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!

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.