Silver Award Celebration 2026 Thursday, September 3
Celebrating Cadette Changemakers!
Celebrating Cadette Changemakers! 2 Silver Award Celebration 2026
Dear Silver Award Girl Scouts, Congratulations on earning the Silver Award, the Highest Award a Cadette Girl Scout can achieve. Today we celebrate a remarkable group of Cadette Changemakers who recognized needs in their communities and chose to take action. Through leadership, creativity, collaboration, and determination, you transformed ideas into sustainable solutions that will continue making a difference long after your projects are complete. This year, 66 Girl Scouts earned the Silver Award, collectively contributing more than 3350 hours of leadership, collaboration, and community impact. Along the way, you strengthened your problem-solving skills, inspired others to get involved, and demonstrated that meaningful change can begin at any age. As you share your projects today, we hope you take pride in not only what you accomplished, but also in the leader you have become throughout this journey. Your willingness to step forward, work alongside others, and create a lasting impact reflects the best parts of Girl Scouting. We are incredibly proud of all you have accomplished and excited to see where your leadership takes you next. Congratulations, Silver Award Girl Scouts! Yours in Girl Scouting,
Shari Krull Chief Executive Officer
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The Girl Scout Law
The Girl Scout Promise
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.
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. *Members may substitute for the word God in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.
Silver Award By The Numbers This year’s NYC Silver Award Girl Scouts completed
50+ individual project hours to plan and implement a sustainable service project.
3,350+
66 Girl Scouts from the Greater New York council earned their Silver Award.
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hours of Take Action projects in their communities.
Keynote Speaker: Pratima T. Narayan, Esq. Pratima T. Narayan is a strategic and resultsdriven attorney with more than 15 years of experience advancing human rights, accountability, and public policy. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the District of Columbia Commission on Human Rights and as the Legal and Compliance Director for a nonprofit serving individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in Washington, D.C. Previously, as a Senior Advisor in the Biden-Harris Administration, she advised the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice on crisis prevention and response and represented U.S. interests in international diplomatic engagements. Pratima has held senior roles with Open Society Foundations and the United Nations, including Chief of Investigations for the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan. She was also one of 18 investigators
selected for a U.S. State Department inquiry into mass atrocities in Myanmar. Her international experience spans the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UNESCO, UNDP, and the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. A Bronx native, Pratima began her career as an attorney advising corporate and publicsector clients and working with the Legal Aid Society in New York City. She holds a J.D. from Boston University School of Law and a B.S. from Cornell University. Her work has been recognized by Foreign Policy for America, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and 92Y, among others. She serves on the UN Women/Justice Rapid Response Expert Roster and CANADEM’s Civilian Response Corps.
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GSUSA 2026 Gold Award Scholarship Recipient: Athenia Liu
Athenia Liu Project Title: Goodbye Eczema Global Health Alliance
Athenia’s Gold Award project, Goodbye Eczema Global Health Alliance, is a studentled initiative inspired by her personal journey with severe eczema. Dedicated to empowering individuals to take a proactive role in their health and well-being, the project
is built around seven key pillars of holistic wellness: mindset, nutrition and hydration, skin and body care, sleep, exercise, stress management, and healthy environment. Through global online communities of more than 700 members, educational resources, expert-led webinars, and participation in United Nations side events such as the Youth Forum, the initiative helps individuals better understand their bodies, strengthen health literacy, and develop sustainable habits that support long-term healing and overall wellness. The project also promotes creative health advocacy through initiatives such as Art for Health, using art as a creative platform to raise awareness, foster connection, and inspire healthier communities.
Leadership Institute Project Scholarship Recipients
Business & Entrepreneurship
Chelsea R., Eva G., Olivia S.
Leadership Institute Applications open soon!
Environmental Advocacy
Emley S., Lauren T., Taylor L.
the Powered by
Girl Scouts
of Greater
New York
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STEM
Aglaia M., Elise C., Jocelyn K., Regina J., Sophia J.
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Thank You! Thank you, Girl Scouts of Greater New York Highest Awards Coaches! Your support with training, mentoring, and reviewing all Silver and Gold Award Projects is invaluable! Thank you, Troop Leaders, Project Advisors, Parents, and Caregivers, for your unwavering support of your Girl Scouts as they have grown into incredible leaders and made positive sustainable changes in their communities! Thank you to the Highest Awards team! Maggie Vasquez, Vice President MeryJoe Martinez, Program Manager
Celebrating Cadette Changemakers!
For Silver Award information, visit girlscoutsnyc.org, or email us at highestawards@girlscoutsnyc.org. 7
Projects & Themes
2026 Silver Award Girl Scouts Samantha Amatrudo Sophia Andrade Carina Benitez Maya Bilak Sabrina Bonelli Jamaya Bryan Chloe Casper Pellie ChattinThompson Violet Cimmino Charlotte DeRosa Rio DeLeon Yasmine Diany Janie Dong Madison Downs Ashleigh Flanagan Alessandra Franzoni Lila Fulton Stella Fay Georgas Candace Gittens Melani Grant Sofia Gutierrez Grace Healey Honor Hew Wing Brianna Ingber Siyona Kadam Alexis Kodi Hannah Kuh Claire Lamboy Mackenzie Lavin Allison Lee Graycen Louie Lauren Matishek Alina Maturu Sahaana Mehta
Kaylee Merentie Lea Mickelsen Irene Moukas Allison Murnane Elizabeth Ng Nicolette Nigido Trinity Onyemelukwe Ava Otterbeck Marchesa Picone Ava Pinto Katie Podlaski Evmorfia Qerimani Madeleine Rivera Charlotte Rodriguez Kathryn Rossi Mia Sanchez Tanjien Sambou Nerhia Sewchand Ava Sheehan Caitlin See Eva Sotiriou Celia Spyriounis Theodora Vandewalker Camila Velastegui Omaya Vidals Leilani Wang Imani Welch Wynter Williams Skylar Williams Violet Wingard Jillian Wong Victoria Woods
Youth Advocates Allison Murnane Pencils & Pens Help Make New Friends
Candace Gittens Dancing Through the Decades
Ava Sheehan Pencils & Pens Help Make New Friends
Charlotte Rodriguez Church Hymnal Book Repairs
Charlotte DeRosa Pencils & Pens Help Make New Friends
Kaylee Merentie Mending Church Books
Graycen Louie School Supply Donation Drive
Leilani Wang Forever Ornaments
Jillian Wong School Supply Donation Drive Kathryn Rossi Bundles of Joy! Lauren Matishek Care Packages for Kids in the Hospital
Sabrina Bonelli Getting to Know Juliette Gordon Low Stella Fay Georgas Birthday Boxes Victoria Woods Strong Girls, Strong Futures Educators
Madison Downs Pencils & Pens Help Make New Friends
Ava Otterbeck Career Day
Nicolette Nigido Tie It Up!
Brianna Ingber After School Club (K-2nd Grade)
Siyona Kadam School Supply Donation Drive
Carina Benitez Applying to High School in NYC
Creative Expressionists
Marchesa Picone Career Day
Alessandra Franzoni Church Hymnal Book Repairs
Maya Bilak After School Club (K-2nd Grade)
Alexis Kodi Sacred Heart Beautification
Mia Sanchez Homework Balance: Preparing for Middle School
Ashleigh Flanagan Crochet Corner Camila Velastegui Mending Church Books
Nerhia Sewchand Read Without Borders
Celebrating Cadette Changemakers!
Skylar Williams How to Take Action in Your Community When Disaster Strikes (Ages 5-10)
Samantha Amatrudo To Show You Care, Donate Lunches To Share
Sofia Gutierrez After School Club (K-2nd Grade)
Tanjien Sambou Calm & Confident: A Fitness and Wellness Project for Girls
Sophia Andrade Homework Balance: Preparing for Middle School
Violet Wingard Project Comfort
Hannah Kuh Monarch Butterfly Waystation Silver Award Project
Pellie ChattinThompson Choose No Kill Shelters
Rio DeLeon Monarch Butterfly Waystation Silver Award Project
Sahaana Mehta Teen Girl Clothing Swap
Violet Cimmino Monarch Butterfly Waystation Silver Award Project
Theodora Vandewalker Book Box for Woodside
Human Rights Defenders
Social Justice Advocates
Wynter Williams How to Take Action in Your Community When Disaster Strikes (Ages 5-10)
Allison Lee Care Kits for Hope
Alina Maturu Teen Girl Clothing Swap
Caitlin See Women's Rights for Female Adolescents
Yasmine Diany Career Day Health Advocates Ava Pinto Naloxone Education for Middle School Honor Hew Wing Own Your Worth Katie Podlaski Naloxone Education for Middle School Lea Mickelsen To Show You Care, Donate Lunches To Share Mackenzie Lavin To Show You Care, Donate Lunches To Share Madeleine Rivera The Cons of Vaping
Claire Lamboy Care Kits for Hope Elizabeth Ng Women's Rights For Female Adolescents Jamaya Bryan Crowned In Care
Celia Spyriounis Uniform Exchange & Upcycling Eva Sotiriou Uniform Exchange & Upcycling Evmorfia Qerimani Uniform Exchange & Upcycling
Janie Dong Women's Rights For Female Adolescents
Imani Welch Mother Hale Pamper Run and Paving Forward Initiative
Leadership Coaches
Irene Moukas Uniform Exchange & Upcycling
Melani Grant Student Classroom Assistant Initiative Science Enthusiasts Chloe Casper Monarch Butterfly Waystation Silver Award Project Grace Healey Monarch Butterfly Waystation Silver Award Project
Trinity Onyemelukwe Self Defense
Lila Fulton Choose No Kill Shelters Omaya Vidals Choose No Kill Shelters
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girlscoutsnyc.org Girl Scouts of Greater New York 40 Wall Street, Suite 708 New York, NY 10005 212.645.4000