GSNYPENN Gold Award Girl Scouts // Class of 2021

Class of 2021 GSNYPENN Gold Award Girl Scouts Hallie Bain Alexandria Bay, NY Take Action Project: Me in the Mirror Hallie addressed teen body image after struggling with loving her body and being bullied. She held a meeting with middle school-aged girls where they discussed how the body changes and how people could be treated because of those changes. The group took part in several exercises, including creating a positivity board to look at when feeling insecure and making DIY spa kits to show themselves love when feeling down. Hallie wants every young girl to know that they don’t have to change to fit society’s definition of beauty and that learning to love yourself exactly as you are is an important life lesson. She hopes her project made an impact on all of the girls she worked with and that their time together brought them one step closer to loving themselves more. Hallie graduated from Alexandria Central High School and attends Jefferson Community College where she majors in paralegal studies.

Alicia Baldwin Baldwinsville, NY Take Action Project: Veterans Food Pantry Renovation Alicia discovered a need for expanded community food services for local veterans. She partnered with the Veterans Food Pantry located at VFW Post 153 in Baldwinsville, NY, which had been operating out of a walk-in closet space. She led her team through a major renovation of a much larger office space for the pantry to make its new home. The pantry can now accept and store larger food donations and as a result has expanded its services to more veterans in the community. Alicia graduated from C.W. Baker High School and attends Onondaga Community College. She plans to transfer to The State University of New York Upstate Medical University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in medical biotechnology.

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Miah Barnard Vestal, NY Take Action Project: A Healing Garden for Cancer Patients Miah addressed the need for a healing outdoor space for oncology patients at Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, NY. The former space outside of the oncology wing was almost bare, with a bush or two and an old picnic table. The new space includes a colorful butterfly sculpture donated by a local artist, sanded and stained picnic tables, landscaping and a new bench.

Miah also created an interactive meditation brochure that patients and visitors can use while visiting the space. It has QR codes that link to meditations they can do before or after treatments and appointments and simple balancing questions to calm the mind. She hopes that patients and visitors will visit the space to relax and become more centered and peaceful. A graduate of Vestal High School, Miah attends Maine College of the Arts.

Nicola DiLuzio Vestal, NY Take Action Project: Large Animal Rescue Horse Trailer Nicola loves horses and wanted to address the need of Broome County Humane Society, which was unable to transport large animals immediately out of abusive situations. Her original plan to work with the local BOCES engaged the community and her peers, however, the COVID-19 shutdown caused many problems, delays and frustrations. It was not easy, but Nicola persevered and was still able to donate a newly renovated trailer which she hopes will save many animals from cases of cruelty. Nicola is a graduate of Chenango Valley High School and attends SUNY Broome Community College.

Rachel Duggan Syracuse, NY Take Action Project: St. Joseph’s Little Free Library Rachel addressed the issue of literacy in an impoverished neighborhood by building a little free library and donating it to the local church. She held a book drive in the community and stocked the library with books and homemade bookmarks. She also created a website to allow neighbors to read summaries and see what books are available. The library is maintained by the church community and Rachel completes repairs every summer. Her library has brought the community together and helped neighbors experience a new joy for reading. A Girl Scout for over 10 years and now a lifetime member, Rachel is a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy. She attends Hobart and William Smith Colleges where she is an architecture/biology major.

Zoe Gates Harpursville, NY Take Action Project: Golden Dancers Zoe’s project addressed the need for activities for those with Down syndrome in her community. She offered two dance classes for local residents to attend—one at The Dance Connection and one at Gigi’s Playhouse Southern Tier. Some of her favorite Girl Scout memories include the time she spent at Camp Amahami. Zoe is a graduate of Chenango Valley High School and attends SUNY Broome Community College where she is studying event management.

She hopes to one day own a bridal shop.

Mia Gaylord Vestal, NY Take Action Project: Girls Golf: A Game Changer Mia addressed the lack of inclusion of women in the local golf community by starting the first-ever Girls Varsity Golf team at her high school. She also held lessons for up-and-coming golfers.

One of her favorite Girl Scout memories is attending Rainbow World Jamboree at Camp Amahami. Mia is a graduate of Vestal High School and attends Rochester Institute of Technology where she is studying engineering technology.

Abigail Herrington Pompey, NY Take Action Project: Learning Ecosystem Abi addressed teenage mental health by educating her school community about different protective factors and coping strategies through various media, including video and oral presentations. This issue was also addressed by the creation of an outdoor classroom at her high school to promote healthy lifestyles among students.

One of Abi’s favorite Girl Scout memories is camping at Comstock with her troop. Abi is a graduate of East Syracuse Minoa High School and attends Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where she studies environmental science and computer science and also plays field hockey.

Sara Kelly Camillus, NY Take Action Project: Dance is for Everyone Sara addressed social and economic barriers to dance education by creating two children’s dance programs through Onondaga Free Library for the Onondaga County Public Library System. She created a free introductory dance program for young children called “Bop, Drop, and Read” and take-home dance kits that helped kids learn basic dance steps in a COVID-friendly environment. She also donated more than 50 dance books for the

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library system that are body-positive, and gender and race inclusive. Her favorite Girl Scout memory is shopping for adopt-a-family every year with her troop. Upon graduation from high school in 2022, Sara plans to attend college and major in mathematics and dance.

Audra McFarland Owego, NY Take Action Project: Hometown Harvest Audra addressed food insecurity in her community by building a harvest share table and teaching children to plant and maintain raised garden beds to provide produce. Her project also included the addition of a compost bin and apple trees. One of her favorite Girl Scout memories is traveling to Europe to visit Pax Lodge and Our Chalet during the summer of 2019. Audra is a senior at Owego Free Academy and plans to attend college after graduation to study science and art.

Alexia Michitti Vestal, NY Take Action Project: Becoming Your Best Self—13PosiTV:) Alexia’s project addressed the importance of character education and its use in our everyday lives.

She created 13PosiTV:), an organization that spreads positive messages through social media. She gathered a diverse team of people to create videos that address character education traits and connected them to reallife examples of hard work, determination, acceptance, skill, etc. One of her favorite Girl Scout memories is camping in the Philadelphia Zoo with her troop and touring the city. Alexia is a graduate of Vestal High School and attends Ithaca College where she is studying sports media and is a member of the Women’s Soccer team.

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Madison Milheim Mansfield, PA Take Action Project: At-Home Olympic Village and Volunteer Awareness Madison helped organize gift bags for 166 athletes that participated in the Tioga County Special Olympics Virtual Track and Field event in 2021. She also celebrated National Volunteer Week in her school by recognizing an outstanding volunteer every day and sharing trivia during the morning announcements. One of her favorite Girl Scout memories is spending time with her friends at Mountain Laurel Day Camp.

Madison currently attends Susquehanna University where she is studying communications and marketing. She is also part of the swim team and honors program.

Addison Moore Locke, NY Take Action Project: Moravia Farmer’s Market Addison developed a new farmers market in her hometown to provide a safe, accessible, popular venue for local farmers and artisans and to bring the community together. Her favorite Girl Scout memory is sleeping over at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester with her Brownie troop. Addison is currently a senior at Moravia Central School and plans to major in architecture when she attends college next year.

Miranda Rogers Binghamton, NY Take Action Project: AED for Hillcrest Ogden Methodist Church Miranda addressed the lack of education on first aid measures and AED/ CPR techniques. She held multiple CPR, AED and first aid classes and donated an AED to her church. One of her favorite Girl Scout memories is participating in the General Clinton Canoe Regatta. Miranda graduated ninth in her class from Chenango Valley High

School and currently attends Binghamton University.

Kynzee Sethi Binghamton, NY Take Action Project: The Pandemic Records Kynzee gave youth a voice during these unprecedented times by providing an outlet for personal expression through storytelling. Focusing on mental health, The Pandemic Records is an online photo blog that chronicles 50 youth stories (ages 12-22) from 11 U.S. states, nine countries and four continents through posts on Instagram, Facebook and thepandemicrecords.com. Kynzee’s favorite Girl Scout memory is conducting the Syrian Refugee Experience for her Silver Award. A graduate of Vestal High School, she currently studies life sciences at the University of Toronto.

Alex Shaffer Cortland, NY Take Action Project: Purple Pantry Alex addressed food insecurity in their high school and community by creating the Purple Pantry at Cortland High School, a “no judgement” zone open to all students who happen to be hungry. Alex brought their project to fruition during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by initially running the pantry out of their home to community members in need, serving more than 2,000 meals in three and a half months from March-June 2020. The Purple Pantry still operates at CHS and has been the subject of a mini-documentary filmed by Tompkins Cortland Community College students. For their project, Alex also earned the Civic Engagement Leadership Award (in recognition of outstanding service to the community) and the Donald M. Wilcox 2020 Civic Engagement Award (for outstanding participation in the fight against poverty and hunger) both presented by the State University of New York at Cortland, the American Legion National Good Deed Award and the United Way Live United Award. Alex’s

favorite Girl Scout memory is attending the total solar eclipse Girl Scout STEM Camp in Illinois with the GS Southern Illinois Council thanks to a scholarship from GSNYPENN. Alex is a Cortland High School graduate and attends Syracuse University where they study biochemistry and bioengineering.

Lexi Snell Clay, NY Take Action Project: Colorful Wings Lexi created a butterfly garden at Plank Road Park in Cicero, NY, using native plants to attract Monarch butterflies. Monarch butterflies from all over now have a place to feed and thrive before going on their journey. Her favorite Girl Scout memory is the lifelong friendships she has made. Lexi graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse High School and attends Onondaga Community College where she studies hospitality management.

Katelyn Sonnen Vestal, NY Take Action Project: Blast Into Science Katelyn addressed the ever-growing need for STEM education by implementing educational signs at Kopernik Science Park in Vestal, NY. The signs link guests to activities and fun science to take part in while visiting. Her favorite Girl Scout memory is attending GSUSA’s Reach for the Stars leadership conference at NASA Goddard. Katelyn is a graduate of Vestal High School and attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where she is studying astronomy and astrophysics.

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Mercedes Stiner Conklin, NY Take Action Project: Tools for Tomorrow Mercedes noticed that a classroom at the Discovery Center of the Southern Tier did not have an effective or efficient way to aid the teacher using that room. So, she set out to make a cart to hold all classroom supplies and developed ageappropriate lesson plans for teachers to use.

She also assisted at an event to demonstrate the use of the cart and used her lesson plans to interact with children who attended.

Mercedes is a graduate of Susquehanna Valley High School and attends the University of Rochester.

Lyndsey Wright Phelps, NY Take Action Project: Eagles Nest Lyndsey organized a room in her high school called “Eagles Nest” to house school supplies, clothing and prom dresses that students lacking these resources could borrow. After receiving a generous dress donation, she collaborated with other local schools by donating dresses to expand upon their preexisting lending programs. Lyndsey was involved in Girl Scouts for 13 years. One of her favorite memories is attending the two-year counselor-in-training program at Camp Comstock. After graduating as Midlakes High School’s valedictorian in 2021, she now studies biomedical engineering at Cornell University. She continues her involvement with Girl Scouts through a volunteer role in the Society of Women Engineers Outreach Program, teaching local troops about the STEM field.

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Elaina Wainwright Rensselaer Falls, NY Take Action Project: The Bee’s Knees Elaina has always loved and cared about nature so when bees were officially listed as endangered, she was moved to action to address and focus on this issue. Elaina built bee boxes to help protect the bees and shelter them when they need it due to bad weather, deforestation or destruction of their colony. She also planted flowers and handed out seed packets to help give these pollinators food. She hopes that through her efforts, and those of the public, the bee population can one day soon be taken off the endangered species list. Elaina graduated from Canton Central School and attends The State University of New York at Potsdam with a major in English education and creative writing.