2007 Gold Awardees
 The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a girl can achieve in Girl Scouting. In the past it was also called the Golden Eaglet, the First Class and the Curved Bar Award. The Gold Award is the culmination of a Senior Girl Scout's experience in Girl Scouting. It encourages the girl to reflect on her accomplishments, goals, resources and obstacles, and gives her the responsibility of planning and implementing her own leadership/community service project. It really gives the girl the opportunity to give back to the community all she has learned in Girl Scouting.
To earn her Gold Award a girl must complete four steps before being interviewed - four Interest Project Patches, Career Exploration, leadership hours and a Senior Girl Scout Challenge. At her interview, she presents her Gold Award Project Plan. Her project should meet an expressed need in the community and reach beyond the Girl Scouting community. The project has a time requirement of a minimum of 65 hours.
Meet our 2007 Gold Award recipients.
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Patricia O'Neill
Hicksville Association
Troop 3367
Patricia's Appalachian Awareness Clothing Drive helped to educate the people in her community about the needs of people living in Kermit , West Virginia . She collected clothes, she washed, sorted and packed the clothes, then she and her mother packed a U-Haul and set out to Kermit. While there they toured the town and met with officials from Christian Help, Inc. After returning to Long Island, Patricia met with a Brownie Troop at Central Boulevard School to describe the project and her trip to West Virginia . She is working with the Brownie Troop and girls from Kermit to exchange scrapbooks telling about themselves. Patricia is a junior at St. Anthony's High School in Huntington where she is involved with the stage crew and H.O.P.E. – Help Save Our Earth. She volunteers at New Island Hospital .
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Katherine Ann Ortutay
Great Neck Association
Troop 622
Educating her community on fire safety and thanking the local Fire Department was the goal of Katherine's Gold Award project, titled “Cooking for the Firemen.” With the help of local businesses, Katherine a senior at Wm. A. Shine Great Neck South High School thanked Manhasset Lakeville Fire Department Company #5 by cooking them meals on nights they were not able to eat with their families. Katherine learned about fire prevention and safety and shared that with her community. When Katherine is not busy playing volleyball, basketball and lacrosse, she spends her time as a member of the Hispanic Club, Girls Varsity Club and the Fashion Show Club at her high school. In the fall, Katherine will be a freshman at Adelphi University .
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Rachel L. Pantorno
Hardscrabble
Troop 3504
Rachel's project, “Tutoring in Detention,” was designed to make detention a more productive place for students at Farmingdale Senior High School , where she is in 12trh grade. Although detention is seen as punishment, Rachel found that many students were there due to educational issues and felt that both the students and the school would benefit from tutoring. Rachel recruited volunteer peer tutors from the National Honor Society and worked closely with school staff to implement the program. She is confident that her experience with this project will aid her as she works to become a teacher. Rachel is President of TriM Music Honor Society, Vice-President of the Italian Honor Society, Co-President and Vocal Coach for Playcrafters Theatre Group, Competition Concertmistress for Orchestra, Principal 2 nd Violin in Chamber Orchestra, President of Mixed Chorus and participates in Mixed Jazz. Outside of school, Rachel has been a music staff intern at USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, a vocal coach and a tutor for math, English and Italian. Rachel will attend Hofstra University , majoring in Music Education, and has been awarded a Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship.
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Elizabeth Marie Pavacic
Hicksville Association
Troop 3002
Elizabeth wanted to increase awareness of CHARGE Syndrome, a genetic condition evidencing a rare pattern of birth defects, some of which affect hearing and vision. She developed an education presentation about CHARGE, which was used to educate the public about this condition. Many children with CHARGE can benefit from cochlear implants, and Elizabeth 's Gold Award Project also benefited these children. She organized a group of student musicians to record a CD of classical music, which was provided to patients with hearing impairments, in an effort to improve their listening skills. Elizabeth is a senior at Sachem East High School , where she is a member of the Track & Field Team, Swim Team, Italian Club, and National Honor Society. Her interest in medicine carries over into her volunteer life, with her work at St. Charles Hospital . She will attend College of the Holy Cross, where she has been accepted into the Pre-Med program. |
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Elizabeth Pelly
Massapequa Association
Troop 2081
Elizabeth 's “Arts for Awareness” project was created to bring awareness to such critical issues as global warming, the crisis in Darfur , sweatshop labor, and unethical business practices, as well as a host of medical concerns that were stirred by her personal connections to individuals suffering with Alzheimer's disease and Cystic Fibrosis. Working with her twin sister, Jennifer Pelly, the girls produced a local arts/music showcase at Massapequa High school that was attended by over 100 people. The daylong event featured local musicians, artists and photographers. Following the event, www.artsforawareness.org was established to help other students produce similar events. The girls have been invited to assist on projects at Wantagh High School and at Sunrise Mall. Elizabeth is a senior at Massapequa High School , where she has been managing editor of The Chief , the student newspaper, worked on Visions student magazine and has served as a Class Officer each year. She received a 2007 scholarship award from New York Women in Communications. She is a member of SADD, Girls Against Peer Pressure, and the National Honor Society. Elizabeth has been a stringer for CosmoGirl magazine and a contributor to the Long Island Press, who awarded her their 2006 Journalism Award. Elizabeth will pursue a degree in journalism at Boston University and has set her sites on being a magazine journalist for the New York Times . |
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Jennifer Pelly
Massapequa Association
Troop 2081
Jennifer's “Arts for Awareness” project was designed to educate the community by raising awareness of today's most important issues. Jennifer and her sister, Liz Pelly, produced a local arts/music showcase attended by over 100 people, which received media coverage. The event included an array of awareness booths, guest speakers and activist groups. Issues addressed included Cystic Cibrosis, Alzheimer's disease, AIDS, and global warming. Following the event, www.artsforawareness.org was established to help other students produce similar events; the girls have continued to speak to community groups. They hope to soon move beyond a website and create a trademarked not-for-profit organization that will benefit communities worldwide. Jennifer is a senior at Massapequa High School, where she has worked on the student newspaper, The Chief , and Visions , the literature and art magazine. She received a 2007 Quill Award for High School Journalism. She is a member of the Digital Photography Club, SADD, Girls Against Peer Pressure, Surf Rider Club, and the National Honor Society. Jennifer has been a stringer for CosmoGirl magazine and a contributor to the Long Island Press . She is a new member of New York Women in Communications, who have awarded her their 2007 New York Women in Communications Scholarship. Jennifer will attend Fordham University at the Manhattan campus and plans to continue her career in journalism. |
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Lauren Pendergast
Hardscrabble
Troop 3154
Lauren worked with senior centers and St. Agnes Young at Heart in Brooklyn for her “Emergency Medical Card” project. She provided over 175 individuals with wallet-sized cards containing their own important medical information, including medication dosages taken regularly, medical histories, allergies, contact information for themselves and their physicians, etc. These cards can be lifesaving in case of medical emergencies, as well as provide convenience and accuracy when meeting with healthcare providers. Lauren is a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School where she is co-leader for the Blue and Gold Jazz Team, a member of Sodality, History Club and National Honor Society. She is a member of the choir at St. James and a member of LifeTeen at St. Martin of Tours, where she also enjoys working with the children. Lauren plans to attend Providence College in Rhode Island . |
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Christina L. Pietras
East Meadow Association
Troop 1062
Christina's Gold Award project, titled “Cyber Safety,” tackled an important issue for parents today. Christina taught middle school children how to be safe on the Internet and on MySpace through a PowerPoint presentation she created. She conducted two presentations: one for parents and a separate presentation, which included fun activities, for the students. Christina and her sister Girl Scout, Alexandra Taliana, gave parents and children in their community the tools they need to stay safe on the Internet. |
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Chelsea Plesnitzer
ELLM Association
Troop 2234
Chelsea Plesnitzer's Gold Award project “Seniors Helping Seniors” will have a lasting impact on the residents at the Sterling Glen Assisted Living Home. Chelsea and her partner Gen McHugh collected large print books to donate to the senior assisted living center's existing library. The girls facilitated a weekly book club for the residents of the home, which continues. A freshman at Binghamton University , Chelsea is the co-chair of community service for her sorority Delta Phi Epsilon. Chelsea has been in two plays at the university and plays volleyball. |
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Amanda Rankin
Valley Stream Association
Troop 2051
Amanda Rankin, a senior at Sacred Heart Academy , wanted to alert the public about the hardships of teenage pregnancy. As part of her Gold Award project “Heighten Awareness of Teen Pregnancy and its Effects,” she hosted lectures on the topic and the after affects, with a focus on prevention. She donated items she collected from her community to the young women and children at Momma's House. Amanda has a new respect for these young girls, who after being abandoned by their families still had the courage to keep and care for their babies. At school, Amanda is a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Defenders – a mock trial group, and Amnesty International. She also volunteers at Mercy Medical Center and the Garden City Bird Sanctuary. In the fall, Amanda will be attending college full time. |
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Kelly M. Robinson
East Meadow Association
Troop 1472
Kelly's goal for her Gold Award project titled, “Kick, Punch, Defend Your Way to Knowledge” was to teach girls in her community the proper skills to defend themselves. Kelly believes that all girls should have this basic knowledge in case they ever get into a situation where they need to defend themselves. Kelly asked her Karate school to donate the time and place so she could teach classes to girls in her community. She taught the girls about how to avoid the need for violence in addition to teaching them how to protect themselves and get out of a bad situation by using karate. Kelly is a junior at East Meadow High School where she is a member of the American Sign Language Honor Society, National Honor Society, Theatre Guild, Book Club, Guitar Club, Asian Cultural Club, Tech Crew, GSA and the orchestra. Kelly is also a part of Boy Scout Venture Crew, has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and holds a part-time job.
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Jennifer Roth
Hardscrabble Association
Troop 3504
“Creations of Inspiration” is the title of Jennifer's Gold Award project. The goal of her project was to help children deal with the loss of a loved one. Jennifer painted a 12' x 6'8” montage at 9/11 Forward, an affiliate of South Nassau Communities Hospital showing children working together to create positive ideas. Jennifer is a senior at Our Lady of Mercy Academy where she is a member of the Select Choir, Band, Windows (a literary magazine ,) National Art Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. Jennifer loves horse back riding and swimming and is a member of the Lindenhurst Swim Team. In the fall Jennifer plans to attend college and major in animation. |
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Cassandra Rowan
Freeport Association
Troop 2540
Cassandra's Gold Award Project is titled “Read What You Like!,” and involved children ages 5 to 13 at Vacation Bible Camp. Cassandra wanted to share her love of reading. With the knowledge that not all children like to read, Cassandra researched different ways she could help children to enjoy reading by participating in creating their own book. Each child contributed to the story, illustrated their part of the story and then assembled the books to take home and read. Cassandra is a freshman at Quinnipiac University . In her spare time she volunteers at her church, is a swim coach and a lifeguard. |
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Marissa Ryan
Seaford/Wantagh Association
Troop 3081
Marissa has been volunteering at Our Holy Redeemer soup kitchen since she was in seventh grade. She has been deeply affected by the many people who use the soup kitchen and wanted to do something, beyond her usual volunteer duties, to benefit them. Marissa's Gold Award project titled, “Holiday Warm Up” helped her fulfill that desire. Through her recruitment of knitters and crocheters she was able to assemble goody bags filled with crocheted or knitted scarves and hats. In addition, she spoke to many local groups to coordinate donation of socks, gloves, food items, toiletries, handmade holiday cards, and homemade cookies. Marissa is a senior at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School where she is a member of the wind ensemble, the marching band and chamber ensemble. She is also a member of the National, Tri-Music, National Spanish and National English Honor Societies. Her other volunteer work includes the St. William the Abbot Folk Group and Vacation Bible School . In the fall Marissa will be attending Marist College . |
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