Erika Reckert

Erika wanted to help children in the Spanish-speaking community in Oyster Bay to maintain and improve their English speaking abilities over their summer vacation. Working with sister Girl Scout Danielle Del Rosso, Erika planned a variety of fun activities that would reinforce the things the ESL students in her community learned during the school year, thus making the transition back to school in September. As a senior at St. Dominic High School , Erika has been involved with SADD, Student Ambassadors, Varsity Lacrosse, and the yearbook staff. She also volunteers with other community groups, is a Eucharistic Minister, and plays club soccer when she is not working at one of her two jobs. Erika plans to attend Rhodes College in Memphis , Tennessee in the fall.

Jessica Remsen

Oceanside Association

Troop 2147

Wanting to share the good times of Girl Scouting with a group of younger girls led Jessica to her Gold Award project. Knowing that her community had a group of kindergarten girls who were waiting for Girl Scout Leaders, Jessica and her partner, Jackie Karakus, decided to take on the role of Troop Leader for those girls. The girls in the Troop were able to work on Girl Scout activities, while their families saw firsthand how Girl Scouting turns girls into leaders. Jessica is in 10 th grade at Oceanside High School , where she is on the track team. She also teaches Sunday school at First Presbyterian Church in Oceanside .

Erica Reszitnyk

Oceanside Association

Troop 2147

Erica Reszitnyk's “Art in the Community” project was designed to expose school children to various art forms. Working in a local school, she met with a group of children once a week for six weeks to do activities, which included beadwork, macramé and making a windsock. Both Erica and the students with whom she worked gained new skills and an appreciation for different ways of creating art. Erica is a tenth grader at Oceanside High School where she is involved with track and photography. Her hobbies include horseback riding and volunteering.

Sara Roberson

Merrick Association

Troop 2358

Bringing people closer to their natural surroundings was the goal of Sara's project. While many people respect nature, they are not necessarily as aware of what nature has to offer as they could be. Sara set up workshops that allowed the participants to experience nature up close. The workshops, related to wildlife and birds of prey, were held at Tackapausha Park and Preserve, and were open to the public. Aside from increasing people's knowledge, Sara also hoped to increase respect for nature and wildlife and consequently to foster their preservation in our community.

A senior at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore , Sara is a 2006 Intel Competition Semi-finalist, an All-County flutist, and is the Photo Editor of the literary magazine. She is an active volunteer with the Merrick Fire Department and is the Assistant Cultural Ambassador of VASA (Swedish Order of America). She will attend Sewanee – The University of the South, where she has received a Chancellors Scholarship.

Valerie Roberti

Central Park Association

Troop 3018

Safety was the theme of Valerie's project, “Project Equal Opportunity for Children.” Valerie coordinated a safety festival to teach children about safety and to collect donations for 15 backpacks filled with school supplies for the young victims of hurricane Katrina. Valerie received support from her mother and her Girl Scout Troop Leaders, as well as support and donations from local businesses. She is a senior at Plainview/Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, involved in her school's orchestra and Tri-M. In her spare time, Valerie tutors viola, baby-sits, is part of a youth group and is involved at her church. Valerie will attend Oswego University next fall.

Samantha Rosen

Pamela Jenny Rosenbaum

Pamela worked with younger girls in her Association to help them earn a Try-It or Junior Badge, while also helping to brighten the surroundings at local senior centers and nursing homes. Working with sister Girl Scout Laura Lorito, they guided the girls through the creative process as they decorated flower pots and created paper flowers for the colorful containers. The donation of the flowers to the senior citizens helped to create a bridge between the generations and was a positive experience for all involved. Pamela is a graduate of East Meadow High School where she was a member of Key Club. She has completed her first year of study at Cornell University and is a flutist in Big Red Marching Band. Pamela has also been active with United Synagogue Youth.

Lisa Rosenberg

Manhasset Association

Troop 515

Lisa's Gold Award Project was begun with the goal of teaching some dance moves and choreography to a group of girls who attend the summer program at the Manhasset-Great Neck Economic Opportunity Center . She found that the girls were passionate about dance, and the project really took on a new perspective as she realized how much the girls wanted to learn. The result was an original and unique dance routine that was performed by the girls on the last day of camp. Not only did the girls learn more about dance, but the entire group, including Lisa, also developed a sense of community.

A senior at Manhasset High School , Lisa is a member of the Latin Honor Society and International Thespian Honor Society. In her free time she enjoys music in all its forms – dancing, singing, and playing guitar. She plans to attend Northeastern University in the fall.

Stacey Rosenberg

East Meadow

Troop 1266

Stacey's firsthand experience living and studying in Israel brought into focus the need for better programs spotlighting that country for students here in the U.S. She wanted to give students at her synagogue a connection with Israel that would speak to people in her age group. Drawing upon her own experiences, she developed and taught a ten-week curriculum that dealt with many aspects of Israeli geography, history and culture. Her lesson plans will enable future students to increase their connection with the country of Israel and its importance to all aspects of the Jewish community.

Stacey is a senior at W. Tresper Clarke High School, where she is a member of National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society, and is in the Drama Club. She performs with the Chamber Ensemble and sings in her temple choir. Stacey will be attending Wells College in the fall.

Sarah Ross

Oceanside Association

Troop 2123

Sarah's love for the arts and all that is beautiful inspired her “UUCCN Beautification Project.” Sarah motivated the senior youth group at her church to create bulletin boards as well as various art projects to decorate the halls of the church and the senior youth room. She personally created a large painting for that room. With help from her family, her Girl Scout Leader and other community members, Sarah's project inspired her and other members of her congregation to continue improving the décor of the church. Sarah is a sophomore at South Side High School where she is a member of Art Club, Amnesty International and Film Club. Sarah also plays piano, loves to paint, is part of Girl Scouts of Nassau County's Way to Art program and is a member of the UUCCN Youth Service Committee.

Margaret Ann Rusch

Plainedge Association

Troop 3500

Margaret's project “Girl Scout Reporter” increased public awareness of what the Girl Scout organization has to offer. Margaret had 14 articles published in three different newspapers; this helped to increase membership in her Association and awareness in the community as a whole. As a senior at Our Lady of Mercy Academy, Margaret is a member of the Spanish Club, the Mentors Club, Pro-Life Club and the dance company. In her parish, she is the assistant to the children's choirmaster, and also volunteers for United Cerebral Palsy, American Cancer Society, Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, the Waterfront Center and Girl Scouts of Nassau County. Margaret has been dancing for 14 years, and in the fall she will be a freshman at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield , Connecticut.