Gold Award Girl Scouts

The Girl Scout Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. The award recognizes girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have successfully pursued the highest award, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world.

Jenna Hinz focused on repopulating bee populations in Brazoria County and educating people about the importance of bees in society. A landowner dedicated an acre of land to her project. She had the land cleared and then worked with volunteers to re-seed the land with wildflowers and water the acres until the plants were established. Local beekeepers placed hives at the location and the bee population has flourished there.

Amiee Hoff educate the community on adopting animals instead of buying them, and the importance of spay/ neutering. The mayors of Clear Lake Shores, Dickinson, and Santa Fe honored her with a proclamation. The event was held at Bayou Animal Services in Dickinson. More than 200 people were in attendance and 83 animals received vaccinations and several animals were adopted. Marlene Mena and her team worked with Kolter Elementary to restore their outdoor classroom destroyed by Harvey. The garden functions well now with the restoration of the gardening sheds and equipment. Trees were labeled with metal signs that include the 4 languages taught in the school. She also created murals and lessons for the classroom that highlighted native prairies and the Native Americans who once lived there.

Isabella Mendoza wanted to respond to the challenges of immigrant parents accessing resources at Frostwood Elementary School. Her personal connection to friends’ parents who had trouble getting involved because they did not speak English inspired her to create handbooks with traditions, activities, and volunteer activities in seven languages including English. More than 2,000 people were impacted.

Catherine Jewell used her Gold Award project to help teach educate others on several finance subjects. After meeting with a financial advisor, Jewell created a website that is accessible worldwide and even created educational videos that she posted on TikTok. Additionally, she began an Interact Club that focused on offering an annual financial literacy presentation to continue to help teach peers about basic finances at her school.

Emily McDonald addressed the lack of educational materials about epilepsy created in a way that children can understand. With her team, she created upbeat coloring pages, an educational brochure and videos covering various topics related to epilepsy. The videos were by children with epilepsy and are accessible on YouTube and at her doctor’s office along with the coloring pages and brochures. Priya Patel hosted two dance clinics for children with special needs: one virtual and one in person. She partnered with Gigi's Playhouse a nonprofit organization that supports people with Down syndrome and their families to create and host these clinics. Priya choreographed and combined two styles of dance, pom and jazz, and her clinic videos will be available to a wide audience through GiGi’s nonprofit organization.

Minla Phillips addressed the issue of lack of professionalism amongst teens in the Houston area. Through a virtual ZOOM workshop, teens were able to attend and learn about resume building tips, interview tips, and received guidance on critical skills to help them in the workplace.

Rebecca Pullin raisied awareness surrounding the issues associated with mental health and wellbeing. She created a website that included resources and information, and additionally used these resources in presentations to her peers at school. She shared her project with others using a flyer containing a QR code for easy access on smart phones and has had over 3,000 students access the website worldwide.

Amber Richards taught others how they could grow and eat their own foods at affordable costs. Together with her local community garden, Mustard Seed Farm and Market, she was able to create instructional videos and informational booklets on healthy eating, easy-to-make recipes, and how those watching could grow their own affordable foods at home.

Carrie Schoech worked with Kickerillo Preserve and more than 20 volunteers to introduce a new 100-yard trail to their waterfront which is used by 200 hikers and nature lovers each weekend. She created an informational brochure about the plants along the trail. QR codes on signs along the trail continue to direct hikers to plant identification found in A & M’s digital information.

Janavi Seshadri advocated various topics on Teen Health and Wellness from mental health to physical health. She and 12 volunteers developed a podcast called the Wellness Toolbox in coalition with the Care Q website. More than 200 people listened to her podcast and more than 100 people followed her podcast Instagram.

Zoe Spangler learned about conducting genealogy research using modern technology then developed a website and instructional presentation that was shared through community events, workshops, and online presence to highlight the importance of maintaining family history records/ documents. Madeline Vollrath informed the students of St. Agnes and Bellaire High School of internalized misogyny and sexism in the workplace with a video presentation. She worked with St. Agnes Academy administration to show the presentation to the students there and included a survey before and after showing the presentation. Additionally, her teammates at Bellaire High School helped show the presentation to their Feminist Club. Approximately 750 people have been impacted by her project to date.

Jacqueline Wheeler educated her peers on how to eat healthily by making nutritional and delicious recipes and videotaping the process. Her videos included choosing healthier ingredients and basic cooking skills. Her culinary teacher has incorporated these videos into her lesson plans for future students.

Jadyn Wu worked with a YMCA in a low-income neighborhood to virtually teach kids how to dance while building confidence and learning choreography. She wanted to provide art enrichment for people who could not afford it and those at home during the pandemic. To reach a broader audience she filmed and edited five dance lessons which have been shared online and have received more than 130 views.

Ariel Zolton worked with eight volunteers to address the lack of awareness regarding food allergies among teenagers. Through educational workshops at two schools and a 4-H group, the audience learned about myths and misconceptions surrounding food allergies and how to keep allergic friends and family safe. During the workshops, a Teal Pumpkin Project was promoted to make Halloween safer for kids with food allergies.