Sunday, June 23, 2024
Goshen College
Goshen, IN
DearHonorees,
CongratulationsonearningyourGoldAward,the highestachievementinGirlScouting.AsaGold AwardGirlScout,youjoinanelitegroupofGirl Scoutswhodistinguishthemselvesasthebestofthe best,asleadersandtruechangemakerswhohave madeasustainabledifferenceintheircommunities.
Weareproudoftheworkyou’vedone,the challengesyou’vefacedandovercome,andthe impactyou’vehadinmakingtheworldabetter place.ByearningtheGoldAward,youhaveshown thatyoucanidentifyapressingproblemorneedin yourcommunity,collaboratecreativelywithothers, andtakethenecessarystepstosolveit.
Wesaluteyouformarkingthisimportantmilestone inyourleadershipjourney.Wecan’twaittosee whatyouwillaccomplishnext!
YoursinGirlScouting,
SharonPohly CEO,GirlScoutsofNorthernIndiana-Michianaand GoldAwardGirlScout
Program of Events
Welcome
ClaireForrest,ChiefMarketingOfficer
FlagCeremony
Troop00486,MichiganCity,IN
PledgeofAllegiance
GirlScoutPromiseandLaw
MessagefromourCEO
SharonPohly,ChiefExecutiveOfficer
FeaturedSpeaker
TelvaMcGruder,GSUSABoardMember
PresentationofAwards
GSNI-MGoldAwardCommittee
ClosingRemarks
LisaCashel,GSNI-MBoardChair
Lightrefreshmentstofollow
Girl Scout Promise
Onmyhonor,Iwilltry: ToserveGod*andmycountry, tohelppeopleatalltimes,and tolivebytheGirlScoutLaw.
Girl Scout Law
*MembersmaysubstituteforthewordGod inaccordancewiththeirownspiritualbeliefs
Iwilldomybesttobe honestandfair, friendlyandhelpful, considerateandcaring, courageousandstrong,and responsibleforwhatIsayanddo, andto respectmyselfandothers, respectauthority, useresourceswisely, maketheworldabetterplace,and beasistertoeveryGirlScout.
Bluffton,IN
Troop00037
TroopLeader
Kaitlyn Stafford
Kaitlynisdedicatedtoraisingawarenessaboutanimal conservationandcreatingsustainablehabitatsfor birds,bats,andwingedpollinators.Recognizingalack ofawarenessinhercommunity,sheprovided educationalmaterialsatOuabacheStateParkand developedsafehabitatsforthesespecies.Herefforts haveinspiredgreaterenvironmentalconsciousness andcompassionamongparkstaffandvisitors.
Post-graduation,Kaitlynaimstopursueacareerin zoologyorwildlifebiology,specializinginbat ation.
Lainey Wooley
ColumbiaCity,IN
Troop10390
TroopLeader
DawnBritten
ProjectAdvisor
JasonMeier,Indiana PublicSafetyPeerSupport
Laineyrecognizedthatfirstrespondersface significantlyhigherratesofbehavioralhealth conditions,includingelevatedlevelsofPTSD, suicide,andmentalhealthissues.Shecraftedand distributedinformationalposters,wristbands, fridgemagnets,localadvertisements,andother resourcestoraiseawareness,providesupport, reducestigma,andpromotepeersupportto improvefirstresponders'mentalhealth.
LaineyiscurrentlyservingtheColumbiaTownship FireDepartmentandpursuingadegreein environmentalandsustainabilitystudiesatIndiana UniversityBloomington.
n Shephard pendingtimeatTheRes,a23-acreyouth ndnaturecenterinMishawaka,Evelyn invasivespeciesdisruptingthenatural em.Sheledateamtoeducateotherson ing,safelyremoving,anddisplacingthese especies,effectivelyrestoringthe mentfornativefloraandfauna.
Mishawaka,IN
Troop30140
TroopLeader
ThereseMellor
ProjectAdvisor
KieraJohns, MishawakaRes
Inthefall,Evelynbeginshersenioryearofhigh school,wheresheisinvolvedinchoralandsolo vocalperformance.ShehopestostudyatSaint Mary’sCollegetobecomeanurse.
ColumbiaCity,IN
Troop10390
TroopLeader
JodiTobin
ProjectAdvisor
RobinKoller, FaithChristianAcademy
Caidy Hesting
Caidytookakeeninterestintheglobalpopulation lossofmonarchbutterflies,honeybees,andother insects.Understandingthecrucialroleofthese pollinatorsinourecosystem,shedecidedtomakea difference.Aftereducatinglocalstudentsonthe importanceofcreatingsustainableenvironments forthesespecies,sheledthemincreatinga pollinatorgardenattheirschool,whichhassince beencertifiedasaMonarchWaystation.
CaidyisstudyingzoologyattheUniversityof Wisconsin-MadisonandinterningintheOfficeof Sustainabilityforsummer2024.
Warsaw,IN
Troop00158
TroopLeader
KarenKelshiemer
ProjectAdvisor
RachelleMabee,Warsaw CommunitySchools
Macie Marshall
Inspiredbytheglobalmentalhealthcrisis,Macie aimedtoimproveyouthmentalwell-being.Research showedthatconsumingtherightnutrientsfostersa growthmindsetandenricheslearning.Sheraised fundsforsaladbars,industrialsaladspinners,and equipmentforareaschoolstoreinstatesaladbars. Shepartneredwiththeseschoolstolaunch"Fitness Friday"andpromotehealthybodyimage.The programgainedpopularity,inspiringotherschoolsto adoptsimilarinitiatives.
MaciewillattendMichiganStateUniversityinthefall, majoringinbiochemistryandmolecularbiology.
About Telva McGruder
TelvaMcGruderistheExecutiveDirectorofGlobal BodyManufacturingEngineeringatGeneralMotors, wheresheleadsthenextphaseoftransformation towardanincreasinglyautomatedanddigital manufacturingapproachforbodyandpaintsystems. GirlScoutingexposedhertochallengesandadventures thatfirstencouragedherthirsttoreachpastherlimits.
TelvaisalifetimememberofGirlScouts andiscurrentlyservingasamemberoftheboardof directorsoftheGirlScoutsoftheUSA.
You’ve joined history
TheGoldAwardrepresentsthehighestachievementinGirl Scouting,recognizinggirlswhodemonstrateextraordinary leadershipthroughremarkableTakeActionprojectsthathave sustainableimpactintheircommunities–andbeyond.
ThehighestawardinGirlScoutinghasgonethroughmanyname changessinceitwasestablishedin1916asTheGoldenEagleof Merit.GirlScoutswhoearnedtheirFirstClass,CurvedBar, GoldenEaglet,orGoldenEagleofMerit,areallconsideredGold AwardGirlScouts.Tomakeitofficial,GSUSAreleasedaproclamationin2019thatallwhohaveearnedthehighestawardin GirlScoutswillhenceforthberecognizedasGoldAwardGirl Scouts,unitedbytheirsimilaritiesandtheirideals,withallrights andprivilegestherein.
Thosewhohaveearnedithaveshownthesameoutstanding leadershipskills,determination,andresiliencethathavemade GirlScouts’highestawardauniqueriteofpassageforyoung womenacrosstheMovement.
Inover100years,morethanonemilliongirlsofour60million alumnaehaveearnedtheGoldAwardoritsequivalent.
GSUSAoffersallalumsanofficialGoldAwarddigitalcredentialto placeontheirsocialmediaprofilestoshowthatthey’veearned GirlScouts’highestaward.
