Gold Award Girl Scout Class of 2023

Welcome

RANDELL M. BYNUM Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Mistresses of Ceremony

JACKALYN GONZALEZ, Gold Award Girl Scout 2016

SOPHIA VETERI, lifetime member and GSUSA Medal of Honor recipient

Presentation of Colors

GIRL SCOUTS OF NASSAU COUNTY CEREMONIAL UNIT

Girl Scouts of Nassau County Chorus

Under the Direction of Catherine Azzara and Jennifer Van Wickler

Keynote Speaker

Meredith Garofalo

Girl Scout, Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM), and Space and Science Journalist

Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony

PRESENTATION OF GOLD AWARD PINS AND RECOGNITIONS

Closing Remarks

ANDREA ELDER-HOWELL, ESQ. President and Chief Volunteer Officer Girl Scouts of Nassau County

Please join us after the ceremony for the reception and light refreshments

OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Meredith Garofalo

Girl Scout, Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM), and Space and Science Journalist

Meredith is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and a science/space correspondent. She was the 2021 Chair for the AMS Station Scientist Committee, which focuses on raising greater awareness and outreach when it comes to science education for viewers. Meredith is a proud Girl Scout alum from Northeast Ohio and has dedicated countless hours to supporting Girl Scout troops from regions across the country through fundraisers, motivational talks, and writing inspiring blogs for both local and national online publications.

Meredith’s 15 years in the broadcast business includes a wide variety of experience across the US stemming from her internship at WGN-TV in Chicago. Before she worked for News 12 in New York, Meredith worked at local television stations in Ohio, South Dakota, Florida, and California and nationally with WeatherNation She’s been live out in the field during tropical storms, wildfires, snowstorms, and the aftermath from tornadoes. Meredith is also an accomplished reporter, producing weather and science stories. This includes rocket launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral, in-depth special reports and features on NOAA’s GOES-R and JPSS satellite series, and coverage on some of NASA’s biggest accomplishments over the past five years. She’s interviewed some of the top scientists and leaders of the space and science community, being selected as the only meteorologist to travel with the GOES-West satellite from Colorado to Florida in 2017 on the C-5M Super Galaxy and for a one-on-one interview with the director of the National Weather Service on his retirement after 50 years. Her personal and professional work has been recognized numerous times over the last decade most

notably with the inaugural Valparaiso University Alumni Association First Decade Achievement Award in 2018, a Fair Media Council Folio Award for “Breaking News,” two Press Club of Long Island awards, and Long Island Business News

“40 Under 40” in 2022. She also was named one of the “Top 100” in Aviation and Aerospace to Follow on LinkedIn in 2022. Meredith frequents as a panel moderator at the Space Symposium and Satellite Conference, a judge for the Space Foundation’s Space Technology Hall of Fame, and moderator for Foundation for the Future. Meredith spends countless hours doing school, career, and motivational talks and podcasts to help encourage women pursuing STEM careers and inspire our future generations. She moderates panels, serves as emcee for events, and conducts interviews to further storytelling on space and science topics. She is a huge advocate for supporting mental health initiatives as well as programs that focus on preventing child abuse and neglect and supporting adults who suffered from childhood abuse.

Meredith is an accomplished singer and actor, most recognized for performing the national anthem at a Denver Broncos game in 2018, the Cleveland Guardians in 2021, and Brooklyn Cyclones in 2022. She was invited as a guest performer for the New York Islanders in 2022.

Gold Award Girl Scouts Change the World

Gold Award Girl Scouts are changemakers. 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 résumé can make a Girl Scout stand out when it comes to college admissions, scholarship applications, internships, and job interviews.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc.

Board of Directors

2023-2024

OFFICERS

Andrea Elder-Howell, Esq. President and Chief Volunteer Officer

Melanie Sinesi Executive Vice President

Allison Bishop White Vice President

Tonia Bottoms, Esq. Vice President

John Zhao Vice President

Leah Watson Treasurer

Julie Strachan Haiber, Esq. Secretary

Randell M. Bynum Chief Executive Officer

MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

Lisa Arning

Natalie Borneo

Kevin Boston-Hill

Danielle D’Ambrosio

Holly Esteves

Vikki Ernst-Chang

Susan Ganz

Gabby Gibbs

Adrian Goodwin

Belinda Hill

Steven Lindo

Susan MacDonald

Mike Mannix

Patricia Mercer

Lasherelle Morgan

Melanie Pavlidis

Dr. Jean Peden Christodoulou

Madison Spanodemos

Anne Marie Spensieri-Fidis

Lauren Summa

Denise Voda

Pawel Zagaja

Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc.

SERVICE UNITS COMMUNITIES SERVED

BALDWIN Baldwin, Baldwin Harbor

BAY...................................... Bayville, Brookville, Center Island, Cove Neck, East Norwich, ............................................... Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Old Brookville, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, Upper Brookville

BELLMORE Bellmore, North Bellmore

CARLE PLACE/

WESTBURY Carle Place, New Cassel, Westbury Village, Old Westbury

CENTRAL PARK Bethpage, Old Bethpage, Plainview

EAST MEADOW.............. East Meadow, Salisbury

ELLM .................................. East Rockaway, Lakeview, Lynbrook, Malverne

ELMONT Elmont, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor

FLORAL PARK/

BELLEROSE ..................... Bellerose Terrace, Bellerose, Bellerose Village, Floral Park

FREEPORT Freeport

GARDEN CITY Garden City

GLEN COVE...................... Glen Cove

GREAT NECK................... Great Neck Village, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Great Neck Plaza, Russell Gardens, Russell Gardens Estates, Saddle Rock, Thomaston Village, University Gardens

HARDSCRABBLE ........... Farmingdale, North Massapequa, South Farmingdale

HEMPSTEAD ................... Hempstead

HERRICKS Albertson, Herricks, North New Hyde Park, Searingtown, HICKSVILLE .................... Hicksville

ISLAND BEACH .............. Atlantic Beach, Barnum Island, Island Beach, Lido Beach, Long Beach, Point Lookout

JERICHO/SYOSSET Jericho, Muttontown, Syosset, Woodbury

MANHASSET ................... Manhasset, Manhasset Hills, Munsey Park, North Hills, Plandome

MASSAPEQUA ................ Massapequa, Massapequa Park

MERRICK Merrick, North Merrick

OCEANSIDE Oceanside

PARK .................................. Garden City Park, New Hyde Park

PLAINEDGE North Massapequa, Farmingdale, Plainedge

PORT WASHINGTON Baxter Estates, Flower Hill, Manorhaven, ............................................... Port Washington, Sands Point

ROCKVILLE CENTRE... Rockville Centre, South Hempstead

ROOSEVELT Roosevelt

SEAFORD/WANTAGH Seaford, Wantagh

SHORE ............................... Glen Head, Glenwood Landing, Sea Cliff

THE PLAINS Island Trees, Levittown

UNIONDALE Uniondale

VALLEY STREAM/

FIVE TOWNS ................... Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence, Woodmere, North Woodmere, Valley Stream

WARM Williston Park, Albertson, East Hills Estates, East Williston, Old Westbury, Roslyn, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Mineola

WEST HEMPSTEAD/

FRANKLIN SQUARE .... Franklin Square, West Hempstead

The Highest Award a Girl Can Achieve in Girl Scouting

Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable changes in their communities and around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary changemakers. They are our future, and it looks bright!

First known as the Golden Eagle of Merit, the highest award has gone through many name changes through the years...

Golden Eagle of Merit

1916-1918

Golden Eaglet

1918-1938

First Class

1938-1940

Curved Bar

1940-1963

First Class Award and Challenge Pins

1963-1980

Gold Award

1980-present

GOLD AWARD COMMITTEE 2022-2023

Stephanie Bartoldus Rockville Centre

Susan Canatella Manhasset

Basia Damsker The Plains

Cynthia Gamble Uniondale

Kaitlyn Gioia West Hempstead/ Franklin Square

Janet Gordon Hempstead

Cheryl Hatala Glen Cove

Pat Hickey ELLM

Suzie Jockel Hardscrabble

Lisa D’Anna Johnson Merrick

Anna Lenz ELLM

Joanne Meyer-Jendras Garden City

Kathleen Murphy Massapequa

Bonnie Parente WARM

Monica Pavlidis Herricks

Gina Solomita Port Washington

Angela Sikes Port Washington

Kristine Lopez WH/FS

Fatima Perry Hempstead

Rachel Carlin Hardscrabble

2023 GOLD AWARD GIRL SCOUTS

Great Neck

Elizabeth Margiloff

Hardscrabble

Alexa Frontino

Faith Williams

Baldwin

Vanessa Osse

Bay

Kylie Daly

Mariana Panariello

Kate Webster

East Meadow

Lauren Rodriguez

ELLM

Ryan Benvenuto

Sofia Yaker

Floral Park/Bellerose

Ella Iannitti

Garden City

Sophia Cano

Maria Dalia

Jaci Licari

Kathryn Maloney

Juliana Mitchell

Madeline Mitchell

Gretchen Murphy

Anna Nealon

Ella Pocock

Grace Power

Keira Regan

Rebecca Reisig

Cristina Seoylemezian

Ryan Sievers

Sarah Vincent

Kennedy Wilgosz

Ava Zino

Hempstead

Azaria Ellis

Herricks

Ava Schmidt

Jericho/Syosset

Erica Borzone

Shannen Fung

Manhasset

Noelle Bartul

Catherine Broderick

Cailey Held

Bella Rontiris

Massapequa

Lea Marie Mastorakis

Audrey Pioreck

Shea Salamack

Merrick

Yasmine Mathew

Lauren McCarthy

Oceanside

Emma DeFrancesco

Plainedge

Corinne Kassatly

Rockville Centre

Emma Lincks

Seaford/Wantagh

Angelina Bendetti

Nicole Nietsch

Hannah Popadin-Lesniak

Nicole Tobia

WARM

Julia DaSilva

Charlee Denzler

Grace Pizzardi

Shalini Samuel

Samantha Vitale

West Hempstead/ Franklin Square

Caitlin Fitzpatrick

Brianna Suarez Oubina

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Noelle Bartul

Manhasset Service Unit

Troop 515

COVID-19’s Impact: An Electronical Timestamp

Congratulations, Gold Award Girl Scouts!

Angelina Bendetti Seaford/Wantagh

Service Unit

Troop 3440

Get in the Game

Angelina Bendetti recognized that many high school athletes who wanted to continue their sport in college did not know how to connect with college-level athletic programs. She understood that a visit with the college coach and team would be valuable help for students to formulate what kind of college they would like to attend. She created a manual and a website detailing the steps she followed to coordinate a college visit with an athletic team. She publicized this information to other teams in her high school.

During high school, Angelina participated in varsity softball and volleyball, and is the recording secretary of the Italian club. Angelina’s fondest Girl Scout memory was visiting the Ronald McDonald House for families of sick children. The troop got to cook desserts for the families and wish them well. Angelina will graduate high school in June 2023. She is attending University of Minnesota-Twin Cities for her college experience.

Noelle Bartul’s Gold Award project aimed to address the lack of a place where people could express how COVID-19 has impacted them. To create an accessible space where this could be accomplished, she learned to use a website-creator and establish her own website. This website permitted individuals to anonymously submit artwork or literature that expressed how COVID-19 has impacted them. Noelle shared the website in her community and globally, educating about its purpose and advocating for the website’s use. She partnered with Manhasset High School’s Art Honor Society, where the website has been published on the group’s Canvas page. Noelle’s project sustainment is in the skills individuals have gained to express emotions and in the website’s continued availability.

Noelle’s favorite pastimes include tennis, playing the violin, and creating digital artwork. By completing her Gold Award project, Noelle realized her talents in public speaking and creating and formatting websites. Noelle’s fondest Girl Scout memory is when her troop slept overnight at the Museum of Natural History. Noelle will be attending Barnard College in Manhattan this coming fall.

Ryan Benvenuto

ELLM Service Unit

Troop 2566

ShelfCare

Ryan Benvenuto created a book club called ShelfCare that focuses on teen mental health issues. Her mission was to find books that concentrate on mental health and use that as a tool for teens to open up about relatable issues. Ryan had students and teachers fill out surveys to gauge how they felt about teen mental health. The teens cited social media and academic pressures as main drivers toward their stress. Ryan partnered with Random House Children’s Books. Ryan launched a website, Shelfcare.org, to sustain her project and share the message with teens.

Ryan is a member of Lynbrook High School’s kickline team and varsity cross-country and track teams. She participated in student government and concert choir. Ryan’s fondest Girl Scout memories are selling Girl Scout Cookies with the support of a grocery store and creating Friendship Theatre, a theatre camp for kids, for her Silver Award project. Ryan is a graduate of Lynbrook High School and will be attending SUNY Oneonta in 2023 studying Elementary Education and Special Education in their Scholar’s Program.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Erica Borzone

Jericho/Syosset Service Unit Troop 3518

Volleyball Outreach Program

Erica Borzone earned her Gold Award by creating the Volleyball Outreach Program at the Boys & Girls Club of America. This program offers the sport of volleyball for youth who may not have access to the sport. Erica’s Gold Award project will be sustainable by engaging with other volunteers at various Boys & Girls Clubs through the use of her workbook, Volleyball Outreach Program Training.

Erica has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, and her most memorable project was the troop effort to help an elderly neighbor comply with a local ordinance to clean up her property and plant new trees and flowers. Erica is a rising sophomore at Bentley University where she is currently a member of the Women’s Leadership Program, Honors Program, and the women’s volleyball team. She is majoring in finance.

Sophia Cano Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1403

Don’t Drink From the Hose

Sophia Cano embarked on a Gold Award with the mission of educating children about the potential dangers of hose water. Her strategy involved writing and illustrating a children’s book that she presented to the local community. To ensure the quality of the book, Sophia partnered with book editors and Spanish teachers for the Spanish translation. In addition to the physical book, Sophia created a website for easy access to the project online, making it sustainable and available for the community to use as a resource. Sophia’s passion and dedication to her cause have undoubtedly made an impact on the community, raising awareness and educating children about the potential dangers of hose water.

Sophia Cano will be senior at St. Mary’s High School in Manhasset. She is involved in painting her school play’s sets, Art Club, and the National Honor Society. A memory she will never forget is going to Washington DC with her troop, a truly memorable trip that enriched her knowledge of America. Her Gold Award project gave her confidence in presenting and instilled the value of hard work.

Catherine Broderick Manhasset Service Unit

Troop 541

Swim Safety For Life

Catherine Broderick’s Gold Award project helped the children at Project Head Start improve their water fluency and taught the skills needed to swim safely. Catherine partnered with Adventures in Learning and recruited lifeguards, running a twice-a-week clinic at the Whitney Pond Park Pool to teach and reinforce the necessary skills. Catherine created a swim program and YouTube video explaining her process that Head Start and other schools and camps can use to create clinics to help children learn the necessary skills to avoid drowning, the highest cause of death in children.

A graduate of Manhasset High School, Catherine was a five-year member and senior captain of the varsity swim team, two-time varsity golf team member, and a two-time Presidential Award recipient, volunteering over 250 hours while in high school. Catherine loved her time as a Girl Scout, and her favorite memory was spending the night at the Metropolitan Museum. While earning her Gold Award, Catherine learned how important it is to stay focused on a long-term project. Catherine will be attending Fairfield University this fall.

Maria Dalia Garden City Service Unit Troop 1445

Food Allergy Awareness

To earn her Gold Award, Maria Dalia worked with teachers at Garden City Middle School to add a lesson to teach students about food allergies. She developed worksheets to go along with the lesson, and she put pamphlets and educational information outside of local doctors’ offices and libraries. Maria’s project is sustained by her local middle school using the lesson for years to come, and all of her resources and information can be accessed on her Facebook group to teach others about food allergies.

A 2022 graduate of Garden City High School, Maria was a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and the National Italian Honor Society. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is camping outside of a cathedral with her friends and their families. While earning her Gold Award, she learned how to be an independent leader and step out of her comfort zone in order to reach her goals. She is currently a rising sophomore at Penn State University.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Kylie Daly Bay Service Unit

Troop 123

Lifecycle and Importance of a Butterfly

Kylie Daly’s Gold Award project aimed to address the importance of the butterfly. Her project outlined the lifecycle of a butterfly, and her primary goal was to educate children about the impact that a butterfly can have on our environment and the importance of pollination. She created a garden for butterflies to pollinate and a fun activity for preschool children to learn about the butterfly lifecycle and why they are necessary to the ecosystem. Kylie created an educational packet that targets preschool children to teach them how butterflies develop from larvae to butterfly over approximately 2-3 weeks, the importance of pollination, and respecting the environment.

The preschool at the YMCA agreed to maintain the gardens in the future. The groundskeepers will water the flowers and keep the gardens clean, and every year, teachers will be incorporating this project into their curriculum. Kylie is part of the Bay troop and is passionate about protecting and preserving nature and the environment.

Emma DeFrancesco Oceanside Service Unit

Troop 626

W.O.R.K. Club (Work Opportunity Resource Konnection)

Emma DeFrancesco embarked on her Gold Award project by providing students with help and coaching for each stage of employment searching. She assisted students with writing resumes and cover letters, practicing mock job interviews, and developing other skills needed to successfully land a job. Another chapter of Emma’s club is opening up in her district’s middle school, and Emma’s hope and plan is that as the club naturally grows and thrives in her school community, other communities will learn about it and want to create similar clubs.

Emma goes to Oceanside High School. She is involved in the school’s gay-straight-alliance club, Thespian Honor Society, and the symphonic orchestra. Emma will be attending the University at Buffalo this fall studying Anthropology.

Julia DaSilva

WARM Service Unit

Troop 1805

Head Concussion Prevention

For her Gold Award project, Julia DaSilva developed a website and YouTube channel to spread awareness about the dangers of head concussions. She successfully presented her Gold Award project to local Girl Scout troops at public events like the Floral Park Lions Club, “Connect 22”, and at the Mineola Memorial Library. She also connected with Corpus Christi CYO to teach head concussion prevention to the participants of the basketball program. Coaches will continue to spread awareness by incorporating Julia’s presentation as part of the training required to participate in the program. Her resources can be accessed through her website and YouTube channel. Julia is a graduate of Mineola High School, where she was president of the Literary Society, a member of the yearbook staff, and captain of the varsity cheer squad. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is zip-lining at Frost Valley. Julia is studying Criminology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Charlee Denzler WARM Service Unit

Troop 1805

Charlee’s Closet

Charlee Denzler created a closet at Hour Children, a non-profit organization, stocked with personal hygiene products for women and children who have been affected by incarceration. Hour Children helps incarcerated and formerly-incarcerated women and their children successfully rejoin the community, reunify with their families, and build healthy, independent, and secure lives. Through discussions, presentations, surveys, and social-media platforms, Charlee educated women and children on the importance of hygiene and using related products. In addition to education, Charlee procured bath towels and products through a donation drive involving the Mineola community.

Charlee has been very engaged with activities throughout high school. In addition to being an Honor Roll student, Charlee was in marching band for five years and was a section leader. She participated in Student Service Center acts and was in the travel volleyball club. She also swam for LIAC (Long Island Aquatic Center) and CYO swimming. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is making unforgettable memories with her troop.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Azaria Ellis Hempstead Service Unit Troop 300

Fighting Back

Azaria Ellis addressed the lack of access to self-defense training for women for her Gold Award project, “Fighting Back.” She created workshops that taught safetyawareness techniques and self-defense tactics, such as how to disarm someone with a weapon, which places to strike on the body, and how to escape a chokehold. Azaria led demonstrations to assist women in feeling confident in their ability to be alert in their surroundings and in protecting themselves from dangerous situations. Her lessons can be accessed on her project’s Instagram page and on her church’s website, and they will be sustained by her sensei who will continue to instruct using Azaria’s self-defense strategies.

Azaria is a graduate of Uniondale High School. She volunteered in her church as Acolyte and Sunday School helper, ran blood drives in her school as a member of the Red Cross Club, and instructed classes at her karate dojo. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is attending the holiday light show, dancing to the music, and embracing being carefree. Azaria is currently a sophomore at Penn State University.

Alexa Frontino

Hardscrabble Service Unit

Troop 3230

Saltzman Sensory Garden

Alexa Frontino designed and built a sensory garden at Saltzman East Memorial Elementary School. Alexa’s inspiration for this project was the realization that not all students learn the same way. She felt that having a learning environment outside of the classroom could be beneficial to some students. Her project began with research on the benefits of sensory gardens and how she could implement one in her school. She met with the principal to discuss her ideas and a location that would work. With her team, she designed, built, and painted a tactile board, an acoustic board, and three flowers with chalkboard centers. She created curriculum plans that span all grade levels, art, music, and occupational therapy.

Alexa is an eleventh-grade honors student at Farmingdale High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and French Honor Society. Alexa is also president of the high school’s history club and captain of the Ethics Bowl team. Outside of school, Alexa volunteers as a Big Buddy for special-needs children at the Farmingdale Public Library.

Caitlin Fitzpatrick

West Hempstead/Franklin Square Service Unit

Troop 1257

Optimizing a Coanda Device for the Reduction of Beach Erosion

Caitlin Fitzpatrick addressed the issue of beach erosion, which is caused by the action of waves and currents on the shoreline. She taught people of all ages how to reduce their impact on the shoreline and help prevent beach erosion. Caitlin instructed her audience on how to adjust their behavior at the beach to deter the effects of beach erosion. She conducted a scientific experiment where she optimized the Coanda effect to build a Coanda device as a deterrent against beach erosion. Her research and information will continue to educate through her Instagram account, where her final research paper and presentation board are posted.

As a senior of H. Frank Carey High School, Caitlin is secretary of the National Honor Society, president of the World Language Honor Society, and co-founder of the Carey Kindness Council. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is the trip that her troop took to Frost Valley. While earning her Gold Award, she learned that public speaking was a great way to reach different groups of people.

Shannen Fung Jericho/Syosset Service Unit

Troop 3372

Small Bites of Legacy: Bridging the Generational Gap Through Food

Shannen Fung addressed the issue of loneliness in the senior population and bridged the generational gap by interviewing residents from a senior housing community about their favorite recipes. She compiled these family recipes and reflections on food, culture, and family into a personalized cookbook to empower seniors and to allow family and community members to learn about their seniors. She gave a presentation to spread awareness of the lack of connections between the generations and to encourage stronger family bonds. Shannen’s presentation resides in the facility’s library, and it serves as a living document for members to donate recipes and preserve their history. A graduate of Syosset High School, Shannen was a participant in her school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter, achieved performance level in the ARSM (Associate of the Royal Schools of Music) for violin and piano, and was a leader in her church’s youth group. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is when she was a Girl Scout Ambassador and visited the Ronald McDonald House to cook and serve meals for the chidren and their families. Shannen will attend Stony Brook University this fall.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Cailey Held Manhasset Service Unit Troop 541

Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset

Cailey Held educated elementary school children on the value of formulating novel business ideas to earn her Gold Award. She presented lesson plans on basic business concepts to children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Her goal was to expose children to the meaning of business-related ideas and to show that entrepreneurism exists in their daily lives. Cailey explored topics on supply and demand, production, competition, costs, money, community need, marketing, logos, and profit. Cailey shared her curriculum with teachers and the administration so that it can continue to be a part of classroom discussions in the future.

Cailey is a recent graduate of Manhasset Secondary School. She was the varsity soccer team captain and ran for the track team. Cailey is the secretary of the National Honor Society, and a member of the Economics Club and the Key Club. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was attending Halloween parties at the Science Museum of Nassau County. She will attend Vanderbilt University this fall where she plans to study Human and Organizational Development and Economics.

Corinne Kassatly Plainedge Service Unit

Troop 3496

C Your Challenge

Corinne Kassatly strived to create a motivational fitness community to inspire her peers to engage in physical activity and to lead a healthy lifestyle. She acknowledged that many people view working out negatively, and she saw this Gold Award as her opportunity to change that narrative. She partnered with her middle school’s younger Girl Scout troops and physical education teacher to create workout plans and games that got the students involved in physical activity. She built a social media platform and website to provide information, workouts, and inspiration that allows C Your Challenge to continue to grow and make an impact nationwide.

Corinne is a three-sport/season athlete—she’s the varsity cross-country team captain, and a member of the varsity basketball and lacrosse teams. She is the president and founder of Athletic League For All and the president of the Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was baking for children at the Ronald McDonald House. Corinne is a recent graduate of Our Lady of Mercy Academy and will be attending Florida State University in the fall, majoring in Risk Management/Insurance.

Ella Iannitti Floral Park/Bellerose Service Unit Troop 1622

Needs in the Community

The mission of Ella Iannitti’s Gold Award project was to educate local businesses in her community about how to become more accessible for people with special needs. She accomplished this by creating an Instagram page with inspirational quotes and practical advice from experts in different fields. Ella partnered with Karen Phannemiller, director of special education at a local grammar school and Maura Gallagher, the superintendent of Franklin Square schools. Ella’s project was made sustainable by creating flyers with QR codes, giving local businesses easy access to her online education program.

Ella is a high school senior at Floral Park Memorial High school. She is a member of her school’s business honor society and cross-country team. She participated in competitive marching band for four years and competed in the marching band state championships. While completing her Gold Award, Ella learned how to be confident and to show strength through public speaking. She will be attending Adelphi University on a Dean’s scholarship in 2023.

Jaci Licari

Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1432

Everyone Can Cook!

To earn her Gold Award, Jaci Licari worked with ACDS (Association for Children with Down Syndrome) to teach adults with Down Syndrome how to cook easy and fun recipes that they could make with friends and family. She visited an ACDS group home weekly and taught two recipes each time to give the residents all the cooking skills they needed. Jaci’s project is sustained by cookbooks given to each resident and weekly recipe posts on the ACDS Facebook page.

A recent graduate of Garden City High School, Jaci participated in Peer Educators, National Charity League, and was part of the varsity cheer team. Girl Scouts has taught Jaci the importance of helping people in her community. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was going on mother daughter trips with her troop. Jaci will be attending High Point University in the fall and will major in interior design.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Emma Lincks Rockville Centre Service Unit Troop 829

Animal Rescue Club

Emma Lincks focused her project on animal abandonment by creating an Animal Rescue Club. Emma educated her community on animal rescue and the negative impacts of puppy mills. She created and gave presentations, distributed educational brochures, and developed Instagram pages to spread awareness. The inspiration for her project came from volunteering at an animal rescue where she rescued three dogs. The dogs were rescued from kill shelters, all were malnourished, and one dog was blind and very sick. Emma took a stand on preventing animal abandonment by educating the community regarding the importance of spaying and neutering pets and the cruelty animals endure in puppy mills. Emma’s project continues to educate the community through her online brochure and Instagram page.

As a sophomore at Wake Forest University, Emma continues her volunteer work with the University’s animal rescue club Woof Forest. She also volunteers at an elementary school providing tutoring and participates in her university’s tap dance club. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was the warm welcome she received with Troop 829 from her troop leader and fellow troop members.

Elizabeth Margiloff Great Neck Service Unit

Troop 659

Keys to Success and Wellness

To earn her Gold Award, Elizabeth Margiloff addressed the issue of the negative effects stress and anxiety have on the mental and social development of children, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She created presentations for elementary, middle, and high school students to provide resources and strategies for combatting anxiety, depression, and transitional changes. She partnered with EPIC Enrichment, a community center, which hosted some of her presentations. Her project is sustained through digital summaries of her presentations which she developed and distributed for future use and reference. Her materials will be distributed to students at a Brooklyn charter school where they will be used in assemblies.

Her fondest Girl Scout memories are selling cookies at Roosevelt Field Mall with her Girl Scout sisters. While earning her Gold Award, she learned that proactive communication and planning are essential team-building skills. An alumni of Great Neck North High School Class of 2022, Elizabeth completed her freshman year at Wellesley College, where she enjoys playing in the BrandeisWellesley Orchestra and dancing in the Wellesley Tap Troupe.

Kathryn Maloney Garden City Service Unit Troop 1357

Doggie Do’s and Don’ts

To earn her Gold Award, Kathryn Maloney developed an interactive program about dog behavior that aimed to teach kids how to develop positive relationships with their furry friends. She led discussions with children at local schools, parks, and libraries to teach them how dogs communicate their emotions through body language. She shared tips on how to spot key signs of anxiety and aggression in dogs, and she educated on how to stay safe in situations where a dog may attack. She developed educational resources and created activities that gave participants a chance to put the information they learned in action. Kathryn’s project is sustained by her local library where her book on dog behavior is in circulation. Her resources can be accessed through her project’s website and social media.

A recent graduate of Garden City High School, Kathryn was the president of her high school’s UNICEF Club, and a member of the National Honor Society. Kathryn is also an Irish dancer. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is camping with her troop. Kathryn will be attending Boston University in the fall.

Lea Marie Mastorakis Massapequa Service Unit

Troop 2151

Women’s Empowerment Club

To earn her Gold Award, Lea Marie Mastorakis created a club at her school that worked to empower women and create an equal community in terms of gender. The club sought to educate students and faculty about gender inequality through workshops, discussions, and a trip to the Brooklyn Museum. To provide resources, Lea created a website that can be accessed by the school community and the general public. Her project is sustained by the knowledge the students gained through her various sexism related initiatives, the website, and the continuation of the club after Lea graduates.

As a recent graduate from Portledge School, Lea was captain of the varsity girls’ volleyball team and earned her International Baccalaureate diploma. A Girl Scout memory that she holds especially close is planting a garden with her troop to help the endangered monarch butterflies. In earning her Gold Award, Lea learned the importance of courage and working with others as a team. She will be attending Duke University in the fall.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Yasmine Mathew Merrick Service Unit

Troop 2358

Protect the Environment and Yourself: Making Masks to Last!

Yasmine Mathew’s Gold Award project was started during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she taught others the importance of masking and hygiene to prevent infections. Due to the high number of disposable masks that were thrown away, she taught students how to create their own reusable masks to reduce the environmental impact of disposable-mask garbage. She made a brochure, video, and hosted presentations at her parish to demonstrate some simple reusable mask-making techniques to Sunday school students and their families.

Yasmine completed her Bronze and Silver Awards while part of Troop 2358 in Merrick. She has participated in many council events like Girls Go the Distance, Camp Blue Bay weekends, Girls Speak, Girls Who Code, STEM, and other various badge programs. She also got to attend the Girl Scout Wicked program on Broadway and see the Rockettes with her troop. She has had many interesting experiences through Girl Scouts and completed various volunteer activities like book drives and food collection for charities. Yasmine will be attending Adelphi University in the fall of 2023.

Juliana Mitchell Garden City Service Unit Troop 1322

Using Social Media for Good

To earn her Gold Award, Juliana Mitchell addressed the issue of using social media for positive benefits. She partnered with SmartSocial.com, a website that provides resources about digital citizenship for teenagers.

Juliana developed a presentation and pamphlet called Social Media for Good, that highlighted how to use social media safely, appropriately, and purposefully to show one’s best self by focusing on academic, athletic, or extracurricular accomplishments. The information was distributed at meetings and fairs to parents and students. Juliana created a social media platform for the Garden City Service Unit of Girl Scouts to distribute Service unit information. Her project is sustained by having her presentation and pamphlet available at guidance departments and local libraries. The Garden City Girl Scout Instagram page continues to foster using social media for good.

Juliana is a rising junior at Garden City High School. She is a member of the marching band, Tri-M Music Honor Society, and numerous youth leadership organizations including the Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Girl Leadership Committee. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is going to Walt Disney World with her troop.

Lauren McCarthy

Merrick Service Unit

Troop 2274

Period Positivity

Lauren McCarthy addressed the issues of menstrual stigma and “period poverty,” when women can’t afford to buy menstrual products, which are caused by false perceptions and taboos about menstruation. She taught young women how to maintain a positive and healthy outlook on their menstrual cycles and become advocates for underprivileged women. She provided information about the impact of menstrual stigma, the discrimination women face due to their menstrual status, and how to stay “period-positive” with their own prep kits. Lauren’s project will educate women on how to overcome menstruation challenges through access to her website and by creating a collection drive for feminine products at her school.

A graduate of Sacred Heart Academy, Lauren was a member of the speech and debate club, an executive member of the Women in Engineering Club, and the founder and president of her school’s chess club. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is building a lending library as a part of her Silver Award project. While earning her Gold Award, she learned that her passions truly lie in making a difference in her community. Lauren will be attending the University of Notre Dame.

Madeline Mitchell Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1322

Learning, Living, Loving: Growing the Game of Field Hockey

Madeline Mitchell partnered with USA Field Hockey and her club team, Lasting Legacy, to introduce and develop the game of field hockey for students in second through sixth grades. Madeline’s team helped initiate access to an instructional league which provided the opportunity to learn the sport through match play. She also hosted a clinic for Girl Scouts to learn while playing and interacting with volunteers from her school’s field hockey teams. Madeline created a pamphlet for players detailing the importance of providing community service “give back days.” Her project is sustained by her club team continuing the instructional league and the high school offering ongoing “give back days.”

Madeline is a junior at Garden City High School. She is a member of the varsity field hockey team, National Charity League, and the Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Girl Leadership Committee. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is going to Frost Valley. While earning her Gold Award, she learned that stepping out of her comfort zone helped her reach her goals and build self-confidence.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Gretchen Murphy Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1432

A Sunny Tuesday in September

Gretchen Murphy recognized that her generation, born after 2001, did not have a true understanding of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. She viewed television footage, watched documentaries, and interviewed first responders who survived the rescue efforts. Gretchen created a presentation targeted to middle and high-school students to educate them on the history and real-life events of that day. She shared her presentation with Girl Scout troops, peer groups, and high school history classes. Her materials have been adopted by high school teachers for their AP Government curriculum. Gretchen hopes that this education will ensure that we truly never forget this historic day.

Gretchen is a senior at both Garden City High School and Long Island High School for the Arts. She is a member of the International Thespian Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society, and is a drugs and alcohol presenter for Peer Educators. She is active in the Chaminade Darby Players theatre club, is a dance captain, and has performed in eight plays and musicals. Gretchen’s favorite Girl Scout memory is her troop’s trip to Hawthorne Valley Farm. Gretchen will attend Marist College.

Nicole Nietsch Seaford/Wantagh Service Unit

Troop 3022

Promoting Female Athletes

Nicole Nietsch realized that most young girls are enrolled in dance or gymnastics activities instead of sports. She learned there are differences between the way girls and boys are treated in the world of sports. Girls are not always given the same opportunities as boys. Her project provided a way for young girls to learn the sport of basketball without pressures from others. She created a website that provides basic training and warm-up drills, as well as important information for athletes. As a three-sport varsity athlete, she wanted other young girls to have the same chances she had on the courts. She shared this website with elementary school gym teachers to ensure that her message would get to the right audience.

A recent graduate of Seaford High School, Nicole ranked in the top 25 percent of her class. She was a drum major in band, a member of the soccer, basketball, and lacrosse teams, and received a Scholar Athlete award. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was sleeping over at the Science Museum. Nicole will be attending Mercyhurst University this fall.

Anna Nealon Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1612

Live Without Limits

Through her Gold Award project, Anna Nealon achieved her mission to improve mental health literacy and promote well-being by having beach access mats placed at the high-tide line at Town of Hempstead (TOH) beaches for beachgoers to use for relaxation and enjoyment. Working collaboratively with local government officials, publishing a Change.org petition, and presenting at community events, Anna increased community awareness and support for her project. Anna’s project is sustained by the TOH to ensure that shoreline access for all citizens and an evidence-based opportunity for mental well-being continues for generations to come.

Anna graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High School where she was a National Honor Society member, a Senior Leader mentoring sixth graders, and a religious education teacher. Most recently, she was staff member at Camp ANCHOR; a year-round program for persons with disabilities, and worked part-time as a swim instructor. Anna’s favorite Girl Scout memory is her troop’s Washington DC trip where she enjoyed visiting several historical places. Anna is now a freshman at the University of South Carolina.

Vanessa Osse Baldwin Service Unit Troop 2315

Uniform Collection

To earn her Gold Award, Vanessa Osse worked with her high school to eliminate the amount of uniforms that go to waste. She developed a collection drive in which students could donate used or gently-used uniforms, which were then repurposed and given to other students in need. She also created a system which made it easy for other students to request specific uniform components that they need. Vanessa’s project is sustained by her school’s chapter of the National Honor Society, who are continuing to collect and repurpose uniforms. In her freshman year at Emory University, Vanessa was an analyst at her school’s consulting club, as well as a member of the school’s budget committee. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was going to Camp Blue Bay each year. In achieving her Gold Award, she learned vital leadership and organization skills, as well as project management attributes.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Mariana Panariello Bay Service Unit Troop 65

Yoga and Mindful Breathing with Mariana

For Mariana Panariello’s Gold Award project, she raised awareness of the issue of children struggling with stress from real-life problems. She taught children how to practice yoga and mindful breathing daily to alleviate this. She also shed light on the importance of yoga breathing patterns while teaching at local Town of Oyster Bay (TOBAY) parks during the TOBAY Recreation Program. She partnered with her yoga instructor to create brochures that contained yoga poses and information about herself and her partner. Her students were delighted to tell her stories about the yoga poses they showed their family and friends, which solidified the sustainability portion of Mariana’s project.

A recent graduate of Oyster Bay High School, Mariana is an honor roll student, the president of the Interact Club, editor of her school’s yearbook, and captain of her varsity tennis team. Mariana’s fondest memories of Girl Scouts was attending Camp Blue Bay with her troop and selling Girl Scout Cookies. While earning her Gold Award, she learned that sharing her interests with children can impact their lives and her own. Mariana will be attending the University of Richmond in the fall.

Grace Pizzardi

WARM Service Unit

Troop 1360

Local American Heroes

Grace Pizzardi realized she was not learning firsthand accounts of the American wars. She decided to go speak to veterans. She learned things that she did not learn from her teachers or textbooks. The information that Grace received plays a crucial role in preserving our nation’s history. She knew that veterans would not always be able to tell their stories. Grace wanted to teach others the importance of speaking to veterans and learning their stories. Grace learned about the many different jobs and ways these people helped out in the military, not just on the battlefield. Grace spoke with several American Legion members and women’s veteran groups. Grace sustained her project by sharing these stories with students and on her website.

As a senior in high school, Grace is involved in sports, various clubs, and is a member of the National Honor Society. Her fondest memory of being a Girl Scout is participating in Operation Cookie by loading DHL trucks with cookies that would be given to active service members overseas.

Audrey Pioreck

Massapequa

Troop 2507

Service Unit

Let’s Learn How to be Sun Safe!

To earn her Gold Award, Audrey Pioreck taught sun safety practices to elementary and high school students to bring awareness to skin cancer prevention. She created lessons for elementary school students, which taught them how to best protect themselves from the sun in order to prevent skin cancer from developing. Audrey implemented a similar lesson in her high school. Her project is sustained by annual lessons on sun safety in a school club, as well as an annual bake sale that raises money for a local skin cancer foundation. A senior at Massapequa High School, Audrey is a captain of her school’s mock trial team, and a member of the National Honor Society. Audrey also plays volleyball. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is taking a trip to Rocking Horse Ranch with her troop. While earning her Gold Award, she learned that she can achieve whatever she puts her mind to. Audrey will be attending St. John’s University in the fall, and she will be studying history.

Ella Pocock Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1322

The Eco-Art Project

For her Gold Award, Ella Pocock implemented an environmentallybased art therapy curriculum to address the issue of adolescent mental health while educating children on plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. She partnered with the Ocean Beach Youth Group on Fire Island where she conducted eco-art workshops educating children on the benefits of engaging in artistic expression to alleviate stress and anxiety, while learning innovative forms of recycling. Ella taught the children how to upcycle plastics to create crafts such as bird feeders, piggy banks, and self-watering planters. Ella’s project will be sustained through the use of her eco-art instruction manual by several youth education and summer camp programs and her online eco-art social media account.

A junior at Garden City High School, Ella is a member of the environmental club and the school’s newspaper, literary magazine, and yearbook. She also plays varsity volleyball. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is her troop’s multigenerational trip of grandmothers, mothers, and daughters to Savannah, Georgia where they visited the home of Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts of the USA.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Hannah Popadin-Lesniak Seaford/Wantagh Service Unit

Troop 3121

The Dance Depot

Hannah Popadin-Lesniak partnered with the organization Donate 2 Dance who matched Hannah with a dance company in need of donations. At Destination Dance, where she has been dancing competitively, she collected over 500 gently-worn recital costumes, 20 pairs of dance shoes, leotards, tights, and accessories. She organized costumes and labeled them by size for easier distribution. Hannah’s project will be sustained by her dance studio which will collect donations for dancers in underprivileged areas. Hannah is a 2022 graduate of Wantagh High School. She was a member of multiple honor societies including National, World Language, English, and Tri M. Hannah was the captain of the Wantagh Varsity Dance Team and participated in competitive dance. Her fondest Girl Scout memories include nights at Camp Blue Bay while enjoying the campfire and making new friends! While earning her Gold Award, she was reminded that giving back to those less fortunate is the most rewarding feeling. This inspired her to major in nursing at the University of Scranton where she will be a sophomore in the fall.

Keira Regan Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1322

Arts Alive

Keira Regan brought awareness to the importance of art in our lives and specifically within our schools. Keira worked with Garden City High School to create an art club for the first time in over 20 years, aiming to educate students on all the different pathways of art. Keira made and presented art history lessons, ran competitions and contests, collected for local organizations, and arranged activities with speakers and professional artists to widen the perception of what art is and how it affects us. Through the use of social media, her website, and training other club advisors, Keira’s project will continue after she graduates. As a junior attending Garden City High School, Keira is involved with her community even outside of Girl Scouts. She is founder and president of the Art Club, Art Manager of her school’s stage crew, and a writer for her school’s magazine, Inkspots. Keira fondly remembers camping at the Cathedral of Incarnation and bonding with her fellow Girl Scouts. She has learned that she has a natural talent for public speaking that she honed throughout this journey.

Grace Power Garden City Service Unit Troop 1322

Senior Center Games and Brains

Grace Power worked with senior citizens on increasing their interactions and building relationships, as well as increasing their accessibility to books. Due to COVID-19, many seniors became reluctant to leave their homes and interact with others. Grace created programs throughout the Garden City Senior Center to encourage seniors to come together. Word and board games, book chats, and Bingo allowed seniors to connect with others. Grace’s project is sustained through guides on how to play board games and have an engaging book chat. Grace created a presentation about the importance of building relationships, where she included ways for seniors to interact with others.

As a junior at Garden City High School, Grace is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the Key Club and secretary of the Aviation Club. She plays field hockey and softball. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was seeing a Broadway show, meeting some of its actors beforehand to learn a song and dance, and having lunch in the city afterward.

Rebecca Reisig Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1403

Fairy Forest Festival and Scavenger Hunt

For her Gold Award, Rebecca Reisig held a Fairy Forest Festival and Scavenger Hunt at Centennial Gardens in Floral Park. She addressed the limited number of visitors to the park and brought awareness by creating these events. Rebecca organized volunteers and twelve stations in the gardens that people could explore with over 400 participants. The scavenger hunt was created to show different parts of the garden and include information about various birds. Her project is sustainable because the Fairy Forest Festival will continue to be held every year. The scavenger hunt QR code is posted at the front gate of Centennial Gardens.

A rising senior at The Mary Louis Academy, Rebecca is a member of student council since freshman year and was inducted into the National and Science Honor Societies. She is a member of the Irish Club, Ski Club, soccer team, and is vice president of the Girls Enjoying Math Club. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was her trip to Washington D.C. with her fellow Girl Scouts. During the Gold Award process, Rebecca learned to bring her leadership skills into action.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Lauren Rodriguez East Meadow Service Unit Troop 1256

Girl Code: Encouraging Girls to Code One Click at a Time!

Lauren Rodriguez worked with girls in kindergarten through fifth grade to teach them how to code to address the issue of the lack of women in the tech field. She held virtual and in-person coding workshops where the girls were taught basic coding terminology and the history of women in programming. The girls were then able to complete their own coding project. Lauren’s project is sustained by the STEM club at her high school, where they use Lauren’s guides to hold coding workshops. Her resources can be accessed through her website and her Instagram page to find coding resources and a lesson guide about teaching your own coding workshops.

Lauren is the marketing officer for Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science club and a member of Pure Dance, a contemporary and jazz performance group. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is going to see the Nutcracker with her troop. Through her Gold Award project, Lauren learned to be comfortable with public speaking and was inspired to take on more leadership roles. She completed her freshman year of college at the University of Michigan.

Shea Salamack Massapequa Service Unit

Troop

2069

Bees 2 Seas

Shea Salamack was successful in educating her community on the importance of protecting the pollinators and waterways of Long Island. She introduced native plants to gardens at the Massapequa Public Library and held interactive, informative sessions to educate homeowners and families about how they can help increase biodiversity. Additionally, to sustain her project, she designed an educational website describing the dangers of using harmful chemicals and planting exotic species in order to maintain an idealized suburban lawn. Shea promoted her project through the creation of QR code signs, flyers, and coloring pages which she distributed through libraries, the Town of Oyster Bay Marine Life Educational Expo, and multiple organizations.

Shea graduated from Our Lady of Mercy Academy in 2022, where she was an officer of both the National Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society. At graduation, Shea was a recipient of the President’s Award for Educational Excellence and the Theology Award. Shea completed her freshman year of college at University of San Diego.

Bella Rontiris Manhasset Service Unit

Troop 541

Social Media Wellness

Bella Rontiris addressed the negative influence of social media on teenagers. She partnered with the Manhasset Secondary School Counseling Department and the Manhasset Coalition Against Substance Abuse to create a project that would prevent middle school students from becoming hyper-obsessed with social media. Bella taught seventh-grade students how to combat screen addiction, self-comparison, and cyberbullying that arise from constant phone use. She distributed a pamphlet of mental health resources to students that will remain available in the wellness center. She tracked changes in participants’ social media habits and measured the difference in social media-related counselor referrals. A social media wellness lesson will be implemented next year.

A recent graduate of Manhasset High School, Bella was on the executive board for the Broadcasting, Economics, and Finance clubs. She was also captain of the varsity cheerleading team. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is selling Girl Scout Cookies. She is grateful for the leadership and communication skills that she gained from completing her Girl Scout Gold Award. Bella will be attending Duke Univeristy in the fall.

Shalini Samuel WARM Service Unit Troop 1047

The Golden State of Mind

Shalini Samuel worked with Herricks High School to spread awareness about mental health to students and provide strategies to de-stress. Her goal was to help her peers find ways to manage their stress through mindfulness and breathing techniques. Shalini accomplished this by implementing a peer-partner program to educate students and train mentors. Shalini organized many events like paint days and Zoom calls to educate the public and created fun activities for students. She advocated for students to have a mental health day during the school year and promoted having de-stressing activities during finals week. Shalini’s project is sustained through the curriculum she created for the program and through the students she trained through the social worker, Mrs. Kilkelly.

Shalini completed her freshman year of college at Hofstra University and became involved by joining the Hofstra Indian Dance team, InterVarsity Fellowship, and South Asian Student Association. Shalini’s fondest Girl Scout memory is the annual trip to Camp Blue Bay. Through Shalini’s Gold Award project, she improved her time management skills and created a network to help put her ideas into action.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Ava Schmidt Herricks Service Unit

Troop 1578

Fast Fashion Foward

Ava Schmidt addressed the issue of fast fashion, caused by the overflow of micro-trend clothing that ends up in landfills and contributes to 10% of carbon emissions. She taught people of all ages how to shop sustainably by hosting workshops and discussions that educated consumers on how they can host and conduct their own swaps to repurpose their clothing and accessories. Ava held demonstrations on how to create an online account to sell their items through e-commerce companies.

Ava’s Gold Award project will continue to impact individuals by collaborating with high school and college clubs to change how consumers think about sustainable shopping and extending the lifespan of their clothing. Ava plans to keep social media pages available to the public.

A graduate of Herricks High School, Ava was a peer mentor in the Herricks Peer Partners Program, a member of the National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society, and was captain of the cross-country team. Her favorite Girl Scout memory was making s’mores at Frost Valley YMCA. Ava will be attending the University of Delaware.

Ryan Sievers Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1357

Homage to our Historic Homes

Ryan Sievers embarked on an impressive Gold Award project by collaborating with the Garden City Historical Society (GCHS) to emphasize the significance of preserving historic homes in the area. To achieve this goal, Ryan conducted video interviews with homeowners in Garden City, exploring the history and stories behind their homes. Through her project, Ryan gained valuable insight into the importance of historic preservation. Her project’s impact extends beyond its completion, as it is now sustained through the GCHS and Ryan’s Instagram page, @HomagetoGardenCity.

Ryan is a recent graduate of Garden City High School. She excelled in her athletic pursuits, playing three varsity sports including tennis, rifle, and softball. Her dedication to the sport of rifle earned her an All-County recognition. Earning her Gold Award taught Ryan the importance of community involvement and the significance of preserving history for future generations. Ryan will be attending Rollins University this fall, pursuing an MBA program.

Cristina Seoylemezian Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1357

Mental Health Post-COVID-19

To earn her Gold Award, Cristina Seoylemezian addressed the issue of poor mental health, specifically in teens and children, caused by the pandemic and a severe lack of mental health professionals. She taught people about the potential causes and signs of depression and anxiety, as well as coping mechanisms for negative emotions. She also provided free resources to use for mental health support and information. Cristina’s Gold Award project will continue to educate individuals on anxiety, depression, and different coping mechanisms through her social media pages and her website, which contains all of the information from her presentation.

A recent graduate of Garden City High School, Cristina was vice president of the UNICEF club and robotics team, and secretary of the Engineering club. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is camping with her troop. While earning her Gold Award, she gained leadership skills as well as public speaking skills. Cristina will be attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the fall.

Brianna Suarez Oubina WH/FS Service Unit

Troop 1257

Mental Health and Pet Therapy

Brianna Suarez Oubina focused on mental health with younger generations post-COVID and developed a dog therapy program as a coping mechanism for daily stressors students may have. She partnered with her principal, PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) classes, and the Mind Over Matter club to offer dog therapy sessions with trained therapy dogs licensed under Therapy Dogs International. Brianna has done extensive research alongside the Sewanhaka School District psychologist, Dr. Oris, and expanded her program into four high schools in her district. Brianna’s project is sustained by the underclassmen who will be continuing her dog therapy program.

A recent graduate of H. Frank Carey High School, Brianna was corresponding secretary of the class of 2023 board and member of the English, World Language, Social Studies, Business, and National Honor societies. She is also a three-sport athlete participating in varsity volleyball, basketball, and track and field. Brianna’s fondest Girl Scout memory was going to Frost Valley. She will be attending Springfield College.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Nicole Tobia

Seaford/Wantagh Service Unit Troop 3442

Knowledge is Power

To earn her Gold Award, Nicole Tobia created and implemented an awareness campaign focusing on the lack of access students in foster homes and homeless shelters have to academic resources for exams such as the ACT and SAT. She ran review-book collections in her school and public library, working alongside her school’s student government to promote the effort. She recorded a podcast, with episodes focused on first-generation students, giving advice on how to fill out a college application, sign up for the SAT, visit colleges virtually, and access the financial aid office. Nicole’s Gold Award project will continue to educate individuals on college preparation and the application process.

A graduate of Wantagh High School, Nicole was president of her class, vice president of student government, a member of the National Honor Society, and the Miss Wantagh 1st Runner-Up. She was involved in the school’s theater productions and was the president of the International Thespian Society. Her fondest Girl Scout memories were trips to the Ronald McDonald House to deliver baked desserts. Nicole will be attending Suffolk University this fall.

Samantha Vitale WARM Service Unit

Troop 1591

The Battle of Burnout

Samantha Vitale addressed the issue of burnout among teens and young adults. She was able to spread awareness of burnout by discussing symptoms and prevention methods with students at St. Aidan School and Kellenberg Memorial, and with Girl Scout troops. Samantha led the participants in exercises such as journaling, yoga, and deep breathing. Her project is sustained through her social media page, which advocates for healthy habits.

Samantha recently graduated from Kellenberg Memorial High School where she participated in Model United Nations and was a member of the volleyball team. She also taught religion to sixth-grade students after school. Her favorite Girl Scout memory is when her troop slept over at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. As a result of her Gold Award project, Samantha became more confident in her public speaking abilities and enjoyed reconnecting with former teachers. In the fall, she will be attending Loyola University with a double major in communications and english.

Sarah Vincent

Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1612

Wear Clean

Sarah Vincent addressed fast fashion, the destructive phenomenon of mass-producing clothing to feed the demands of consumerism and the fashion trends that follow it. She educated her community about fast fashion by hosting a clothing swap with her high school’s environmental club. Sarah persuaded the club to pledge to host quarterly swaps. While preparing the first swap event, she helped the environmental club president create an Instagram page, @wtclarkeenvironmentalclub, where Instagram users can find educational materials on how to host their own swaps.

A recent graduate of W.T. Clarke High School, Sarah was the co-founder of The Stories Heard, a youth-led initiative that aims to have empowering conversations about today’s experiences. She was also the National Club Coordinator of Operation Period, an organization that aims to achieve international menstrual freedom, and a varsity swimmer of the swim and dive team. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is when her troop traveled to Hershey Park and went on every roller coaster! This fall, Sarah will be attending the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program at the CUNY School of Medicine.

Kate Webster Bay Service Unit

Troop 65

Benefits of Gardening

Kate Webster educated children and her community on the benefits of home gardening and composting. She presented information to two summer camps and engaged the campers by having them plant their own tomato or basil plant and decorating kitchen counter compost bins. She had a booth at the Oyster Bay Market and distributed her brochure about her Gold Award project. Kate also created an Instagram page and website to provide information on gardening and how to create a compost pile. Kate’s project is sustained by her website, a composting program at the Boys & Girls Club, and an activities binder donated to the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center and her elementary school.

A graduate of Oyster Bay High School, Kate was a member of the National Honor, Business Honor, and World Language societies. She participated in tennis, badminton, and lacrosse. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was traveling to Hershey Park. While earning her Gold Award, Kate gained more confidence in making presentations and time management. This fall, she will be attending Bentley University.

Gold Award Girl Scouts

Kennedy Wilgosz Garden City Service Unit Troop 1449

Butterfly Gardens

Kennedy Wilgosz addressed the issue of monarch butterfly endangerment caused by deforestation and habitat loss. She built a beautiful garden at Eisenhower Park full of the specific plants monarch butterflies need to live. She teamed up with Hicks Nursery to secure the proper plants and materials to make her vision become a reality. Kennedy is proud to say that her monarch butterfly garden has become a nationally-recognized way station for the butterflies to stop at during their migratory path. This project will continue to have a long-term impact on the ecosystem due to the unique importance these butterflies have, and it will be supported by having troops maintain the status of the garden. Kennedy was the president of the National Charity League and a member of her school’s cheerleading team. Her fondest Girl Scout memory is attending Camp Blue Bay with her troop during the summer. While earning her Gold Award, Kennedy learned that reaching out to create a team and asking people for help made reaching her goals much easier. Kennedy will be attending James Madison University this fall.

Sofia Yaker ELLM Service Unit

Troop 2566

My (Mascot) Emotions/ I Am All About Colors

Sofia Yaker led an art-supply drive to create coloring buckets for children. Each bucket contained an original coloring book and crayons for children to explore their emotions through the use of color. She developed a color wheel for children to understand how colors help them to understand and navigate their emotions. She tied this to her community by giving presentations and donating art buckets to Girl Scout troops, recreation centers, day camps, and hospitals. She hopes her community will continue this project every year in May for Mental Health Awareness Month.

A graduate of Lynbrook High School, Sofia was president of the National Art Honor Society, a member of cross-country and winter track, and a representative for student government. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was completing her Silver Award project. Sofia enjoys sharing her passion for art with children and helping them understand how color can help them understand their emotions. She received All-County Honors and a scholarship for art. She will be attending University of Georgia.

Faith Williams

Hardscrabble Service Unit Troop 3352

Love Lax

Faith Williams presented her Gold Award project to local children about the benefits of teamwork and leadership. She helped underprivileged children learn about sports they would not normally be exposed to, like lacrosse. She taught children the basics of lacrosse during instructional clinics and distributed educational resources to parents. She worked with coaches to offer clinics for schools that didn’t have lacrosse programs. She also developed videos to teach students and adults about teamwork and how to play the sport. Faith’s project is sustained by her local travel teams and youth league.

A recent graduate of Farmingdale High School, Faith was a member of student council, R.E.A.L. Harmony, Women in STEM, and the Environmental Club. She was also a member of the National Society of High School Scholars and Spanish National Honor Society. She played tennis, lacrosse, and ran track. Her fondest memory of Girl Scouts was attending the 500+ Cookie celebration. Faith will be attending Montclair State University in the combined BA/MBA degree with a major in Psychology and a minor in Forensics.

Ava Zino

Garden City Service Unit

Troop 1403

Swimming into Safety

Ava Zino addressed the issue of water safety for children by researching and using her personal experience to create a book and website that informs families how to “Be Cool at the Pool.”

She developed this book and made it easy to access by using the internet so that everyone can access it. Ava read to the children at her parish and Girl Scout troops who wanted to hear her story. Ava’s project is sustained by being accessible online.

A rising senior, Ava is captain of the junior class in her school’s Spirit Night and a member of the varsity volleyball and lacrosse teams. Ava also is a member of National Honor Society, service, Latin, Project Earth, ski, and S.A.D.D clubs. Ava works as a Nassau County Lifeguard which inspired her to go for her Gold Award. Her fondest Girl Scout memory was when she went camping with her troop, memories that are built on laughter and love. While earning her Gold Award, Ava learned that rising to the occasion and being bold helped her achieve her goals.

Gold Award Girl Scouts, to accept this award in

challenge

spirit in which it is given to you. Know that with this award comes responsibility. As you enter this covenant of esteemed women, know that you are regarded with honor and respect. Live worthy of this by living by the Girl Scout Law.

l We challenge you to remain honest and fair in all your dealings in this world while remaining true to yourself.

l We challenge you to be friendly and helpful to everyone you meet as you go through life. Celebrate the diversity of your fellow human beings.

l We challenge you to be considerate and caring to all living things, human and animal. Always being mindful of those in need and the feelings of others.

l We challenge you to be courageous and strong in all you do. Stand strong in the face of adversity and share your courage with those around you.

l We challenge you to be responsible for what you say and do. Think before you speak and act. Be sure everything you say and do reflects well on you and your family.

l We challenge you to respect yourself, so you may respect others. Strive for excellence in all you do and recognize the accomplishments of others.

l We challenge you to respect authority. Follow the laws of your country and nature. Be mindful of your rights as well as your responsibilities as a citizen of this great nation.

l We challenge you to use resources wisely. Never waste the resources of nature. Use your talents to better the world and to protect our planet.

l We challenge you to make this world a better place. Continue to use your abilities to leave your mark on the world. By your words, actions, and deeds, you can make a difference.

l We challenge you to be a sister to every Girl Scout. Help younger girls to reach the top as you have. Support them on their journey to the Gold Award.

l By accepting this challenge, you become a changed woman. You become part of an elite group who recognize that receiving this Gold Award is not one celebratory moment, but a lifetime commitment.

Please pledge to the following:

I affirm my dedication to live by the Girl Scout Promise and Law. I understand my obligation to live with honor and to lead by example because the highest award of Girl Scouting has been entrusted to me.

I will do my best to support other Girl Scouts on their road to Gold and to give back to Girl Scouting what it has given me.

I will respect others and live my life by the Girl Scout Law.

I will remain worthy of respect as one forever bound to the ideals of Girl Scouting.

When you earn your Girl Scout Gold Award, you have a better understanding of the world around you, become leaders of the future, and most of all, can now accomplish absolutely anything. Earning your Girl Scout Gold Award makes you unstoppable!

We

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WHAT’S NEXT AFTER GOLD?

Stay involved with the Girl Scout community!

There are numerous ways to participate and achieve your goals by providing opportunities to network, develop professional skills, and make an impact.

How to Stay Involved

High School Students

• Apply for the Girl Leadership Committee to work on planning events for high school members

• Register for Council programs designed for high school members

• Present to troops about Gold to encourage them to apply

High School Graduates

• Apply to be a Gold Mentor in Training

• Register to be a troop leader or assist a troop leader with an existing troop

• Start or join a GS campus organization—adopt a troop, volunteer at programs, plan events, or mentor girls. Visit girlscouts.org/campusgs

• Participate in trainings on leadership and professional development topics

• Join the Girl Scouts Network on LinkedIn to meet members of the national community with similar professional interests bit.ly/gradgirl

• Update your LinkedIn profile with the Gold Award credential—this digital badge highlights your accomplishment to employers and people in your network bit.ly/Gold_Award_Digital_Credentials

• Assist at Council or Service Unit programs

• Receive GSNC newsletters to get details on upcoming events and opportunities

• Follow GSNC on social media

If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please contact customercare@gsnc.org.

Update Your Profile

Log into MyAccount and update the email address GSNC should use after graduation. Make sure the communications setting is marked as “Email Opt In” to receive the monthly GSNC newsletters featuring event invites, volunteer opportunities, and much more.

Visit mygs.girlscouts.org

Membership

To continue membership as an adult Girl Scout, you can register for $25 annually or invest in a lifetime membership for $200 ($400 value). Visit girlscouts.org/LTM. This opportunity is available to graduating high school seniors and young alums until their 30th birthday.

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.

*Members may substitute for the word God in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.

GIRL SCOUTS OF NASSAU COUNTY SALUTES...

the military for starting Gold Award Girl Scouts at a higher pay grade when they enlist, and these local colleges that recognize the value of Girl Scouts by offering Girl Scout Gold Award scholarships:

Adelphi University

Hofstra University

Molloy University

St. John’s University

For an expanded list of the Gold Award Scholarships available to Girl Scouts, visit the GSUSA website, girlscouts.org

Girl Scout Law

We thank our partners, Maria T. Castagna of Picture This! Photography and JCPenney Portraits who have donated these lovely portraits of our Gold Award Girl Scouts. We thank them for their support and look forward to working with them in the future. These outstanding portraits capture the unique beauty of each of our Gold Award Girl Scouts.

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.