2023 GSCB Gold Award Girl Scouts Ceremony Program

Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony Saturday, November 11th, 2023 11:00 AM Delaware State University Dover, DE

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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 resumé can make a Girl Scout stand out when it comes to college admissions, scholarship applications, internships, and job interviews.

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Girl Scout Mission

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Girl Scout Promise

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.

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Thank You to our Event Sponsors & Donors Delaware State University

Thank You Gold Award Review Committee Tracie Bruno

Tara Petka

Ethelyn “Lyn” Gill

Laura Shorter

Caron Jackson

Cheri Stewart

Janet Maher

Lauralee Rappleye

Katie Maher

Pam Richardson

Deni Matz

Karen Wales

Alexa Pierce Matlack

Pam Yarborough

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Gold Award Ceremony Temeka Easter Rice Welcome & Opening Remarks Board Chair, Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay

Keynote Speaker Henna Parmar Gold Award Girl Scout, Class of 2022

Presentation of Girl Scout Gold Awards

Claudia Peña Porretti Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay

Closing Remarks Temeka Easter Rice

Board Chair, Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay

Lunch Photo Opportunity

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Award Recipients Eleni Apostolidis

Robotics at the Lewes Library Millsboro, DE | Mentor: Denise Matz Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sussex County libraries offered many robotics programs but had not resumed them since, leaving the homeschool community without an opportunity to participate. Eleni designed, planned, and held classes for local students to learn how to build and program robots. Through her program, students learned how to apply practical science, technology, engineering and math in their lives.

Nicole Badolato

Kindness/Inspiration Rock Garden Wilmington, DE | Mentor: Danielle Lubbers Nicole wanted to demonstrate acts of kindness, positivity and generosity among middle school students, who may need uplifting in difficult times. She built a garden at the school, held a rock painting party where students painted inspirational messages or images on the rocks for the garden, and then created an educational sign and brochure.

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Emery Busko

Butterfly Garden for Gull Creek Berlin, MD | Mentor: Cheryl Stewart Emery wanted to improve mental health and encourage exercise among the residents at Gull Creek Assisted Living Community. She built a butterfly garden that would help members get outdoors and appreciate the beauty of nature, while also giving them a space to relax and interact with other residents.

Ellie Davis

Kindness Quiet Bags Lincoln, DE | Mentor: Pam Yarborough Ellie wanted the children in her community to be occupied, engaged and learning, especially in church so they didn’t distract other patrons.

She created “quiet bags” with fidget toys and work pages.

Ta’Niya Freeman

Positive Affirmations for Children Westover, MD | Mentor: Cheryl Stewart Ta’Niya wrote and published a children’s book that would hopefully boost children’s self esteem, confidence and overall mental health.

She did story-telling hours at local libraries and with Girl Scout troops, having children draw a picture of how they feel after hearing the story, which resulted in most children feeling happy and/or better about themselves.

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Tessa Gaylord

Sensory Walk at John S. Charlton Magnolia, DE | Mentor: Lyn Gill Tessa wanted to give the teachers of students with special needs at John S. Charlton School an outdoor space that would help the students grow and learn to appreciate the world around them. The sensory pathway Tessa created at the school allow students with and without special needs to have fun while learning about different senses.

Tejasvi Gottipati Sun Safety

Townsend, DE | Mentor: Pam Yarborough Tejasvi educated children and teens on the importance of protecting your skin with sunscreen all year round, and other skin-safety measures. She created a brochure that she distributed to 5+ schools in Delaware and 15+ schools in India, and presented at a Wellness Health Fair.

Amanda Hauptmann Forget Me Knots

Towson, MD | Mentor: Pamela Richardson Amanda created educational knot-tying stations at multiple Girl Scout campsites to help girls advance their outdoor skills. She also created a knot-tying Youtube video tutorial.

Amelia Kaiser

Garden at the Ronald McDonald House Wilmington, DE | Mentor: Cheryl Stewart Amelia built a pollinator garden, music wall, and interactive outdoor space for families and children at the Ronald McDonald House. This garden gives families dealing with difficult health issues a peaceful outdoor space to relax, spend time together and create happy memories.

Abigail Malinky

Swing into Conversation Dover, DE | Mentor: Lyn Gill, Tara Petka Abigail created a space at her church for people to connect and grow relationships, elderly and people with disabilities to relax comfortable, and small groups to gather. She built and installed an octogonal bench swing.

Hailey Smith

Precision Shooting Table and Chairs Selbyville, DE | Mentor: Pam Yarborough Hailey rebuilt and replaced 8 shooting tables and 8 chairs at the Worcester County Firing Range, for use by the public and law enforcement. She also organized a firearmsafety education day for children, led by certified instructors.

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Regina Smith

Mental Health Support Caches Newark, DE | Mentor: Lauralee Rappleye Regina created “caches”, or subtle boxes, with mental health resources. She placed them in bathrooms, libraries, and cafes throughout Hodgson Vo-Tech. She aimed to distribute easily accessible resources for her peers who may be struggling but are too afraid to speak up.

Congratulations from all of us at Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay!

Graduating Seniors, your Girl Scout journey doesn’t have to end here. You are a part of our Girl Scout family forever!

Stay in touch: Graduating Seniors and Young Alum (under age 30) are eligible for a Girl Scout Lifetime Membership at the special price of $200.00 (regularly $400.00). Graduating Seniors are also eligible for a gift of $25.00 towards a Young Alum Lifetime Membership from GSCB, bringing the cost to $175.00.

Visit www.girlscouts.org/lifetime to learn more about Lifetime Membership and complete the 2024 Graduating Senior Membership Gift form at www.gscb.org/renew when it becomes available this spring.

Additionally, update our Member Care team with any changes to your contact information, so we can connect with you about events and special opportunities.

225 Old Baltimore Pike. Newark, DE 19702 www.gscb.org 800-341-4007 • MemberCare@cbgsc.org