the program.
Ashley is a senior at Holy Trinity High School, where she is on the varsity kickline, and a member of student council, volunteer club, the band and the National Honor Society. She will attend Hartwick College.