Danielle Amisano

Oceanside Association

Troop 2049

Danielle wanted to bridge the generation gap and bring mothers and daughters together. In a joint project titled “Crocheting 101: Bridging the Generations” with Michele Misitano, Danielle not only found a venue for mothers and daughters to work together, she also supplied Winthrop University Hospital with 100 baby hats. Danielle had to first learn how to crochet so she could teach anyone in the two crocheting circles who didn't know how to crochet. Enlisting the help of local merchants, family and friends, she exceeded her original goal to make 80 infant hats. Danielle is a 2005 graduate of Oceanside High School and is now a freshman at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst . She is a former member of the Key Club and participated in Sports Night during high school. She was also involved in dance and participated in dance competitions. She is now part of her university's College Ballroom Dance Competition Team.

Jeanne Marie Anderson

Plainedge Association

Troop 3502

With a love for science and teaching, Jeanne's project was the perfect vehicle for her to test those skills and reinforce her desire to teach science. “To Infinity and Beyond” gave a group of 4 th and 5 th grade girls the opportunity to learn about the worlds around them. Through the use of an indoor planetarium, a speaker from Grumman, telescopes to look at the stars and crafts, these girls had a wonderful, fun learning experience. Jeanne had assistance from teachers, leaders, community members and sister Scouts. As a senior at Plainedge High School who has been in Key Club, Spanish Club and Art Club, Jeanne used the skills she learned to make her event a success. Being part of a two-week program at Space Camp in Alabama, the Jason Project at BOCES, Breast Cancer walks, Autistim walk, handicap basketball and other extra-curricular activities make Jeanne an asset to College Misericordia, where she will be a freshman next September.

Kelly Basacchi

Island Beach Association

Troop 2183

Kelly's project was making ornaments for the New York State tree for the Christmas Pageant of Peace held in Washington , DC . With the help of community members, family and friends, Kelly brought the community of Long Beach together to work on a national project that represented New York in a pageant held in our nation's capital. Working with Kristen Tomaszewski, the communities of Long Beach and Island Park shipped off boxes of globes to be hung on the New York State tree for the 2005 holiday season. As a junior at Long Beach High School , Kelly is on the track team, sings in the Chorus and is involved with her high school's musical.

Christina Becker

Park Association

Troop 1520

Christina Becker's project, “Recreational Opportunities Despite Disabilities,” provided various activities for developmentally disabled adults in a group home setting. Christina learned sign language and put together a program for people who have trouble integrating into the hearing world. Christina is the Captain of her kickline squad, yearbook Editor and a member of the Foreign Language Honor Society at New Hyde Park Memorial High School where she is a senior. Christina would like to pursue a career in adolescent education and special education.

Kendra Bigl

Port Washington Association

Troop 407

Kendra's passion for the ocean and our natural waterways translated into a Gold Award Project. Through activities with younger girls, such as a quiz, an interactive story, and a SCUBA/snorkel presentation, Kendra was able to excite her audiences about the importance of protecting our oceans and beaches.

Kendra has been home schooled, and spent the past two years cruising with her family aboard their 57-foot sailing catamaran. They have traveled throughout the eastern United States and Caribbean , where she has participated in snorkeling and diving, and has developed her Spanish language skills. She will attend Boston College in the fall.

Melissa Boo

Hardscrabble Association

Troop 3221

Melissa used her talents as a knitter to produce warm scarves for a local homeless shelter. In addition to her many hours of knitting the scarves, she enlisted other volunteers, taught them to knit and encouraged them to join in her effort. Thanks to Melissa's “needling,” she and her group were able to present 30 hand-knit scarves to a very appreciative clientele.

Melissa is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School where she participates in Dance Team, Poetry Club, Sodality, and works on the school newspaper and literary magazine. Melissa is also a trained volunteer for the Girl Scouts of Nassau County's Critical Issues Initiative and speaks to groups on the issue of Relational Aggression. She plans to attend the College of New Jersey in the fall.

Catherine Bucaria

Rockville Centre Association

Troop 823

Catherine wanted to encourage younger children, especially girls, to become more interested in science. Through a series of workshops that incorporated fun and exciting activities, she and a group of other teenage girls led more than 100 children in “Science Day” activities. The groups she targeted were girls from Rockville Centre, including girls from an after school program held at the Hispanic Counseling Center . Her “Science Days” enabled all who attended to have fun with science through hands-on activities.

Catherine is a Junior at Sacred Heart Academy where she is a member of the National Honor Society and Science National Honor Society, Math Team, Irish Club, newspaper staff, and Soccer Team. She also serves her community by coordinating an annual parish school supply drive, as an altar server, library volunteer/intern and Little League umpire.

Teresa Ciaccio

Manhasset Association

Troop 515

The teen room at the EOC Community Center in Manhasset was a very plain and uninviting place. Using her flair for design, and enlisting the support of many members of the community, Teresa was able to transform the space into a welcoming and comfortable retreat for teens at the Center. She got input from the staff and students who use the facility, and then moved forward with painting and carpeting the space. She also collected donations of furniture, including sofas, a TV and stand, video games, and even a refrigerator. The teens are enjoying the new amenities and are taking an interest in maintaining the new décor, while the younger children are looking forward to the time when they will be able to use the Teen Room.

Teresa is a senior at Manhasset High School where she is an honor student and is involved in acting and singing. She also sings in her church choir, and works as a tutor. She will attend Brown University in the fall.

Kristie D'Ambrosio

Seaford/Wantagh Association

Troop 3268

“Supporting Military Families” was the aim of Kristie's Gold Award project. After connecting with the local military base, she recruited a corps of volunteers, and offered a variety of services for the military families. She set up a mother's helper service, volunteered at a Christmas party, and organized a group of younger Girl Scouts to make and donate Easter baskets to the children of these families.

Kristie is a senior at Wantagh High School , where she is active in student government, and is a member of the Science Olympiad Team, and the varsity swimming and diving team. She will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall.

Natalie Daurio

Seaford/Wantagh Association

Troop 3268

Natalie's project, “Security Blankets,” supplied the charity Project Linus with handmade blankets for sick children. She utilized her ability to motivate community leaders, local clubs, churches and businesses to donate all the supplies and materials she needed and to donate 50 blankets in addition to the blankets she sewed and designed herself. Natalie, a senior, is involved in student government, varsity track and Science Olympiad at Wantagh High. In her spare time Natalie is a Sunday school teacher, a ballet student teacher and a lifeguard. In the fall she will be attending Syracuse University.

Danielle Del Rosso

Bay Association

NTA

Danielle's project was to help children in the Spanish-speaking community improve and maintain their English speaking abilities over their summer vacation. Working with sister Girl Scout Erika Reckert, Danielle planned reading, crafts, and various games to reinforce the things the ESL students in her community learned during the school year, thus making the transition back to school in September an easier one. As a senior at Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, Danielle has been involved with the Volunteer Club, Foreign Language Week, Social Studies Club and SADD. Danielle also volunteers in her community at Momma's House in Jericho, loves to dance and is a sailing instructor. In the fall she will be attending Skidmore College.

Michelle Dubuke

Hardscrabble Association

Troop 3154

When students need extra help with an academic subject, they have limited options. If they cannot afford to pay for professional tutors, they may not be able to get the help they need. Michelle decided to recruit a group of qualified honor students as volunteer tutors. She then advertised this service, and matched up requests with the appropriate volunteer. This match benefited the student in need, as evidenced by higher grades, and also helped the volunteer tutors to become more effective communicators and teachers.

Michelle is a 2005 graduate of Farmingdale High School , and has just completed her freshman year at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester , Massachusetts .

Erin Farrell

Plainedge Association

Troop 3500

Erin drew on her love for animals to both educate and entertain children and collect supplies for animal shelters. Creating a beautiful color brochure and a one hour workshop, Erin taught children from kindergarten to second grade about caring for and owning a pet. Erin's parents, her Girl Scout Leaders, and her Gold Award Advisor were very helpful in providing her with guidance and motivation to make her project successful. Erin is a junior at Kellenberg Memorial High School and participates in the Catholic League and the Leaders Club. In Erin's spare time she continues to collect and donate to both Bide-A-Wee and the Humane Society.

Regina Fox

Plainedge Association

Troop 3502

Regina Fox set out to make the world more aware of the important contributions that deaf people make to both the culture of the deaf world and the culture of the hearing world, through her project, “Deaf Awareness.” She held workshops for younger Girl Scouts and her peers, teaching them more about the world of the deaf, to demonstrate that deaf and hearing people are more alike than they are different. She included a presentation on American Sign Language. Regina is a senior at Massapequa High School where she has served as the head photographer and photo editor for the school newspaper and is the drum majorette for the band. For the past six years, she has been a competitive dancer. Regina is a counselor at Girl Scouts of Nassau County's Summer Fun Day Camp and is employed by Starbucks. Regina plans to enter Marymount College in the fall.