Girls Wh
INSPIRE!
Girls Wh
INSPIRE! The 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.
The Girl Scout
Law
Chief Executive Officer Tracy Keller
Board Chair Barbara Tierney
Vice Chair Marisa Porto
Treasurer Luis Estrada
Secretary Sunny Smith
Members at Large: Lisa Bates Susan Blake Melanie Chavarria Amy Coyne Tricia Hudson Cheran Ivery Lu Ann Klevecz Catherine Magill Laura Morgan
Dr. Michelle Penn-Marshall Carolyn Pittman Ellis Pretlow Ann Stenberg Carletta Waddler Claire Winiarek GSCCC Delegate Dr. Laura Sass
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.
The Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards say much about a girl’s character. These prestigious awards are presented to Girl Scout Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors who display great leadership through projects that benefit their communities. From neighborhood gardens to take-action projects that focus on the environment, the awards recognize girls who create positive change.
Tracy Keller Chief Executive Officer
This year, there have been so many wonderful projects that will continue to make a difference in our communities into the future, thanks to our go-getter girls here at Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. While every award is important and a leadership steppingstone, the Gold Award is the highest a girl may earn in Girl Scouts. Our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, introduced its predecessor, the Golden Eaglet of Merit, 105 years ago in 1916, with the Golden Eaglet Award following in 1919. Since then, the name has changed several times, but the top award’s commitment to community and excellence has remained strong. This award challenges each girl to change the world, or at least her corner of it, by identifying a community problem and taking action to help solve or address it, not only in the short term, but for years to come.
Barbara Tierney GSCCC Board Chair
The girls’ projects, and the needs they addressed, were as diverse this year as the interests and communities that each girl represents. Each project required the girls to collaborate with organizations and individuals in their communities, recruit and train volunteers, create a lasting change in their community through a sustainable project, and educate others on community needs. And our girls did all of this during a challenging pandemic. Along with celebrating girls who earned the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, we are acknowledging this year’s recipient of the Buck Harris Award, a Council award that recognizes a girl who has been nominated by her troop for, among other attributes, being a unique person of worth who relates to others with sensitivity and respect. We are also honoring four girls who took extraordinary action during emergency situations to help save lives, each receiving the Girl Scouts of the USA Medal of Honor, Lifesaving Award. In addition, two GSCCC girls are being recognized with The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards certificates for volunteerism. Congratulations, and best wishes for success on adventures yet to come!
Tracy Keller Chief Executive Officer, GSCCC
Barbara Tierney Board Chair, GSCCC
A Gold Award Girl Scout is a dreamer and doer who takes “make the world a better place” to the next level. She’s driven, passionate, and optimistic. She’s the leader of tomorrow today. To earn this unique award, Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors tackle issues dear to them and drive lasting change to their communities and beyond.
Thank You, Gold Award Committee Members! You provide the support and guidance our girls need in pursuing the highest award in Girl Scouts. Because of your encouragement and the meaningful engagement you have offered, they have become compassionate leaders who serve their communities and are making a difference in the world. Tricia Armstrong Mary Ellen Fentress Sarah Noffsinger Taryn-Marie Jenkins Helen Kattwinkel
Linda Linke Susan Ramsland Cathy Six Deborah Trate
Developed in 2020 by GSCCC, the * Change Maker Award is presented to girls who have earned all three national prestigious awards, the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Gold Award Girl Scout *Cassandra Baker, Chesapeake Troop 930 Gold Award Project: Writing Right
Advocating for those who need a voice and bringing awareness to things we all can do to help is part of the Girl Scout way. Through her project, Cassandra worked with a licensed occupational therapist to write a children’s book, Writing Right, aimed to help students with dysgraphia, a learning disability that affects fine motor skills such as writing. The main character of Cassandra’s book, Writing Right, is third grader Noah, who has dysgraphia. Cassandra shares experiences of Noah as he goes through school and faces various challenges that other kids might not be aware of. Cassandra hopes that her book will spread awareness of dysgraphia to readers by getting to know Noah as a person and a friend. She was able to donate 40 copies of her book to local schools and public libraries. In addition, Cassandra’s book was published and offered online at cost for a print version or free on Kindle. “Being able to find ways to use your artistic talents, along with using your advocacy voice to help others, is really rewarding and brings about a great feeling of accomplishment.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Abby Blount, Newport News Troop 4170 Gold Award Project: Music Therapy Stress Relief
After Abby’s grandmother had to have inpatient surgery, she learned about the stress and anxieties that patients sometimes experience during their stay due to being away from home. She used her interest and talents in music to make a difference. Abby worked with Warwick Forest Rehabilitation Center in Newport News to understand the needs of patients and to strategize how she could help. She developed a self-paced learning program whereby patients could learn to play the kalimba, a small handheld musical instrument known for making relaxing tones. In addition to encouraging patients to learn a new skill, she created a way for them to connect with one another and build friendships. Forest Rehabilitation continues to use music therapy as an element of their healing process and Abby’s self-paced curriculum gives patients control over their instrument and how fast they learn. Abby used proceeds earned from participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program to fund her project. “Being in the hospital, facing injury, and recovering from surgery is a stressful time in a person’s life. There are a lot of different uncertainties and outcomes that can occur, and this causes stress among patients. The stress can slow the healing process and make their stay longer.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Lydia Borden, Virginia Beach Troop 36 Gold Award Project: K.I.S.S. Keep it Sun Safe
Lydia’s project, K.I.S.S. Keep it Sun Safe, was inspired by her mother’s brave journey with skin cancer. She learned that overexposure to the sun as a child can lead to serious issues down the road like skin cancer, as in her mother’s case, and she wanted to do her part to make a difference. She created an educational program aimed at kids to teach early prevention. Her K.I.S.S. curriculum reveals information about the power of the sun’s damaging rays and how to stay safe using protective sunscreen, clothing and hats. She designed the course for preschool-aged children, their caregivers and teachers, and she shared the course through guided Zoom meetings. Lydia’s curriculum and project materials are available through her website. “My mother has suffered from skin cancer which resulted in several surgeries and follow-up treatments as a result of sun overexposure as a child. She does not recall using any sort of sunscreen. Damage is cumulative and providing educational materials about sun safety can lead young children to advocate for themselves. Education is the foundation.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Lois Carpenter, Newport News Troop 4170 Gold Award Project: BBB Native Garden
Lois learned that pollinators like birds, bees and butterflies (BBB) are in danger of population decline in our area, so she decided to take action. Her two-part project involved planting a garden that attracted native birds, bees, and butterflies to the area while acting as a sustainable source of food. She also created video lesson plans that taught about native pollinators and conservation directed to the 1st, 3rd, and 5th graders in her church’s youth group. Lois shared her curriculum with volunteers from Trinity Lutheran Church and explained how planting Virginia native species attracts pollinators. The volunteers then donated their time to help plant a BBB garden at Trinity Lutheran Church using supplies Lois purchased with proceeds earned from participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. Her project proved to be successful with increased pollinator activity on site reported back from volunteers and the youth at the church. The volunteers plan to continue the project at the church and expand upon it. “My church not only gained the successful butterfly garden as an asset, but they also gained useful knowledge about the life of butterflies and other insects, and the importance of conservation.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Katherine Cason, Norfolk Troop 930 Gold Award Project: Amphitheater for Van Wyck
Katherine used her interests and talents to design and construct and outdoor amphitheater area at the Van Wyck Library in Norfolk. She created a layout, gathered materials and recruited a team of volunteers to help. Together, they build a wooden stage and several benches which became the amphitheater. The objective was to establish a flexible, open space for community events and gatherings that could be hosted by the library and community groups. For many people, especially children, both in performing and attending, outdoor theater is a gateway to a theater experience. Katherine felt the space was previously underutilized, and she had a vision to recreate the area to all the community more room for education and creative expression. Katherine’s project, Amphitheater for Van Wyck, will be maintained by the Van Wyck Library and will be used for future programming and events. “Implementing the amphitheater opens the community to new opportunities for self-expression and it gives this particular branch a new resource that can be used to provide inspiration and education.”
Gold Ward Girl Scout *Jazzlyn Childs, Yorktown Troop 4020 Gold Award Project: Give Them Shelter
Jazzlyn’s project, Give Them Shelter, addressed the plight of homelessness in Hampton Roads. Her goal was to educate the community on the homelessness issue. She provided a week’s span worth of public service announcements for the morning news at Tabb High School that addressed the lack of affordable housing for women, veterans, and those struggling economically in Hampton Roads. Jazzlyn also worked with local retailers to source donations of pantry items, cleaning goods, children’s needs, bedding and more for three local families in temporary housing situations. She also received hundreds of donated items to stock the Samaritan House, a nonprofit that provides emergency shelter. She went on to speak at the Hampton City Council monthly meeting to share her concerns with those in attendance. Hampton City Mayor Donnie Tuck awarded Jazzlyn with a Coin of Honor for her efforts. “No one deserves to be without a home and food. If everyone in the community becomes aware of the issue and how they can help, there would be far less people going hungry and without shelter.”
Gold Ward Girl Scout *Elyse Donoghue, Virginia Beach Troop 492 Gold Award Project: Unstoppable
Elyse felt there was an underrepresentation of women in STEM in her school curriculum and media, so she decided to write a book as part of her Gold Award project that shared information about influential women in STEM who were historically overlooked. To tackle her goal, she enlisted peer volunteers from The Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Virginia Beach and assigned each classmate a female figure in STEM to research and illustrate. The write-up and illustration were edited into a manuscript by Elyse. She worked with Amazon, the publisher of her book, to get assigned an ISBN number and have copies made. The copies of her book, Unstoppable: Women in STEM, were distributed to local school libraries and mailed to girls across the country. Elyse also designed a Girl Scout patch program that goes along with her book and held a special presentation of her book at the Zeiders American Dream Theater in Virginia Beach on March 13, 2021. “Young girls are often not given the exposure to STEM careers that boys typically are through movies, books, toys, along with school. In biology, we do lots of water tension labs, but I had never heard of the name Agnes Pockels. Girls need to learn about women in STEM.
Gold Award Girl Scout *Christine Gyure, Yorktown Troop 1324 Gold Award Project: Pollinator Power
Christine focused on environmental education and sustainability. She worked with master gardeners of the Colonial Beekeeper’s Association to address the drastic decline of bees in her community. During her project, she learned that a major variable in our community is designer backyard landscaping with non-native species of plants, which greatly reduces the natural habitat for pollinators. Through her project implementation, she created a pollinator garden at Yorkminster Presbyterian Church where her troop meets. Christine also created a video presentation to educate volunteers helping her, including girls in her troop, so they would understand the necessity of pollinators. She and her volunteers spent hours constructing garden beds and planting native species. She hopes the education of her congregation will encourage them to adopt these practices, make changes in their own home gardens, and continue to share her message of how small changes can make a big impact on our tiny heroes- the pollinators! “Recent years have seen an extreme decline in pollinator populations, primarily as a result of human activities. If no action is taken, future generations will have to deal with a complete upheaval of the food chain and significant environmental impacts.”
Gold Award Girl Scout Katelyn Hensley, Chesapeake Troop 390 Gold Award Project: Finding My Roots
Katelyn’s family lineage is one of the oldest surviving American families. Her family can be traced back to 1621 in Virginia. For her Gold Award project, Finding My Roots, Katelyn focused on learning more about her heritage and brought awareness to others about the plight of early Americans and Native Americans during the 1600s. She used word of mouth stories from older family members and began to research historic ties to real events. Katelyn drew connections between stories shared and historic events and found family ties with the Whitetop Native American Tribe, Revolutionary War, and Battle of Yorktown. Throughout her research, Katelyn found enough information to write and publish a book titled Finding My Roots and was able to apply for Tribal citizenship. Katelyn’s book gives young readers an understanding of local Native American culture. “Native American culture is slowly disappearing, and people are becoming less aware of Native American cultures, traditions, and beliefs. I hope my project brought awareness to the culture of my family and to other middle and high school students who are at an age where they can begin to understand lost culture.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Sorenna Jean, James City County Troop 1293 Gold Award Project: The Saint Awareness Project
Sorenna was inspired to write and illustrate a book for students at St. Bede Catholic Church in James City County, to help them better understand their faith. Through her project, she brought awareness to the ten newly canonized saints in a book she illustrated and wrote. She hopes information in her book will inspire students to look beyond traditional saints when selecting one for their faith development. Each of the ten saints has a biography and description of their journey to sainthood. She wrote the book’s content in a way that would be exciting for youth to read. Copies of her book were given to local churches and Catholic libraries for students to enjoy for years to come. “I wanted to make middle school youth in my church aware of some of the less known saints in the Catholic Church to help them on their faith journey. The book will help them choose their confirmation saint, one of the most important things to do in the Church.”
Gold Award Girl Scout Jada Johnson, Chesapeake IRM in SU330 Gold Award Project: Growing Nutrition
Jada has a passion for cooking and nutrition, so for her Gold Award project she decided to share her knowledge with the community. Her goal was to help people in the community make healthful food choices without sacrificing flavor, so she created a community nutrition program to share her ideas. Jada created an educational cookbook, Food is Medicine, and made sure recipes were suitable for a low-carb diets. Jada’s cookbook was used at NetCaster Ministry’s food pantry and in the Diabetic Prevention Program at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. Jada also hosted monthly cooking classes at NetCaster Ministry where she offered guests healthful spins on her favorite recipes, such as pumpkin applesauce muffins and turkey meatballs marinara, and she shared how to source inexpensive fruits and vegetables. Jada donated copies her cookbook to several community groups. Her cookbook and class curriculum will continue to be used by NetCaster Ministry. “I believe everyone can make healthy choices if they have the right knowledge and support.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Maya Milteer, Portsmouth Troop 843 Gold Award Project: Removing Obstacles to Healthy Living
One of Maya’s favorite things to do is getting outdoors. She stays active and wants to share the fun of the outdoors with others. She knows that living a healthy lifestyle enables people to live better lives as they age. It also helps them do better at work and gives them the energy they need to continue their education and build skills. In addition, it helps people build friendships with others who share the same interest. Maya worked with Churchland YMCA to implement her project, Removing Obstacles to Healthy Living. With the help of volunteers, she designed and built an outdoor obstacle course at the Churchland YMCA site. She also created a video demonstration and educational literature about her obstacle course. Maya also conducted community outreach to invite families to get active at the Churchland YMCA, and all in the community were invited to the ribbon cutting ceremony. The course will continue to be a community asset and will be maintained by the YMCA. “Exercising outdoors isn’t just good for your physical health. It helps with your mental health as well. Spending time outdoors can improve your mood and reduce stress and depression as well, very important for people today dealing with new challenges.”
Gold Award Girl Scout Cailee Nichols, Virginia Beach Troop 369 Gold Award Project: Pollinators Thriving and ViBe-ING
Through her project, Cailee addressed the declining population of pollinators that is being seen in her community and around the country. She worked with coordinators of the ViBe District in Virginia Beach along with master gardeners to plan and build a garden area that included bee “motels” and native species of plants grown without pesticides, an important factor in pollinator sustainability. Her goal was to make an impact on how people choose pesticides for their gardening, because pesticides can impact bees and create spaces where they cannot pollinate. Cailee’s urban garden included original artwork and signage that explains her Gold Award project and the purpose of the bee “motels.” There is also information at the side that includes tips on how to incorporate gardening practices that are pollinator friendly. “Bees are not endangered creatures, but this does not mean it is time to ignore their declining populations. Bees can be saved if we do small things that lead to big changes in the way we view and care for our fuzzy little friends!”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Isabella Orosco, Moyock Troop 365 Gold Award Project: War of the Web
Isabella earned her Gold Award by teaching others how to be safe online with her project, War of the Web. She designed, developed and implemented a 51-page, cybersecurity curriculum with guidance from two US Navy cyber security specialists. Her project’s curriculum covers three topics: basics of cybersecurity, dangers of the five most popular social media apps and risks of online interaction with strangers. Throughout her project, Isabella learned the process of web design, which included developing a website and learning to code. Isabella was able to use her curriculum to teach students in her community’s middle school. Her project continues to be used by the school’s educators to help create a generation of safer and smarter teens on the Internet. Teens learn to recognize danger and become proactive in protecting themselves without giving up popular and entertaining sites they like. “Technology is taught as a means to make things simpler, but very few people are taught how it actually works. My project gives children and adults the tools to protect themselves and be more mindful.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Emma Reed, Virginia Beach Troop 163 Gold Award Project: Butterfly Garden for First Presbyterian Church and Beach Day School
Through her Gold Award Project, Virginia Beach Butterfly Garden for First Presbyterian Church and Beach Day School, Emma created an outdoor space for the church’s congregation and school children to enjoy. She designed and planted an educational butterfly garden that teaches the life cycle of butterflies and relates it to Jesus’ resurrection in a way any child can understand. Emma also created curriculum to go along with the garden to help instructors share her message. During the project, she learned how to make construction plans, overcame obstacles and learned to lead a team toward an end goal. The garden was a beautiful addition at the church, especially during the pandemic year when people sought out safe outdoor spaces. The garden will continue to be maintained by the students at First Presbyterian Church and Beach Day School and will be enjoyed by guests for years to come. “I learned I can speak loud and clear when I really need to. I have always struggled with this. I also learned I am not a quitter. When something needs to be done- I do it!”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Caitlyn Rogerson, Williamsburg Troop 1377 Gold Award Project: Teaching Children How to Swim
Caitlyn has always had a passion for swimming and wanted to share her experience with others, knowing that not all children know how to swim. She learned this is because of the limited access to pools in most communities. For her project, Teaching Children How to Swim, Caitlin worked with Matthew Whaley Elementary School in Williamsburg to offer an after-school, swimming program. The program was designed for students served by the income based, backpack-program the school offered. With the help of the Virginia-Peninsula Swim Union and the Williamsburg Community Pool, Caitlin launched a free, week-long program where students became comfortable being in the water to learn about water safety. Her project goals were met and all the children who participated responded positively. Her lesson plans were shared with the organizations who assisted her with the project, and those organizations will continue the program. “There is a vast need for teaching children in the area how to swim. Every year there are many drownings in our area and if I can do something to save one child from drowning, I will feel accomplished.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Rebecca Rose, Virginia Beach Troop 229 Gold Award Project: Critical Care Support
Rebecca dedicated her project to help people in need at local hospitals. When she realized that people experiencing homelessness and those suffering from accidents, including children, sometimes come into an emergency room with little to nothing on their backs, she wanted to take action. She created a project that would provide some comfort during stressful circumstances. Through her project, Critical Care Support, Rebecca implemented two community clothing drives where over 1,000 new and gently used articles of clothing were donated. She organized the donations and created a “Care Closet” at Sentara Leigh Hospital. The closet is intended to provide vulnerable populations who come into the ER with fresh clothes and comfort needs. Rebecca’s closet is refreshed quarterly with continued support from the community. With the success of her first closet, more have been created, including a mobile closet for one facility. In addition to clothes, Rebecca donated items to the hospital to help them better serve children in need, such as: hand painted artwork using animal themes, packets of crayons and art material, and stuffed animals. “Hospitals in the nation and around the world, now more than ever, need their community’s support when it comes to essential needs that aren’t always funded.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Catriona Sixbey, Hampton Troop 1000 Gold Award Project: One Unity...One Love
Catriona set a goal to address tensions and promote community between people of the three Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. She created opportunities for these communities to interact and learn about each other’s faith and culture. Through her project, One Unity...One Love, Catriona planned the Unity Walk, an educational walk followed by an Iftar dinner. Guests at the Unity Walk were provided a guided worksheet with directional cues and links to videos to use during their walk. The walk included 15 stops around Fort Monroe in Hampton. Each stop’s message corresponded with a discussion topic and video of one of the three faiths represented and aimed to promote a conversation between participants of different faiths. For example, Cue 13 - Hospitality, asked that participants stop in front of the historic Chamberlin Hotel and discuss how hospitality is a part of their faith. “Bringing together members of different religions and giving them an opportunity to learn about each other through a diversity walk showcased certain points of similarity shared by all of the Abrahamic religions.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Lydia Sweeney, Virginia Beach Troop 4203 Gold Award Project: The Sand Dune Restoration
Lydia got involved with the organization Lynnhaven River NOW to protect and preserve the dunes and watersheds in her community. For her project, The Sand Dune Restoration, she formed and coordinated a team of ten volunteers to uproot invasive plants in the local dunes, plants that place the dunes at risk. Then, the group planted native species to promote balance and sustainability of the natural ecosystem. Lydia also created videos for social media that outlined her project, the process of planting native grasses, and how others could get involved. She also created brochures that were used by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and wrote an article for her school’s newspaper to recruit student volunteers to keep the project going. Her project will help sustain the beaches near her community for years to come. “The threat of our dunes due to invasive grass species is a huge issue. My goal was to educate and inspire people in the community to take action to ensure the health and biodiversity of our dunes.”
Gold Award Girl Scout Reanne Troutman, Seaford IRM in SU150 Gold Award Project: Cats and Bats
Reanne used her passion for animals and the outdoors to make a sustainable impact on her community. During her project research, she became aware of two separate issues affecting animals in her area. To address the first issue, the increase of feral kittens during spring, she constructed ten feral cat homes for a local animal rescue shelter. Her goal was to help the shelter take in more kittens for placement, versus turning them away and contributing to an increase of feral cats in the community. Reanne also created an educational brochure for local businesses to display with a goal to educate individuals on what to do when they see feral kittens. To address the second issue, the White Nose Syndrome (WNS) of local bat populations, a fungal infection that harms the nose, eyes, and ears of bats, she built 16 bat boxes for York River State Park. Since WNS is more prevalent in damp areas and near bodies of water, the dry habitats were welcomed at the park. The boxes will help maintain a healthy bat population, thus reducing the rise of insects. “Animals are a big part of our communities and their well-being is important, since their role impacts many aspects of the communities they are part of.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Francesca Verdura, Yorktown Troop 1659 Gold Award Project: Distracted Driving Awareness
Francesca earned her Gold Award by addressing the problem of distracted driving, a top issue among teens. She worked with the York County Sheriff’s Department to create a Girl Scout patch program that brings awareness to the importance of safety on the road. The program’s curriculum aims to educate new drivers about types of distractions on the road and the dangers and legal consequences of breaking the law. She also designed the patch and had 300 patches made to be given to Girl Scouts who complete her program. Francesca presented her program in front of the York County School Division as well as to local Girl Scouts. Francesca also created a website and Facebook where she placed a petition to end distracted driving. Over 1,000 people signed the petition. “Teenagers often do not realize how dangerous being on the roads can be. There are many variables that affect new drivers, not only cell phones.”
Gold Award Girl Scout *Ayla Winslow, Yorktown Troop 180 Gold Award Project: Reinvention and Reinvigoration of Community Barn
Ayla used her love of equestrian sports to earn her Gold Award. She worked with Topline Horse Center and Northside Christian Church to repair and revitalize the riding facility owned by Northside Christian Church. The Topline Horse Center has a mission of inclusivity and safety to make equestrian sports accessible to all in the community. Ayla worked with the owners to establish a work plan based on the repairs needed. She enlisted and educated volunteers, many of whom were members of the Topline riding team, to help with the construction and electrical repairs needed around the arena. Repairs were done inside and out of the arena, including replacing damaged obstacles on the course. Ayla hopes her project will encourage more guests from the community to visit the equestrian center and to support their mission. “For several years there have been many major storms and weatherrelated events that have impacted both the inside and outside of the riding arena. My project created a safety issue for horses, riders, and bystanders.”
2021 Buck Harris Awardee Jasmine Barbour-Bassett, Williamsburg IRM in SU140 Jasmine Barbour-Bassett is the recipient of the 2021 Buck Harris Award. She is currently a junior at Williamsburg Classical Academy and duel-enrolled at Regent University.
Jasmine lives by the Girl Scout Promise and Law and is always making the world a better place by volunteering wherever she can. She is passionate about saving the environment and has established a recycling program in her school. Needing funds to sustain this project, this go-getter applied for a grant from Make Virginia Beautiful Again, and she was awarded a $500 grant for her efforts. She also spearheaded hurricane aid in her community for the victims of Ocracoke, coordinating with the Elizabeth City ministry. For all her volunteerism, she received the Gold Presidential Award for volunteer efforts in 2018, 2019, and 2020 – logging over 250 hours each year. This year, she was recognized with a Certificate of Excellence from the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Jasmine’s volunteerism within Girl Scouts includes assisting Troop 1413, teaching younger girls about the Girl Scout Promise and Law, assisting them in earning Journeys and badges, and helping plan the troop’s virtual bridging event through Zoom. She also shares her love of camping with all girls. As a Counselor-in Training, she enjoys working with younger girls and teaches them outdoor skills. Her favorite camp is Camp Darden, and her favorite activity is canoeing. During her time as a Girl Scout, she has earned many Girl Scout recognitions that include Bronze Award, Silver Award, Program Aide Award, Community Service Award, Silver Torch Award and Counselor-in-Training I and II. Within her school and community, she serves on the Williamsburg Library Teen Advisory Board, and is a member of the BETA Club.
About the Buck Harris Award The Buck Harris Award was established in honor of Buck Harris, a former executive director of the Virginia Tidewater Girl Scout Council. The award honors a Girl Scout who shares Buck’s love of the outdoors; who has demonstrated an awareness of herself as a unique person of worth; who relates to others with a sensitivity and respect for their needs, feelings, and contributions; who has developed values that give meaning and direction to her life; and who uses her skills and talents to serve the community.
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve. It gives girls the chance to show that they are leaders who are organized, determined, and dedicated to improving their community. When Girl Scout Cadettes focus on an issue they care about, learn the facts, and take action to make a difference, they gain the confidence and skills that them to lifelong success will catapult them to lifelong success.
Abigail Adams Troop Cookbook Sarah Archer Healthy Dog Treats Samantha Bailey Show Your Care of Share – Rescue Education Day Makayda Bates The Quest of Being A Brownie Daijah Bell Union Mission Ministries Women’s Shelter Adriana Bingham Animal Supplies Drive for the Virginia Beach SPCA Janelle Breitkreutz W. T. Cooke Elementary School Kaleigh Brunell Making Toys for Special Needs Cats with the SPCA Carmen Calhoun Animal Care and Coloring Sheet
Reagan Calhoun Deep Creek United Methodist Church Children’s Center Games and Activities Book Emily Callo BTTYS - Be True to Yourself Ava Cardenas Oyster Restoration Kayleigh Carnazza Obstacle Course Mia Elizabeth Casey Maintaining a Positive Attitude Through Fitness During the Covid Quarantine Elizabeth Castano Peanut-Free Benches for Local Baseball Field, Virginia Beach Little League Chloe Cowan Blessing Boxes Lillian Crouch The Quest of Being a Brownie Morgan Davis Vaccines Simplified
Kristin Dillow BTTYS - Be True to Yourself Bridget Dineen Outdoor Adventure Brownie Badge In a Day Cecilia Rose Dunn Finding a Pollution Solution Meghan Elliot Outdoor Adventure Brownie Badge in a Day Hannah Fann Animal Shelter Treats and Cat Beds Aisha Ferebee Blessing Boxes Alison Flechtner Making Masks for Nurses and Doctors During Covid-19 Olivia Fortier Fuel Up Food Program For Homeless and at Risk High School Students in Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Jayla Freeman Union Mission Ministries Women’s Shelter
Kasia Gruetzmacher Beautifying Moyock Schools
Adriana Gagliardi Obstacle Course
Gabriella Guernsey The Quest of Being A Brownie
Effie Gallion Effie Gallion’s JCOC Donation Project Sydney Germond Deep Creek United Methodist Church Children’s Center Games and Activities Book
Lillian Haetinger Deep Creek United Methodist Church Children’s Center Games and Activities Book Sophia Hewitt Weekend Book Bags
Veronica Gilkey The Quest of Being a Brownie
Kate Holland Kindergarten Number Books
Genevieve Gleisner Giving Gardens at Bluebird Gap Farm
Savanna Horn Beautifying Moyock Schools
Chloe Goodlin First Landing State Park Booklet
Maureen Rose Keller The Great Ocean Cleanup
Maura Graves Fuel Up Food Program For Homeless and At Risk High School Students in Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Chloe Kiser Blessing Bags for the Needy
Paige Gregory Second Chance Wildlife Silver Award Kailey Grey YWCA Book Nook Katherine Griffin Troop Cookbook
Mackenzie Koman NWRP Equestrian Mounting Block
Virginia Grace Mataya No Room for Racism Gabrielle McCants Build a Bridge Carmela McKenney Deep Creek United Methodist Church Children’s Center Games and Activities Book Emma Mc Vicar Giving Gardens at Bluebird Gap Farm Madisyn Morris Beautifying Moyock Schools Caroline Nelson Spreading Christianity to Preschoolers Olivia Nichols Fuel Up Food Program for Homeless and at Risk High School Students in Virginia Beach City Public Schools Violet Olds Blessing Boxes Michelle Parker Troop Cookbook
Camille Langone BTTYS - Be True to Yourself
Penelope Partamian Masks for the Community
Juliana Leo First Landing State Park Booklet
Cathy Paulson Second Chance Wildlife Silver Award
Makaila Mason The Quest of Being A Brownie
Kaitlynn Richardson Blessing Boxes
Hailey Rimbey The Quest of Being A Brownie
Cora Smith No Room for Racism Gwyneth Solomon Pleasure House Point Tree Guide
Jamie Rimbey The Quest of Being A Brownie Avery Rinschler Deep Creek United Methodist Church Children’s Center Games and Activities Book Sarah Roberts No Room for Racism Lillian Robison Outdoor Adventure Brownie Badge in a Day Margaret Rosenbaum American Saints Badges Anna Ross Daisy Outdoor Adventure Jayna Saltisiak Narcolepsy Phoebe Sampsell Masks for the Community Natalie Sanders Stay Healthy
Sofia Sosnowski Helping the Homeless Kathryn Blair Steadman Little Lending Library for Rena B. Wright Primary School Madalyn Svede Beautifying Moyock Schools Heather Grace Svenson The Gift of Time Katrina Swain Blessing Boxes Caylin Szilagyi First Landing State Park Booklet
Emily Weaver Sewing for Smiles for the Kids at CHKD Shealyn Morgan Weed Birthday Boxes for Local Senior Citizens Quinnlyn Weyrauch Masks for the Community Kaitlyn Wilkinson Daisy Outdoor Adventure Abigail Will Second Chance Wildlife Silver Award Lydia Winstead Obstacle Course Ophelia Ye-Germond YWCA Book Nook
Colleen Sweeney Oyster Restoration Claire Taliaferro Kindergarten Number Books Abigail Turner Sensory Boards for Children with Special Needs
“Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best.” Juliette Gordon Low
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. As a Girl Scout Junior and her team plan and complete a Take Action project, she will develop more confidence, meet new people, and have the kind of fun that happens when she works with other Girl Scouts to make a difference. Earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award involves the time to complete a Journey, and then a suggested minimum of twenty hours building her team, exploring her community, choosing her project, planning it, putting the plan in motion, and then spreading the word about the project.
Makayla Adcock Maya Argilan Trinity Boggs Madison Boyd Evelyn Boys Abby Brent Kayden Brent Jaleigh Burnett Sariya Carswell Avery Cartwright Clara Chamblin Zoe Clevenger Alena Colon Ava Cook Danielle Dickens Emily Dreyfus Saheli Durage Katalina Elliott Averi Evans Kayla Evans Aidan Fackler Lilly Fenmore Allison Flechtner Adaleyn Forbes Audrey Fuss Nevaeh Gee Clara Godbout Nadia Grant Sydney Gray Lorelei Green Ailan Hall
Allison Heckman Claire Helmick Kinsley Hemphill Isabella Jagard Azula Johnson Olivia Joseph Carmella Karner Katelyn Kellar Leana Mansfield Isabella McKenzie Candace Mitchell Hayleigh Mohr Madison Morris Grace Moyer Claire Neas Brianna Nicholson Sydney Nonnenmacher Kennedy Nordin Hayley O’Neill Madison Overbeck Meridian Parsons Judy Patrick Braelyn Perry Selena Perry Kelsey Pitzer Daphne Reed Trinity Saenz Kaitlyn Salway Alexandria Sampson Olivia San Nicolas Hailey Sidwell
Abigale (Grace) Simmons Taelyn Smith Olivia Sowers Abigail Spruill Nora Staggs Kennedy Staten Adrianna Stephens Abigail Stick Nora J. Sweeney Alexis Tasber Willow Tatum Destiny Taylor Simone Thomas Lillian Thompson Emma Thornhill Ayva Tudor Izzy Tyree-Herrmann Natalie Walker Eliana Welch Amelia White Kiera Williams Sarah Williams
Medal of Honor Lifesaving Award Girl Scouts have been honored since 1913 for meritorious deeds that helped save lives. The Medal of Honor Lifesaving Award is given to a registered Girl Scout who has saved or attempted to save human life under circumstances that indicate heroism or risk of her own life.
GSCCC Girl Scout Ambassadors Honored While on a rowing adventure in August of 2019, Girl Scout Ambassadors Morgan Harvey and Gabriella Gonzalez were part of a heroic lifesaving effort. Their small crew team, decided to end their day of rowing with a rope swing over a waterway. Unfortunately, one of the coaches swung over a jagged stump and Gabriella Gonzalez Morgan Harvey severely injured his left leg, Troop 142 Troop 213 nearly severing the left foot. The girls acted quickly in an emergency situation. Gabriella assisted in giving first aid and calming the coach while Morgan rowed to shore to help the rescue squad get to them. Both girls were calm and focused during the ordeal. Last cookie season, before the required stay-at-home guidelines, Troop 373 from Norfolk was hosting a booth at the Walmart located at Tidewater Drive. While setting up their table in front of the store, they saw a man collapse. Girl Scout Ambassadors Morgan and Katie quickly set into motion. Morgan surmised that Morgan Nottingham Katie Heine the man may have had a Troop 373 Troop 373 seizure and rolled him onto his side and placed a jacket under his head while watching him closely. Katie got to her cell phone and dialed 911 and also headed to get the store security after 911 was called. The girls remained by the man’s side until medical help arrived.
The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors students/Girl Scouts in grades 5-12 for making meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteer service. Girl Scouts who apply and meet the criteria have a chance to receive a scholarship of up to $5,000. The selection levels vary. All applicants who qualify (volunteer for 26 hours of service for ages 10 and younger, 50 hours for ages 11-15, and 100 hours for older students) receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
We are proud to announce that two GSCCC Girl Scout Ambassadors received recognition in 2021. Jasmine Barbour-Bassett was honored with a Certificate of Excellence. Sophia Fitzgerald was honored with a Certificate of Achievement. Both girls received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
“The work of today is the history of tomorrow and we are it’s makers.” Juliette Gordon Low
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