Lynbrook resident, Sheila Dempsey, a student at Lynbrook High School, performed an astonishing act of kindness and goodwill toward her neighbors. She conceived, designed, developed and carried out a project that required a bare minimum of 50 hours of service to the community. For her hard work and dedication, Sheila has achieved the highest honor in Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Art therapy has been known to enhance the recovery period for hospitalized children. With this in mind, Sheila targeted her project to help the children in the Pediatric Unit at Mercy Medical Center by supplying them with activity kits. She went to great lengths in her community to collect donations for her project – contacting her former elementary school, speaking before a televised village board meeting and advertising in the local newspaper. Sheila was able to provide more than 100 kits, each with a coloring book, activity pad, crayons, playing cards and other items that would keep young patients occupied and creative during their stay at the hospital. Sheila is a junior at Lynbrook High School where she participates in Lacrosse, Swimming, Winter Track and ACE (Athletes Creating Excellence).

"Forty-one young women earned their Gold Award this year,” said Donna Ceravolo, Executive Director of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc. "We are so proud of each and everyone of them.”

“Girl Scouts who achieve the Gold Award demonstrate character and perseverance as well as impeccable time management and organizational skills. They have joined an elite group of American women who are part of the Girl Scouts of the USA's Gold Award Alliance," she said.

On June 4th, at a ceremony at SUNY College at Old Westbury, the Girl Scouts of Nassau County honored 41 Senior Girl Scouts between the ages of 16 and 18. The Girl Scout Gold Award is a culmination of all that has been learned and experienced as a Girl Scout.

It affords the teen the opportunity to learn about arts and humanities, cultural and global relations, personal well-being, technology and science, and any one of the innumerable issues facing young women right now. The Gold Award project helps Senior Girl Scouts develop leadership skills and explore career paths. Overall, the Gold Awards require a commitment of two years on the part of each young woman.

In addition to Sheila project, other notable projects include: self esteem seminars, sports clinics, and workshops for animal awareness.

Girl Scouts is the world’s largest volunteer organization for girls and young women ages 5 through 17. The Girl Scouts provide girls with learning opportunities, which empower them to realize their full potential and have fun with their peers in a supportive environment. More than 50 million girls have grown up into confident and strong women since Girl Scouts of the USA was founded 91 years ago.

For further information about the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, call Donna Rivera-Downey, Director Marketing at 516/741-2550, extension 260.