By Zack Peterson
Since the fourth grade, being involved in Girl Scouts has been sweet, sweet music to Alexis Aldamuy’s ears.
And now, 10 years later, as a graduate of Wharton High, Aldamuy’s persistence and hard work have made her a recipient of the Gold Award, the highest level of achievement a Girl Scout can earn, which she was rewarded with on June 5.
Along with the orchestra, Aldamuy started participating in Scouts 10 years ago when she moved to the Wesley Chapel/New Tampa area where her troop is based.
“I had just moved to Tampa and didn’t know anybody,” Aldamuy said. “My mom thought it was a good way to meet people.
“After awhile, I got really close to everyone. They’re all my sisters now.”
As a part of Troop 1012, Aldamuy found her passion in the activities the scouts offered.
“I really liked the events and activities we did like camping,” Aldamuy said.
After years of experience with the troop, Aldamuy first had to complete 40 hours of career leadership before pursuing the Gold Award, an honor equivalent to the Eagle Scout Award in boy scouting, and a task that requires numerous steps.
As a prerequisite to the Gold Award, Aldamuy and other scouts in her troop completed the 40 hours of career leadership by going on a college road trip that toured UF, FSU, UNF, UCF and Stetson.
“It was to get us thinking about the colleges we’d attend and future careers,” Aldamuy said.
According to Aldamuy, the Gold Award requires a detailed community service project that must fulfill 65 hours of volunteer work.
“It is a very rigorous process,” said troop leader Terri Thiele, the woman who has worked with Aldamuy and her fellow scouts for the past ten years. “Less than 5 percent of the girls her age even earn this award.”
The scout must identify a community issue and do the necessary research to become knowledgeable about the subject. Then, they must invite others to join their cause, create the project plan, and submit it for review by their particular Girl Scout council.
After doing so, the scout must carry out the plan, inspire others and leave behind a legacy that will carry the passion behind the project for years to come.
As a dedicated violinist, Aldamuy found her inspiration for the project in the music programs around local elementary schools.
“I noticed the music programs had been diminishing, especially at the elementary school level,” Aldamuy said. “The lack of music introduced in elementary school also seemed to lead to decreased music programs in high school too.”
So, as part of her service project, she booked a room at the Holiday Inn Hotel off Bruce B. Downs to put on a program known as “Got Music?!”
There, she showcased instruments with the help of local music stores such as Bidel Music and Happy Tunes and invited local elementary schools like Clark, Pride, Hunters Green, Heritage and Lawton Chiles to give them a hands on experience.
“It was a total of 84 hours after putting everything together,” Aldamuy said. “And the legacy piece I put together was a power point I made that I gave to elementary schools detailing the instruments, the types of music they can play, and the sounds the instruments make.
“It felt like I accomplished something really big. It really helped me find what I love to do, and it was great to give that back to the community.”
Aldamuy still plans to remain involved with the scouts even though she will be attending Stetson University in the fall with the intention of majoring in English Professional Writing.
“There are still three girls pursuing the Gold Award in my troop,” Aldamuy said. “I’m still a life long Girl Scout and I’ll do whatever I can to help these girls.”
Thiele has no doubt about this.
“I feel that she’ll actively volunteer and be a positive role model for young girls everywhere,” Thiele said. “It makes me proud to say I had some involvement in being a positive role model for her.”
More Gold Scouts
Other area Girl Scouts who won the Gold Award:
Rachel Landes, Steinbrenner High
Jessica Rosenblum, King High
