Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony
Saturday, June 7, 2025 2pm
Muriel H. Morabito Community Center
29 Westbrook Drive
Cortlandt Manor, NY 10567
Roxanna, we are so proud of you and all of your accomplishments that you have made. Cannot wait to see what life has ahead for you. Love, Mom, Dad
Congratulations Haley on this incredible achievement!
Isabella, Matthew, Grandma, Sammy, Deedee, Amiyah
Your Gold Award project “Music Mentors” has truly connected our community through music! We are so Mom, Dad, and Joey
Congratulations Cora on completing your Gold Award!
You changed the world!
Love Mom, Dad and Jared
Gold Award Girl Scouts Change the World
Gold Award Girl Scouts are change-makers. They have changed the world, changed their lives, and earned the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting.
To earn the Gold Award, a Girl Scout identifies an issue in their community, drafts a plan to address a root cause, and leads a team of volunteers to implement it. When the project is complete, the Gold Award Girl Scout and their team have made a sustainable impact on the world that continues to last beyond their involvement.
It’s a huge accomplishment that also impacts the Gold Award Girl Scout as a person. How they see the world—and how the world sees them—is forever changed. It’s also a credential that will be with them for the rest of their life; having the Girl Scout Gold Award on a high school transcript or resume can make a Girl Scout stand out when it comes to college admissions, scholarship applications, internships, and job interviews.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life as they work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them.
Thank You Gold Award Mentors!
Gold Award Mentors are the incredible volunteers who have been trained by our council to assist girls in becoming Gold Award Girl Scouts.
These mentors put forth a tremendous amount of time and dedication to guide and support Gold Award Girl Scouts. They attend monthly meetings, approve projects, act as a constant resource, answer questions, lend a hand, and ensure the Gold Award requirements for each project are fulfilled to GSUSA and Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson standards.
It is their tireless work, long hours, open ears, and gentle guidance that help mold Gold Award Girl Scouts into strong, independent leaders who become courageous and optimistic world-changers. They show by example what it takes to make the world a better place.
Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson cannot thank these volunteers enough for their commitment, and hope that you will join us in extending your gratitude to all the Gold Award Mentors today and always, as we celebrate the 2025 Gold Award Girl Scouts.
Girl Scout Mission
Girl Scout Promise
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
*Members may substitute for the word God in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.
Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson, Inc. Board of Directors
Officers:
Kim Barnett-President
Pat Allen-Vice President
Lori MacDonald-Treasurer
Liz Kaufman-Secretary
Dr. Kari L. Rockwell - Chief Executive Officer
Ex-Officio
Members at Large:
Davina Angus
Elissa Chessari
Nancy Greco
Donna Halperin
Gale Hauck
Trevis Hinds
Joseph Melito
Lorraine O’Donnell
Jean Zappia
Girl Board Director:
Natalie-Olivia Corn
Lilly Fauci
Gold Award Girl Scouts
Class of 2024
Adelia Bandsma
Scarsdale’s Hometown Heroes
Troop 1953
Scarsdale/Edgemont Service Unit
The Scarsdale Hometown Heroes project is Military tribute banners honoring veterans with a connection to Scarsdale. Hometown Heroes is a project that started in Pennsylvania and has spread nationwide. Adelia brought this project to Scarsdale to celebrate and honor hometown heroes. The military tribute banners have brought awareness of veterans in the town’s midst. A hero could live right next door and you might not even know it. She wants people in Scarsdale to feel part of something larger than just their town. Just by seeing the banners, residents will learn that there are people who live here who have risked or even sacrificed their lives for their country, their security and their freedom. Especially now that WWII veterans, the “greatest generation,” are almost all gone, it is necessary to keep their memories and ideals of democracy and freedom alive.
Class of 2025
Natalie Barillaro
Mind Matters
Troop 1239
Croton Service Unit
Natalie’s Gold Award project focused on creating a place in her high school for students, by students, that was a safe place for them to go for support or education. Through her high school career, she has seen the stigma that surrounds mental health, and it fueled her drive to create an environment where everyone is accepted. Knowing how isolating it can be to struggle alone, she knew everyone deserved a space to share their story. Getting to work with the JCK Foundation through the Legends Club on this project allowed her to dive deeper into topics like anxiety and seasonal depression. Through her advocacy, she hoped to inspire others to check in on those close to them, and empower others to prioritize their mental well being.
After Graduation: Attending Binghamtom University
Class
of 2025
Haley Berger
Music Mentors
Troop 2283
Briarcliff/Pocantico Hills Service Unit
For Haley’s Gold Award project, she founded a free music tutoring program in her community called “Music Mentors.” This music tutoring program matched volunteer high school musicians to middle and elementary school tutees to allow younger musicians improve in music and inspire them to stay involved and interested in music throughout high school. Since starting the project in 2023, there have been over 50 participants in Music Mentors each year from the orchestra, band and chorus. As a clarinetist, Haley chose this project because she has always felt a special connection to the music community and wanted other students to feel this connection as well. She is proud that she and her team have created a successful program that runs completely for free with volunteers and is excited that it will continue to connect her community through music for years to come.
After Graduation: Attending Brown University
Class of 2025
Carlie Cambria
Spreading Roots
Juliette Girl Scout
Chester Service Unit
For her Gold Award project, Carlie created annual programs in her middle school and high school to raise awareness about local farms and how important farming is to our communities and the world. One of the programs is a presentation by her town’s Agricultural Center to sixth grade science classes and the other is a field trip for ninth grade Ecology students to the Agricultural Center, where they tour the farms and do a hands-on project such as weeding. She also designed brochures about the farms and all they do, to hand out to students and encourage them to talk to their families about this wonderful local resource.
After Graduation: Attending college to study Biomedical Engineering
Class
of 2024
Abigail Cerillo
Mental Health Lending Library
Troop 307
Monroe-Woodbury Service Unit
Abby’s Gold Award project consisted of the building and painting of a lending library that was placed in her local park. She spent the time to do some more research on mental health and was able to pick books based on that. Leading to her filling the library with self-help, educational, and fictional books relating to mental health. She as well, educated the people around her about mental health and her journey with her own struggles with mental health. This library was created so the people in her community would have access to free mental health resources which could help themselves or others they know.
Class
of 2025
Mia Cerny Toiletry Bags for Kids with Cancer Troop 2852
North Salem Service Unit
Mia’s Gold Award project partnered with Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital to give children basic necessities such as toiletry items. Toiletries are a basic necessity that children need and at their fingertips if they are required to stay in the hospital overnight or for an extended period of time. Mia made toiletry bags with volunteers and filled them with essential supplies such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, hair detangler, wet brushes and combs, mini lotions, hair ties, nail polish/remover/files. She is very proud of the support and generosity of those that helped her and she is so happy to have brought smiles to children during a difficult time in their lives.
After Graduation: Attending Florida Gulf Coast University
Class of 2024
Joelis Clases
Paint & Sip Senior Companionship Troop 36
Middletown
Service Unit
The “Paint & Sip Senior Companionship” program was created to reduce social isolation among seniors by fostering creativity and connection. Through guided painting sessions and casual social interaction, the project offered a welcoming space for seniors to express themselves artistically while building meaningful relationships. The program was highly successful, with strong attendance and positive feedback from both participants and staff at The Promenade. Seniors developed valuable social skills, increased self-esteem, and a deeper sense of community. They also became more open to future social opportunities, reflecting a lasting improvement in emotional well-being. The project helped participants rediscover the benefits of regular interaction and companionship. The creator is proud of the lasting impact the initiative had on the lives of the seniors involved.
Class of 2024
Roxanna Clauson Raised Dog Beds Troop 766
Middletown
Service Unit
Roxanna’s Gold Award project involved the embellishment of her humane society’s animals and the need for new animal beds. She is astonishingly proud of the work she and many volunteers have accomplished as a team. She worked with such amazing confident women within the project. Even with obstacles and hurdles she still persevered and gave the project her motivation and passion into this project to give her humane society’s animals something new to lay down on. Through working with a team of women she was able to make her project into reality and proudly deliver her project to the humane society. In the end of her project she has finally completed everything she wanted to do within accomplishing her Gold Award project with her genuine love and big heart for animals with helping a humane society in need of donations. Lastly she had love and support from her friends and family.
Class
2025
of
Everett Dalrymple Serving Up Some Help Troop 10543 Pawling Service Unit
Everett’s Gold Award project included working hand-in-hand with the Pawling Resource Center to create an accessible cookbook. This cookbook is full of recipes based off of the ingredients offered to the patrons of the Resource Center and off of local cuisines and ethnicities. Everett also worked with the local library to create and host a children’s program. During this program, Everett worked with two groups of kids to gather recipes and make winter themed cookies. The recipes that the kids had chosen were then put in to the cookbook. Everett made the cookbook accessible by having a binder copy available at the Resource Center, as well as a link of their website.
After Graduation: Attending Hobart and William Smith Colleges to pursue a career in secondary education.
Class
of 2025
Giada Dello Russo
Wandering the World Troop 40518
West Nyack Service Unit
For her Girl Scout Gold Award, Giada organized a cultural education event designed to help Girl Scouts explore and appreciate diverse cultures while understanding the importance of cultural sensitivity. The event featured interactive stations, presentations, and activities representing traditions from around the world. A key focus was teaching participants respect and inclusivity. Girl Scouts had the opportunity to ask questions, try cultural crafts and reflect on their own cultural experiences. She met with troops before the event to teach them about their chosen country and lead them through a craft and aided them with their presentation for the event. Through this initiative, Giada fostered empathy, awareness, and open-mindedness among youth in her community.
After Graduation: Pennsylvania State University to major in International Politics and minor in Italian and International Business.
Class of 2025
Isabel DeMasi
Better Off With a Blanket Troop 2852
North Salem Service Unit
Isabel’s Gold Award project assisted the homeless community by providing a homeless shelter with warm and comfortable blankets hand made by her and those who she taught. Isabel is very proud of the leadership skills that she portrayed during her Gold Award; she taught various groups of people to make and donate tie blankets made out of warm fleece fabric. She conquered the difficulty of raising enough money to buy the amount of fabric that she needed to make a sufficient number of blankets for the homeless shelter. Isabel teamed up with her middle school Home Economics teacher, and taught the kids in her classes and after school club how to make these blankets, and the importance of being grateful for what they have. Isabel was thrilled when she heard that homeless community at the shelter was incredibly appreciative of her contributions.
After Graduation: Attending Penn State University
Class of 2024
Leafal DePrima Lake Life Troop 2177
Putnam Valley Service Unit
Due to a lack of public art in Putnam Valley, self-titled “The Town of Lakes,” Leafal chose to design and paint a mural in a highly trafficked area depicting prominent local lake, Lake Oscawana. She wanted to illustrate the lake’s importance and give resources to those wanting to learn the best way to preserve them. Her Gold Award project helped educate the community on the importance of lake conservation and beautify Putnam Valley. She also put together a list of important resources on lake health and conservation. On the mural itself, there is a key included to allow anyone who looks at the piece to learn more about the diverse life that is depicted. A poster directing viewers to the linked information was put up on a highly trafficked bulletin board within the Putnam Valley Market, the building where the mural is located.
Class of 2024
Amanda DiMauro
Restoration to Native Ecosystem Troop 2268
West Lakeland Service Unit
Amanda’s Gold Award project involved the removal of invasive plant species within a meadow space at Tompkins Corner Cultural Center, a community center near her. It also involved restoring the native ecosystem there by planting native plants in place of the invasive ones. To help others enjoy this space, Amanda and her volunteers also built a bench to be placed by the meadow space. She is very proud of the work that her and her volunteers did. Amanda is happy that she chose this for her Gold Award project, as it helped further her appreciation for the ecosystems around her.
Class of 2024
Jennifer Dispensa Garden of Hope Troop 40297
Suffern Central Service Unit
Jennifer’s Gold Award project addressed the need for a sensory experience for staff, patients, and families within the garden at Good Samaritan Hospital, by implementing a therapeutic space. It was designed to help patients on their journey back to health by providing the experience of a sensory garden that offers a restful, safe and peaceful environment. It is a place where therapists can work with patients, and staff can unwind from the stress of their day. A walkway was built for easy access by foot and wheelchair to experience the sounds, sight, touch, taste, and fragrances from the various plants, fountain, and gravel under their feet. It is also designed to educate visitors to the types of plants along the walkway, their botanical name, and what each brings to the garden. This project was a year in the making but worth watching the visitors and staff enjoy the new space.
Class of 2025
Abigail Joan Dunn
Abigail’s Dance Closet Troop 106
Warwick Service Unit
Abigail Joan came up with Abigail’s Dance Closet after hearing parents talking at her dance studio about the cost of dance items especially if their child has a growth spurt. They are outgrowing their clothes and shoes very quickly. You want the dancers feeling good about themselves, having body positivity, helping reduce costs for parents and trying to reduce, reuse and recycle for our environment. She believes she hit the trifecta! She received many donations, held several dance classes to introduce young children to dance and how to express themselves. The parent are loving it! Now anyone can go and pick up “new” items to use and donate back when you are done.
She hopes you enjoy Abigail’s Dance Closet and the benefits.
After Graduation: Abigail will be auditioning for dance and musical theatre. She will have her cosmetology license and will continue to take classes in both areas to further her career.
Class of 2025
Julianna Farmer Going Places with Reading Troop 10307
New Oaks Service Unit
Julianna’s Gold Award project involved creating a mobile library for the children at Abilities First. She created a book list with the teachers at Abilities First to ensure that the reading material would be developmentally appropriate. Her initial plan was to be create an actual library, however due to limited space, her and the principal came up with the idea of a mobile library for the teachers to roll into their classrooms. Julianna also ran a youth soccer clinic to raise money for her project. Some of the kids also brought books to donate to the project. Julianna had a lot of fun creating this project and looks forward to doing other community outreach programs in the future.
After Graduation: Studying Physical Therapy at Quinnipiac University
Class of 2026
Charlotte Feicht Cards for Kids
Troop 10112
Dutchess Tri-Valley Service Unit
Through a collaboration with the non profit charity, Angels of Light, Charlotte’s Gold Award Project helped raise awareness of the hardships families face when a child has a severe illness. Based in Millbrook, New York, Angels of Light assists families facing extreme medical issues with holiday gifts, medical bills, utilities, food and gas, etc. They also provide “comfort bags” to kids in the hospital and include a handmade card from a local child. Charlotte worked with Millbrook Middle School to have the students make get well cards for the kids in the hospitals. The lessons she created are shared with art students each marking period, and they create the cards. In addition, she participated in many of Angels of Light’s charity events, making cards with local young people at the events.
Class of 2026
Abrielle Ferrara
The Book Swap Library
Troop 10112
Dutches Tri-Valley Service Unit
Abrielle’s Gold Award project addressed the issue of children not reading enough, and therefore having non-proficient reading skills. To combat this issue, she led workshops and presentations, that taught children about the importance of reading, in a fun, and engaging way. The goal being to encourage children to read more, and develop a love for it. One way she did this was by building a bookshelf, for a local school, that houses books for students to swap among themselves. This creates a fun and unique way for students to find books they enjoy. Through hard work, and by leading an incredible volunteer team, she was able to accomplish her goals.
Emily Fields
Project Green: Empowering Our Community for Environmental Awareness Troop 1326
Lakeland East Service Unit
Class of 2025
For her Girl Scout Gold Award, Emily created Project Green to educate and mobilize students and adults in her community around sustainability and environmental awareness. She founded Generation Green, a student-led organization that grew to over 85 members, and led drives collecting more than 200 pounds of clothing, including coats and blankets for local shelters. Emily conducted hands-on workshops for Girl Scout troops and elementary and high school students. Emily also organized public events on fast fashion and composting. By partnering with libraries, schools, and nonprofits, she inspired hundreds to reduce consumption and protect the planet—leaving a lasting impact on the environment and empowering the next generation of changemakers. Through her outreach, Emily’s project reduced textile waste in landfills and fostered a culture of responsibility and leadership in local youth. Her efforts built a foundation for ongoing environmental education, and Generation Green continues to grow into the future.
After Graduation: She plans to attend the University at Buffalo. She has been accepted into Its accelerated Occupational Therapy master’s program. Her goal is to become a pediatric occupational therapist.
Class of 2024
Sierra Gabriel Introducing Students to Sports Media Troop 1360
Putnam Valley Service Unit
Sierra’s Gold Award project focused on highlighting the athletic success of students at her high school through media. She noticed that her high school did not provide a platform to showcase the talent of student athletes so in collaboration with faculty, she became the Athletics Media Manager where she created and managed her school’s athletics social media pages, specifically Instagram. She conducted interviews and posted game statistics and highlight reels. Outside of social media, Sierra had the opportunity to create two short films: the first told the story of a basketball player who was committed to play at the Division 1 level and the other told the story of a student who was given the Heart of a Giant Award by the NY Giants and Hospital of Special Surgery. Sierra believes in the power of storytelling and is now attending Ithaca College as a Sports Media major!
Class of 2025
Isabella Hirsch
The Pollution Solution Troop 2082
Somers Service Unit
Isabella’s project, called the Pollution Solution, involved teaching people of all ages about pollution: the different types (air, land, and water pollution), why it is important, and what we can do to prevent it. Some things that Isabella did to teach people about this topic was hosting garbage cleanups, making plantable seed paper, making potted plants with people, and hosting earth day events at her school. Izzy’s goal is to raise awareness among all people, but especially younger generations. This project is important to Izzy because pollution affects everybody, and change starts with understanding. By educating others, Izzy hopes to inspire habits that will help protect our planet.
After Graduation: Attending the University of Maryland
Class of 2024
Laura Holtman Supporting Autism Service Dogs Troop 10271
Northern Dutchess Service Unit
Laura spent 138 hours on her Gold Award Project titled, Supporting Autism Service Dogs. For the main part of her project, she sewed 30 mats for graduating service dogs for BluePath Service Dogs. These mats are what families use to have their service dog sit or lay on in public places. Next, she constructed a cornhole game for BluePath to use at their events and for their annual walkathon in their quiet tent. Their quiet tent is an area for children with sensory issues to relax and decompress. Cornhole is a safe form of play that parents can engage in with their children who may be in need of movement or an activity while in the tent. She painted the cornhole boards with the autism puzzle piece design to raise awareness for autism. She also made 51 square knot dog toys for the current puppies and dogs in the program.
Class of 2026
Heyam Ibrahim
Mindfulness Room in Nursing Home
Troop 10112
Dutchess Tri-Valley Service Unit
Heyam’s Gold Award project involved turning an empty room in her local nursing home and creating a mindfulness room for the elderly residents to enjoy. The goal of Heyam’s project was to create an enjoyable place for the residents to go when they needed a break from their room, treatment, or just needed some time to relax. The mindfulness room incorporated all of the different activities, images, sounds, and colors that would help calm the residents down and enjoy their time. This project has been very rewarding to Heyam, as she witnessed the struggles of living in a nursing home. She is very proud of all the work she and her volunteers did.
Class of 2024
Kelly Imhof
Town of Monroe Community Garden Troop 307
Monroe-Woodbury Service Unit
Kelly’s Gold Award project was created with the goal of providing fresh, healthy produce to those in the community who lacked access to it. Recognizing the need for nutritious food options in the area, Kelly organized a community garden where local residents could grow their own food. A key aspect of the project was the creation of garden plots specifically for the local food pantry, ensuring that the harvest would directly support individuals and families facing food insecurity. By designating these plots, Kelly created a sustainable source of fresh fruits and vegetables for those in need, while also fostering a sense of community and empowerment among participants. The project not only addressed immediate food access issues but also encouraged long-term solutions for self-sufficiency and wellness. Kelly was able to make a lasting impact on the town of Monroe, improving food security and bringing people together for a common cause.
Class of 2025
Anya Ionis Bridging Funds and Futures: Grant Writing and Educational Leadership in Norwalk Public Schools Troop 2852
North Salem Service Unit
Anya’s Gold Award project, Bridging Funds and Futures: Grant Writing and Educational Leadership in Norwalk Public Schools, focused on helping a large, under-resourced school district better meet its evolving equity goals. With limited staff and funding, Norwalk Public Schools often struggled to apply for grants that could support new programs for their diverse student population. Anya partnered with the Superintendent’s Office to research and present three grants that aligned with the district’s mission. To connect her work to real outcomes, she also volunteered at Kendall College and Career Academy, assisting educators and intervention staff while observing how funding shaped classrooms. She took initiative in scheduling meetings, balancing long commutes, and building strong relationships with school leaders. Anya’s project strengthened the district’s ability to pursue future resources and showed how thoughtful, behind-the-scenes work can make a meaningful difference in education.
After Graduation: In the Fall of 2025, Anya will attend Brandeis University as a Presidential Scholarship recipient, majoring in Applied Mathematics.
Class of 2024
Ainsley Jones
The Brightness Mural Troop 2148
New Rochelle Service Unit
Ainsley worked to create a brighter and more welcoming school environment where students would feel less drained and depressed by looking at the same blank walls in the stairways. Her Gold Award, “The Brightness Mural” helped make the hallway brighter, and more welcoming to students at New Rochelle High School. Her target audience gained a more welcoming and encouraging environment to walk in as well as reassurance that the school is a place for everyone to be welcomed and loved. She led her team by giving volunteers lessons on different painting techniques, the differences between brushes, and how to mix specific colors. She helped lead her team to create a mural with a positive message which encourages positive thinking!
Anna Kercado
Stay True to You Troop 1421
Brewster Service Unit
Anna’s Gold Award Project involved presenting to the Class of 2028 when they were in eighth grade at her former middle school prior to their transition to high school. She also worked with troops of multiple ages on patches and activities relating to topics of self confidence, being true to your most authentic self, and personal growth. The goal of her project was to spread a positive message of believing in yourself and overcoming challenges. She is proud to have been able to spread the message of always being who you truly are in any circumstances as it is a message she strives to live by at all times. She’s thrilled that this project will continue to be shared for years to come for future eighth grade classes!
After Graduation: Attending Misericordia University to earn her bachelors and masters degrees in Speech Language Pathology
Cora Kerin
Elevated Dog Beds Troop 303
Newburgh Enlarged Service Unit
Cora’s Gold Award involved making elevated dog beds for the town of Newburgh animal and control shelter. She helped improve quality of life and comfort for dogs while waiting for adoption. She built 11 dog beds with over 20 volunteers and ran a donation day at the shelter to bring in much needed supplies for the animals. She learned how to use tools, build the beds, demonstrate how to build the beds to multiple people and worked with the Newburgh Elks to help complete this project. She is very proud of what she learned and how she positively impacted the shelter.
After Graduation: Cora will be attending Clemson University
Class of 2024
Ruhi Khanna AAPI History Troop 2352
Chappaqua Service Unit
Ruhi’s Gold Award project addressed the lack of Asian American history in traditional school curricula by creating and leading interactive Zoom classes and in-person workshops for elementary and middle school students, exploring key events, figures, and themes in Asian American history. To prepare, she conducted extensive research, ensuring that the material she presented was accurate, ageappropriate, and engaging. Ruhi also developed original teaching materials, including interactive quizzes, group activities, and visual presentations to help students connect with the content. To measure the impact of her project, she created surveys, gathering data to assess student learning and improve future sessions. Through this project, Ruhi not only educated younger students but also empowered her peers and community members to recognize the importance of inclusion and representation in education.
Class of 2026
Elise Kwon
Art in Full Bloom: Spreading Joy Through Creativity
Juliette Girl Scout
Tappan Zee Service Unit
Elise’s Gold Award project involved collaboration with the Creative HeARTS program at White Plains Hospital and the national art honor society in order to address mental health of people in her community and patients at the hospital. She implemented 17 art therapy workshops, teaching flower-themed crafts including origami, card making, painting, crochet, bracelets and embroidery. She received an average rating of 4.8 stars and 100% of the participants said they learned new crafts and techniques. 150 people attended the workshops. And 300 patients were reached. She also created pamphlets that taught the crafts to local and national art studios. She loved completing the project and and seeing each and every unique and heartfelt craft.
Class of 2025
Ava LaBrocca
Competition Prep Workshop
Troop 529
Washingtonville Service Unit
For her award, Ava chose to help children who are just as passionate about dance as she is, while also helping the hungry in her local community. Ava conducted over thirty hours of research and created marketing strategies to get her message and goals out to the public. She hosted a virtual workshop for children and parents with a question and answer session, providing a powerpoint recap post-event with mental health and nutrition takeaways and tips. Ava was also able to use her local dance studio to hold an in-person workshop, where she taught students choreography she created, coordinated a team of volunteers and held a parent showcase at the end. The entrance fee was canned food items, which she donated (over 30lbs!) to the Country Kids Food Pantry in her local community.
After Graduation: Attending the University of Central Florida School of Business, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Dance
Class of 2025
Giselle Lese
Literacy for Kids
Juliette Girl Scout
Scarsdale/Edgemont Service Unit
Giselle’s Gold Award, “Literacy for Kids” helped encourage kids to read books. She determined that children seemed to be less motivated to read on top of the learning gaps many have from virtual schooling during COVID. She worked with kids at various schools and preschools, including Greenville Church Nursery School. She also wrote a bilingual book titled “El Pez Pequeño Grande / The Little Big Fish” to encourage curiosity about other cultures. She is happy that the kids she worked with will carry the skills she taught for their entire lives. The nursery also plans to keep an updated shelf of the children’s favorite books and have their volunteers have dedicated reading time.
Class of 2025
Samantha Levine
Simply Cooking with Sam Troop 1953
Scarsdale/Edgemont Service Unit
Simply Cooking with Sam was created to support food pantry recipients who receive free food but don’t know how to make simple, healthy, fast meals with the ingredients found in the food pantries. Samantha’s website, bit.ly/cookingwithsam, houses recipes with common ingredients, cooking videos and articles related to healthy eating. The website is in both English and Spanish to support the community. Flyers in English and Spanish were distributed to a number of food pantries, that were then put in the shopping bags to direct people to the website. Separate from the site, Samantha held cooking and baking classes for kids as well as assisted in many Girl Scout events. For one campground event, she taught the girls how to make “edible fires” using food while teaching them about how to build a fire and fire safety.
After Graduation: Fordham University 5 year masters of education program
Class of 2024
Olivia Leys
Modernizing Community Food Pantry’s Digital Presence
Troop 40726
Tappan Zee Service Unit
Olivia’s Gold Award project aimed to revamp the current website of a local food pantry into a more modern website that showcases the history, the mission, and the resources of the Food Pantry, Soup Angels. She is very proud of her work and outreach. Soup Angels has many great resources to offer and a more interactive website would give users access to them. This improved website includes multiple language options, QR codes for menus and donations, and an organized visual design. With these updates, the outreach within the local community has benefited greatly. The updated website has helped raise awareness and provide access to more resources in the community including donations and volunteers. Overall, Olivia is impressed with the outcome of the project.
Class of 2026
Caitlin Linehan
Preserving the Bee Population Troop 2546
Yonkers Service Unit
Through Caitlin’s project, Preserving the Bee Population, Caitlin addressed the declining bee population caused by disease and environmental factors. Caitlin educated Girl Scouts and children on the importance of bees in our ecosystem and provided them with tools to make a difference in their own backyards. Caitlin achieved this by presenting directly to Girl Scout Troops as well as conducting pop up educational events at the Greenburgh Nature Center, Crestwood Library and at the Annunciation-Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Caitlin also worked with Girl Scout Troops and visitors to the pop-up events to make bee baths, which you can see in their gardens throughout the community. Additionally, Caitlin created a Troop Leader Activity Guide which has been shared with Troop leaders in Yonkers, Scarsdale and Connecticut to ensure the project continues to have an impact into the future.
Class of 2024
Arianna Liptak
Raising Awareness on Sexual Abuse Troop 1578
Mahopac Service Unit
Arianna’s Gold Award addressed sexual abuse. It allowed her to share information, research, resources, and community members who fight the prevalent issue in her community while allowing her to engage in a level of civic action she did not know was possible. She curated two research papers and a website to permanently put her mission and information out into the world. She put together presentations given to health classes at Mahopac School as well as Girl Scout troops. She is proud that her target audience gained a level of empathy and understanding for victims and survivors as well as an added layer of comfortability in hearing about and discussing a topic as sensitive and often taboo as sexual abuse. Arianna learned that advocacy is a passion she will pursue in college and law school and that her purpose in life is to improve society through policy and law.
Class of 2025
Laila Lloyd
Karen Sorlie Bag Drive
Troop 10307
New Oaks Service Unit
Laila’s Gold Award Project was about giving back to the community. Her project collected over 400 backpacks, luncbags, travel bags, and suitcases for children in children homes. Her donations went to children at the Poughkeepsie Children’s Home, Cardinal Hayes Home, and Children’s Home of Kingston. Laila had multiple stations for people to donate items and it paid off! Her project is named after a family friend who passed away. Karen Sorlie gave Laila a backpack to start her high school year and that was her parting gift. This project represents her community and those who helped her be the leader she is today. She is very proud of her project and would like to thank everyone who helped! Her project will be continued by Troop 10380 and the Karen Sorlie Bag Drive legacy lives on!
After Graduation: Attending SUNY Oswego studying Health Promotion and Wellness
Class of 2025
Nia Lurin Loveys to Snuggle
Troop 1421
Brewster Service Unit
Nia’s Gold Award project had a goal of showing patients and families in the hospital that they are loved. This was inspired by her time volunteering at Maria Fareri and bringing around the book cart. She learned that the simple objectivity of a book could brighten someone’s day and wanted to find another way to achieve this. So she created and donated 70 homemade Loveys. Her team consisted of local libraries, knitting groups, and younger Girl Scout troops. Through her presentations to younger Girl Scouts she gained a connection to one of the leaders. She worked with this leader to turn the project into a Brewster Service Unit project allowing this project to continue on through multiple troops. Her national link was a website describing the process, goal, and providing resources for people to meet this goal in their community. She is proud of the great success this project had.
After Graduation: Attending Boston University as a part of the six-year BS/DPT physical therapy program.
Class of 2026
Cailin Maloney
Everybody Dance Now! Troop 1220
North Salem Service Unit
Cailin’s Gold Award Project aimed to expand dance education to kids of lower socioeconomic status. Primarily, she worked on holding free dance workshops at her local library. She taught them the foundations of ballet, jazz, and other dance styles. Most importantly, she focused on building the confidence of elementary-level kids by exposing them to dance, something they most likely had never tried before. To add on to her project, she collected gently used dance supplies from her own dance studio, including ballet, tap, and jazz shoes. Cailin is very proud of her accomplishments within her Gold Award Project and is thankful to all who supported her throughout the process.
Class of 2024
Sophie Marseille
Re-Painting the 50 States of America Troop 307
Monroe-Woodbury Service Unit
For Sophie’s Gold Award project she chose to repaint the 50 States blacktop at Pine Tree Elementary. She chose to do this because she wanted the current students attending the school to feel the same joy she felt when she was their age. When Sophie attended Pine Tree, she remembered playing with her friends at recess and jumping to the state they would call out. Students from the school showed their gratitude by writing positive remarks with chalk on the finished project! By repainting the 50 states, she hopes that current and future students at the school will learn more about geography while having fun outdoors.
Class of 2025
Aria Matano Music Matters
Troop 2169
Pleasantville Service Unit
Aria’s Gold Award project was centered around increasing the accessibility of musical resources in her community for students to explore and expand their musical interests. She initiated a donated instrument collection to provide students with the chance to see and play brass and string instruments that they might not normally have had access to before choosing an instrument. Also, Aria established the Music Mentors Program in her school district, connecting younger students with older, more experienced musicians for lessons and mentoring. Lastly, she collaborated with fellow music students to create introductory instructional videos, allowing students to explore different instruments at their own pace. The tutorial videos were then posted on an online platform and presented to the community as a long-term resource for students wanting to explore different instruments and sign up for a Music Mentor.
After Graduation: Aria will be attending Boston University in the fall.
Class of 2025
Mary McCormack
How to be a “Dia-Bestie”
Troop 40503
Tappan Zee Service Unit
Mary’s Gold Award Project focused on raising awareness for juvenile diabetes. Mary achieved this goal by creating a pamphlet called “How to be a Dia-Bestie.” Mary spent countless hours creating her pamphlet, having it checked by members of her local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as well her doctor, and then editing and revising the pamphlet. She then presented this pamphlet at walks and other events with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to families that were in attendance. She also made bracelets at these events that said “Diabestie” in order to create awareness for her project. While working on her project she was able to meet and present her project to countless families and fellow Type One Diabetics.
After Graduation: Mary will be attending Providence College and studying Political Science.
Class of 2025
Lindsay McMorris
Lyall Church Study Dinner
Troop 10350
Millbrook Service Unit
Driven by a passion for student success, Lindsay organized and continues to manage a transformative free tutoring program at Lyall Community Church in Millbrook. Beyond addressing academic challenges, the weekly program helps combat food insecurity by providing a balanced dinner at each meeting and fosters crucial socialization skills by bringing together students from diverse backgrounds to cultivate a supportive community. This year’s success, impacting numerous students in grades one through twelve, ensures the program will continue to offer crucial support to all Millbrook students in the coming years. Lindsay is grateful for the support of her team and hopes her project continues to have a lasting impact on the community.
After Graduation: Lindsay plans to attend Renesselear Polytechnic Institute majoring in Biochemistry and Biophysics.
Class of 2025
Mollie Meffert
Helping the Bat Population by Installing Bat Houses in my Town Park
Troop 529
Washingtonville Service Unit
Mollie’s project involved building and installing 4 bat houses in her town park. Her goal was to provide sustainable housing to protect and increase the local bat population while educating her community on the importance of bats to the local ecosystem. Mollie worked with the local town board to get the project approved and to locate the perfect spot for the houses within the park. In addition to building and installing the houses, Mollie conducted multiple events to promote awareness and appreciation for the benefits of supporting the bat population. These included special activity days where community members learned about bat behaviors like echolocation. She also sponsored a badge activity on animal habitats for younger Girl Scouts and created special bat swaps for the girls. Through this project, Mollie addressed a growing need in her community to protect the bat population from the destruction, degradation and fragmentation of the environment.
After Graduation: Mollie will be attending Salve Regina University where she plans to double major in illustration and Cultural and Historic Preservation.
Class of 2024
Elise Moss Meals with Memories Troop 2987
Ardsley Service Unit
Elise’s project, Meals with Memories, aimed to build stronger connections with older adults in her community by preparing meals linked to significant memories from their past. Participants shared cherished family recipes or suggested dishes with personal significance. Elise, with the help of her family, cooked these special meals, sometimes collaborating directly with participants who taught her how to make their favorite dishes. They then enjoyed eating the meals together, sharing stories about their families, experiences, and legacies. These shared culinary moments allowed older adults to reconnect with meaningful memories and engage in heartfelt conversations. The project highlighted the importance of intergenerational interactions in reducing social isolation, fostering community connections, and promoting compassionate engagement.
Class of 2026
Mia Newsom Peer Tutoring Program
Troop 10112
Dutchess Tri-Valley Service Unit
Mia‘s Gold Award project was the creation of a peer tutoring program at Arlington High School. The peer tutoring program services over 150 students and is still going strong. Mia got help from school administrators and guidance counselors to make this all possible. Her executive principal became a very helpful mentor. Students can sign up via Google Form to become a part of the program and are given community service hours at the end of each school year. Students can either volunteer to be a tutor in a subject they excel in or students can sign up if they need extra help from a tutor. The actual tutoring sessions are held in the school library. The guidance department has agreed to carry on the peer tutoring program once Mia graduates next year. This project has greatly improved Mia’s school community by making academic help and community service accessible to all.
Caitlin O’Keeffe
Mental Health, Exercise, and the Outdoors
Troop 10307
New Oaks Service Unit
Caitlin’s project was to highlight the importance of exercising outdoors as a way to improve mental health. A person’s Mental Health can be brightened when going outside and even more when combining it with exercise. She created a pamphlet with information and steps for walking, stretches and yoga for different abilities. In having access to any public place at no cost and in this case focusing on the Locust Grove Estate. Caitlin showed several examples in person with sunset yoga and hikes with Girl Scouts and the community. She created this pamphlet to remind people the importance of taking care of yourself. She also created this information for Locust Grove, located in Poughkeepsie, NY. It can really be applied to use this information at other outdoor places as well. This pamphlet promotes different exercises that one can do to promote the betterment for themselves.
After Graduation: Caitlin committed to Sacred Heart University and will be studying criminal justic/psychology. She will be running there too!
Class
Nathaly Oseguera Aguilera
Spreading Love Room by Room Troop 10112
Dutchess Tri-Valley Service Unit
Nathaly’s Gold Award project involved helping the elderly with decorating their rooms. These weren’t just any rooms though, this was a nursing home so these rooms are the ones they are gonna stay in for the rest of their lives. When Nathaly visited this nursing home, she noticed many empty rooms with blank, depressing walls with no decorations from family members at all. She wanted to make a change so she painted, along with the help of others, over 35 paintings that had positive quotes and bright colors to be hung up in the rooms of the residents. Everyone deserves to be happy and Nathaly hopes with her little paintings she can make a great impact in the days of the residents.
Class
of 2026
Samantha Owens
The Little Book Barn Troop 10112
Dutchess Tri-Valley Service Unit
Samantha’s Gold Award project consisted of building a little free library full of farming and outdoor-themed books for Carnwath Community Farming in Wappingers, NY. She wanted to provide an opportunity for anyone to be able to borrow a book and learn about gardening and nature while surrounded by the gardens at Carnwath. This project allows passersby to take part in the leavea-book-take-a-book initiative without having to worry about cost. Community members have truly embraced the communal aspect of this project by leaving other items in the library over time, such as a notebook in which to write positive messages and a card for people to sign when a community member became ill. Samantha is very proud of the work she and her volunteers accomplished and is touched that the community has enjoyed this project as much as she enjoyed bringing it to life.
Class of 2025
Amelia Padilla
Bird Houses at the Randolph School Troop 10524
Greater Fishkill Service Unit
For Amelia’s, Gold Award project, she built a lot of bird houses from scratch and also created an educational display board. These were gifted to a local school in the Dutchess County area. The school has a sort of Montessori style of educating its children so it worked out perfectly. In order to do her project, she got donations from a local woman owned masonry business, and also got donations from said business’ sponsors. Afterwards, she also got donations in the form of monetary and physical things, such as paint and wood and screws in order to meet the bird houses. She got volunteers from her high school to help her with the project. After finishing, she gave the process passes and the board to the school and they were very happy with the work she and everyone else did.
After Graduation: Amelia is going to college at CUNY Baruch for political science and economics.
Class
of 2027
Maliyah Palka Glimmering Eden
Troop 310
West Point Service Unit
Maliyah’s Gold Award project involved the revitalization of a garden at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, West Point. Combining the two constants in her military childhood- her commitment to Girl Scouts (a member for over 10 years) and her Roman Catholic Faith- together with her mentor Wynn Klosky and advisor SGM Jeremy Schlegel she led a group of volunteers in picking weeds, placing weed protection, planting flowers, and applying mulch. Most notably, she collaborated with a civil engineer and carpenter in the building of a retaining wall and patio. This garden has become a place where priests and parishioners collect to socialize and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.
Class
of 2025
Danica Parent Power Up!
Troop 1410
Mahopac Service Unit
Danica researched methods of renewable energy that can reduce dependence on fossil fuels. There is also a heavy reliance on electronics that contain lead which can be harmful to the ecosystem, therefore she chose to focus her research on lead free electronics and why improper disposal of an electronic can be dangerous. Through her project and leadership, she gave her peers tips on how to reduce their energy use, recycle electronics, and make an impact. Danica published her research paper as well as presented her research at competitions and to peers. The website she created shares information about her research process, strategies to reduce electricity use, her paper, and more!
Class of 2025
Marina Piccininni
Getting Started with STEM
Troop
40518
West Nyack Service Unit
Marina Piccininni began her Gold Award, Getting Started With STEM, during her junior year of high school and finished at the beginning of her senior year. Her project aimed to introduce young girls to the world of STEM because she wishes that she had been introduced to STEM at a younger age. Over the course of her project, she created and packaged 100 take-and-make STEM kits that she provided to the Valley Cottage Library, conducted STEM workshops for kids at the West Nyack Library, and donated 2 STEM bins to a local 4th-grade teacher at a lowincome school. The primary focus of her project was conducting Girl Scout Troop meetings for various troops in her service unit. During these meetings, she led the girls in hands-on STEM activities, which taught math and science concepts, such as, 3D shapes and buoyancy.
After Graduation: Attending the University of Connecticut and studying Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2025
Holly Purta
Hopeful Hearts
Troop
106
Warwick Service Unit
Holly created the “Hopeful Hearts Podcast” for her Gold Award project to help raise mental health awareness. She interviewed her fellow classmates, teachers, a guidance counselor, a doctor and a nurse on 10 different topics which are titled: The Power of Friendship, Drug & Alcohol Prevention, Social Media Standards, Leadership, Stress & Anxiety, Spreading Kindness, Bullying Prevention, Teamwork, Mental Health, and Smart Choices. She posted an episode a month starting in September of 2024, with her final episode being published in June of 2025. Holly’s goal was to help others by providing them with both professional, reliable and relatable information on those surrounding topics. She wanted to impact more than just her community and decided to create her podcast on YouTube. It can also be found on Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook with the username: @hopefulheartsgold.106
After Graduation: Holly will be attending Keuka College to pursue a career in Nursing.
Class of 2024
Isabella Reyes
The High School Dish Troop 2148
New Rochelle Service Unit
Isabella’s Gold Award project involved the creation of a podcast to talk about the not-so-spoken about topics people may experience in high school ranging from mental health to the college application process. She decided on a podcast so that way it could very easy to access as it was posted online so it could reach high schoolers and even middle schoolers who want to know more of what to expect in high school. She enlisted friends and peers as guests to help explain certain topics more thoroughly and from different perspectives as high school is a different experience for everyone. She is very proud and happy about her podcast and is very thankful for the friends and peers who dedicated their time in helping out.
Class of 2025
Chloe Rissin
Little Friends Library Shelves Troop 10398
Southern Dutchess Service Unit
Children need encouragement when they are learning to read. One way to encourage this is to allow them the freedom and opportunity to choose their own books. To help kids find what they’d like to read, Chloe built bookshelves for the fundraising book cellar at a local public library at kid-height so that children can access age appropriate reading material to buy for very small amounts of money. The shelves were stocked through donations that came into the Friends of Kent Library book donation box. She also built modular multimedia shelving for CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, etc to house both children’s and adult media. She had volunteers sort through all the multimedia and organize it by age appropriateness. She enjoyed learning how to use new tools safely and had fun building.
After Graduation: Johnson and Wales University to study criminal justice
Class of 2025
Zoe Rissin
Community Donation Cabinet
Troop 10398
Southern Dutchess Service Unit
Zoe’s Gold Award project was to build a donation cabinet for the local food pantry. They can only accept donations during operating hours but many people would come by after they close and leave food and supplies on the porch, leading to food waste and theft. Zoe also included a locked donation box for cash and check donations so that people can give whenever. She also taught a troop of Brownies about food insecurity in our community and encouraged them all to think about donating to their local food pantries as a community service project. Zoe enjoyed the building and construction of her project and loved getting to spend time with the younger girls. She learned some new construction skill and planning and leading a meeting gave her a new appreciation for elementary school teachers.
After Graduation: Syracuse University - College of Visual and Performing Arts, Majoring in Illustration
Class of 2025
Bailey Rodriguez Kelp for the Win!
Troop 2426
West
Lakeland Service Unit
Bailey’s Gold Award project was to spread the word about the benefits and use of kelp fertilizer for lawns and gardens rather than using traditional fertilizers. Unlike traditional fertilizers, kelp fertilizer does not leech nitrates and phosphates back into the soil. This keeps these elements from seeping into groundwater and eventually local waterways where they can cause toxic algal blooms that create dead zones for plant and wildlife in the area. Bailey reached hundreds of Girl Scouts and members of the general public by presenting at various events, by posting flyers about kelp fertilizer at plant nurseries and by creating an animated video on the growing of kelp fertilizer, its history and its benefits that can be found on YouTube. Bailey is grateful for all the help she received in carrying out this project from her Mentor, Maureen Delia Connolly, from her Advisor, Wendy Moore and from her parents.
After Graduation: Attending University at Albany to study Business
Class of 2025
Marilin Samuelian
Smile Buddies
Juliette Girl Scout
Town of Eastchester Service Unit
For her Gold Award project, Marilin created Smile Buddies to bring holiday cheer to the children at the Elizabeth Seton Children’s Center, a residential facility for children with the most complex medical conditions on Earth. These children spend the holidays away from their families, so Marilin wanted them to feel remembered and loved. With help from Maria Regina High School students, Girl Scouts, and Key Club members, she delivered 1,152 handmade holiday cards, decorating every room in the center. She also created 20 craft kits filled with supplies for the kids, families, and art therapists to use together. Marilin is proud to have led card-making events, given presentations about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and the Sisters of Charity, and organized a team to decorate the center. She taught sophomores about her project during her school’s Day of Service. Marilin is proud that Smile Buddies will continue for years to come!
After Graduation: Manhattan University School of Engineering
Class of 2024
Saumya Sawant
EcoMedEd: The Importance of Outdoor Education & Play Troop 2552
White Plains Service Unit
Saumya observed that safety concerns and increased reliance on the internet and social media are leading to a more sedentary lifestyle among children. Moreover, girls often lack opportunities to learn project creation skills. To address this, she focused on educating Girl Scouts and other girls in Westchester about DIY techniques through hands-on sessions with power tools at Irvington Hardware. She also enlisted local young volunteers to build a mud kitchen for Ridgeway Nursery School and Kindergarten. She created educational pamphlets and initiated a social media campaign to promote the importance of green spaces and outdoor play. Her project not only empowered girls with practical skills but also fostered community engagement and encouraged healthier, more active lifestyles for young children.
Class of 2025
Alessandra Spino
Teen’s Guide: When Your Parent Has Cancer Troop 2065
Ossining Service Unit
Alessandra’s Gold Award project, A Teen’s Guide, is a supportive resource created specifically for teens whose parents have cancer. The guide includes practical tips, questions to ask doctors, advice on how to talk to parents about their illness, and Alessandra’s own personal story. It also features space for journaling and a list of helpful resources. Alessandra partnered with schools and nonprofits to distribute the guide and expand its reach. She also led a speech and activity at her own school to open up conversation and support for students going through similar experiences. Having felt isolated during her own mother’s diagnosis, Alessandra wanted to make sure other teens know they are not alone. She is proud to have created a compassionate and lasting tool that offers comfort, connection, and strength to teens navigating a parent’s cancer journey.
After Graduation: Attending Amherst
College
Class of 2024
Bijou Stephan
Washingtonville Veterans History Project Troop 317
Washingtonville Service Unit
As part of her Girl Scout Gold Award, Bijou Stephan created the Washingtonville Veterans History Project to preserve and honor the stories of local Veterans. Recognizing that many Veterans’ voices had gone unheard, she partnered with the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project to record interviews with Veterans from her community. Her goal was to ensure their personal stories were documented for future generations and included in the national archive. By conducting in-person interviews and working with local organizations like the town historian and library, she helped Washingtonville contribute to the national record for the first time. She also created a social media presence to raise awareness and share portraits and biographies of each Veteran. This project gave Veterans a platform, strengthened community ties, and helped younger generations understand the sacrifices made for their freedom.
Class of 2027
Isabella Teichmann
Empowering You: Self-Care for Pediatric Families
Troop 40496
Stony Point Service Unit
The project focused on making self-care kits and teaching workshops on the importance of self care for the families who are staying at The Ronald McDonald House. The aim of this project was to help these families by providing bags with the basic needs for selfcare. The project offered engaging workshops on how to make some self-care items including shower steamers and sugar scrubs. Along with that it also provided education around healthy eating and nutrition. The goal focused on spreading awareness and hope to pediatric families. The project also focused on teaching the community about the importance of self-care and raise awareness around pediatric cancer/illness.
Class of 2025
Kaitlyn Thomas STEMxArt: Interdisciplinary Learning
Troop 2463
Larchmont/Mamaroneck Service Unit
Kaitlyn’s Gold Award Project took inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci who famously said, “Study the science of art; study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” As a long time artist who later discovered her love for STEM, Kaitlyn’s goal was to promote interdisciplinary learning among today’s young students. As the world becomes increasingly focused on the STEM fields, Kaitlyn hoped to showcase the important role that creativity and art can continue to have in our lives especially in the STEM fields. Kaitlyn developed multiple workshops that taught students the value of developing their whole minds by revealing the deep and symbiotic connection between math and art. These workshops were taught in partnership with both community art and STEM groups, and her curricula was adopted by a local STEM non-profit organization.
After Graduation: Kaitlyn plans to attend college.
Lindsay Trumpler
Eating for the Earth Troop 10285
Greater
Fishkill Service Unit
Class of 2024
Lindsay established the Sparrow’s Nest vegetable garden, which provides a consistent source of fresh produce to families impacted by both cancer and poverty. This initiative helps to alleviate food scarcity while promoting healthier eating habits. With help, Lindsay built six raised garden beds, creating a 506 square foot garden to be used for supplemental vegetables, mainly for impoverished families. To further address the lack of resources and knowledge, she created a comprehensive, easy-to-follow guide that empowers people to start and maintain their own gardens at a low cost. The guide covers essential topics such as watering schedules, effective planting methods, crop seasonality, and creative, space-saving ways to grow food, such as vertical gardens and container planting. By making gardening more accessible and sustainable, the guide enables families to grow their own nutritious food throughout the entire year, even with limited space or financial means.
Class of 2025
Elizabeth Wakeham
First
Aid Education
Troop
529
Washingtonville
Service Unit
Elizabeth’s Gold Award involved educating younger scouts and students with disabilities on the importance of knowing how to implement first aid on themselves or others. Participants at local schools made their own first aid kits and practiced how to care for injuries at home or identify when 911 needs to be contacted.
Elizabeth also took a leadership role at a local ambulance corp. and worked with younger recruits to educate them on working with younger patients and patients with special needs. Elizabeth also hosted a workshop with younger Girl Scouts and allowed them to participate in simulated injuries and the treatment of those injuries.
After Graduation: Elizabeth is attending URI for Nursing
Class of 2025
Kayla Warycha Behind the Smile Troop 2082
Somers Service Unit
Kayla Warycha’s Gold Award Project focused on raising awareness and providing resources to people and families who are struggling with eating disorders. Kayla accomplished this by sharing her story of recovery. She also created a pamphlet, a poster presentation, and an online blog to share information about the various types of eating disorders, how to create a support group and various options for treatment. This project allowed Kayla to help others in a way that might seem small, but can possibly change someone’s life. Kayla realized that by being a Girl Scout, she is part of something bigger than herself; she is part of the larger Girl Scout community. And together Girl Scouts can make a positive impact on our community.
After Graduation: Attend the University of Tennessee - Knoxville to study Biomedical Nutrition Studies
Class of 2024
Mary Elizabeth Wilantewicz Memory Care Sensory Room Troop 10307
New Oaks Service Unit
Mary Elizabeth has a special interest in neurology and brain function. While volunteering at the Memory Care Center at The Pines at Poughkeepsie Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Mary Elizabeth saw how multisensory activities improve dementia symptoms and slow cognitive decline. She created a Memory Care sensory room at The Pines with heat and massage recliner chairs, galaxy and aquarium lights, sensory boards and books, fidget and weighted blankets, music, a diffuser, dolls, plush pets, and sand/water bins. Nursery, laundry, fishing, plumbing, woodworking, and kitchen life stations were included so that patients can find comfort doing past activities and strengthen cognitive and motor function. Mary Elizabeth received over $3000 in Amazon Wish List donations. She also created a brochure, “How to Create a Sensory Room,” to inspire other facilities and private homes to create similar spaces. Mary Elizabeth’s Gold Award project has become a model for Memory Care sensory rooms.
After Graduation: Mary Elizabeth will be attending Providence College for nursing and eventually plans to become a nurse practitioner in neurology.
Class of 2026
Isabella Zuccarelli
Love It or Lose It: Monarch Butterfly Troop 2546
Yonkers Service Unit
Through this project the community was educated on the Monarch Butterfly life cycle, habitat needs, and population decline with placement on the endangered species list. Much needed Monarch Butterfly habitat was established through placement of gardens containing Goldenrod, Aster, and Milkweed at various locations. Popup events were hosted to educate the public on how to create seed bombs, which were then tossed in the community to promote much needed wildflower growth. In total, 8 gardens were established, and 359 seed bombs (containing 1,600 Milkweed seeds, 6,000 Aster seeds, 100,000 Northeast Wildflower seeds) were tossed! The project spanned two states, there were caterpillar sightings, and currently the perennial wildflower gardens are successfully in a state of regrowth!
Class of 2024
Shannon Zuckerman
Mental Health Growth
Troop 40030
Deforest Service Unit
Shannon’s Gold Award Project involved increasing awareness of mental health issues and providing resources to students who may be in need of support. Shannon, along with volunteers, created decorative wooden ornaments with positive sayings and a QR code to a website Shannon created. This website includes many resources for mental health issues; it provides emergency contact information, sources for skills to help with difficult times, resources for people who need the help from professionals at any time, as well as recommendations to distract people from negative thoughts and actions. These wooden ornaments are available in her high school’s guidance office in a display case Shannon built. Students can discreetly grab one for an inspirational saying and easy access to resources they might need. Shannon is very proud of this project because she feels mental health resources need to be more accessible to teens.
☀ Congratulations, Emily Fields! ☀
We are immensely proud of you for completing your Girl Scout Gold Award, a remarkable achievement that reflects your leadership, perseverance, and passion for making the world a better place. Through your work on Project Green, you’ve inspired our community, educated future leaders, and shown what true commitment looks like. We are in awe of the difference you’ve made and the person you’ve become. We can’t wait to see what comes next.
With all our love and pride, Mom, Dad and Sofia ��
Holly Ann Purta,
We are so proud of you and this wonderful accomplishment of earning your Girl Scout Gold Award. Your perseverance and hard work proved itself by creating an impressive podcast. The dedication to meeting this goal in your life shows the determination that you have for helping others. The years of being a Girl Scout have prepared you for your next goal of being a Nurse and then a Nurse Practitioner.
Always remember you can accomplish anything you set your mind to!
Oh the Places you’ll go!
We love you, Mom, Dad and Leah
Saumya,
Your dedication, vision, and leadership have made a lasting impact.
We are so proud of your achievement in earning the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting.
Your project, “EcoMedEd: The Importance of outdoor education & play”, is a true testament to your commitment to creating positive change in your community. You are an inspiration to all those around you.
The best is yet to come!
With admiration and pride, Troop 2552 - White Plains, GSHH
