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Local Girl Scouts to Receive Gold Awards

Five local girls will earn Girl Scouting's highest honor Sunday.

Five local Girl Scouts will be among 19 girls from throughout west central Florida to receive their Girl Scout Gold Awards Sunday, June 5, at a recognition event at the Doubletree Hotel Tampa Westshore Airport.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. The award recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of leadership, sustainable community service, career planning and personal development. A Girl Scout must be in at least ninth grade and successfully complete requirements before she begins working on her Gold Award project.
 
This year’s Girl Scout Gold Award recipients completed projects focused on a variety of community issues that will have a lasting impact, including developing an after-school art enrichment program for elementary school students; repairing the grounds at local churches, parks, camps and organizations; educating youth about healthy cooking and eating habits; and providing displaced families with clothing needs. 

“To earn a Gold Award, a Girl Scout must take all of the knowledge, leadership and networking skills she has developed over the years and set forth to complete a service project that will benefit her community,” said Linda Babb, president, Girl Scouts of West Central Florida.
 
“She must discover what it is that her community needs; connect with local businesses, organizations and neighbors; and take action to better the world around her,” Babb continued.
  
Girl Scouts spend 65 hours planning and implementing their Gold Award projects, which have positive and lasting impacts on the community. The award is an example of how Girl Scouts’ all-girl setting gives girls leadership experiences so they can contribute to society now and in the future. In addition, A Girl Scout who has earned her Gold Award immediately rises one rank in any of the U.S. military branches.
  
Among the local Scouts to receive their Gold Awards on Sunday are:

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  • Shelby Dale, a Bloomingdale High School graduate, who worked on the "Reviving the Labyrinth" project at Cedarkirk Presbyterian Camp. She used her funds to completely restore the area with new plants, crushed seashell pathways, signs with the symbols of the Presbyterian cross and benches in the center. She also created a brochure to guide and educate visitors. Dale is now a freshman at the University of Tampa. She previously earned her Bronze and Silver awards.
  • Margaret Goscinski of Riverview, currently attending Robinson High School, continued her work as an active participant in many community service initiatives with "Giving Back to Riverview United Methodist Church." She focused on an important safety issue by repairing the front sidewalks that had become unsafe for the many parishioners who uses wheelchairs and walkers. Goscinski is a member of the National Honor Society. She previously earned her Bronze and Silver awards.
  • Sarah Kiesow of Riverview High School chose to make the grounds of Riverview United Methodist Church more attractive, safer and better protected. She built vinyl fencing and planted a flower bed around the previously unsafe area around the AC unit. What was once a rusted and unsecure part of the church is now a place of long-lasting beauty. Kiesow will be attending Florida State University in the fall and plans to major in international relations. She previously earned her Bronze and Silver awards.
  • Carolyn Ballard, a graduate of Bloomingdale High School, focused on the environment for her Gold Award. Ballard helped to renovate a local park by bringing in new plants and held an event to help better educate people about being environmentally friendly. She has been active in many clubs and organizations, serving as vice president of the Leaders Club at the YMCA and head of administration on her Youth Leadership Team. Ballard is in her first year as a nursing major at the University of Florida. She previously earned her Bronze and Silver awards.
  • Morgan Casselton, a graduate of Bloomingdale High School, conducted a neighborhood park revival with a focus on exercise. She raised funds to purchase exercise equipment and organized volunteers to help put it all together. At the park's re-opening, she offered seminars and tutorials on healthy living. Casselton is currently a freshman at the University of Central Florida where is very active in the Campus Activities Board and the LEAD Scholars organization. She previously earned her Bronze and Silver awards.
     
     


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