The Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) bestowed Gold Awards on 28 inspiring, teen world-changers from across Tampa Bay — the young women earning the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting.
The Gold Award is available to girls in high school whose chosen project creates a significant and sustainable positive change in a community. From supporting pediatric cancer patients and their families to creating sustainable water conservation initiatives, the award-winners address the root cause of a problem, plan and implement innovative solutions to drive change, and lead a team of people to success, according to a news release.
The 2024 GSWCF invested more than 2,500 combined hours planning and implementing projects that tackled many pervasive issues throughout the council’s eight-county footprint and beyond, the release says.
Earning Gold Awards were: Phoebe Ancer, Macey Clay, Emma Clough, Prisha Deshmukh,
Alyssa Dufort, Maegan Heink, Jessica Hill, Molly Joiner, Kameryn Knowles, Millay Kral, Nevaeh Motes, Anneliese Murch, Olivia Ondash, Elle Orchard, Emersen Pilon, Lucia Popovich, Bianca Raises, Brynlee Rhodes, Isabel Santiago Reyes, Juliette Selman, Isabella Shafer, Grace
Siguenza, Gabriela Sosa, Josie Stromgren, Haley Thompson, Chloe Wilson, Laila Wood and Emilie Youmans.
The projects are evaluated by the High Awards Committee for scholarship opportunities, too.
Maegan Heink’s period poverty project and Emily Connor’s artistic expression project earned each of them an Ann Hensler Scholarship.
In addition, a $5,000 GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship will be presented later this summer to a GSWCF Gold Award Girl Scout whose project exemplifies the core components of the Gold Award and demonstrates extraordinary leadership to drive lasting change in her community and beyond.
“Our Gold Award Girl Scouts have demonstrated they are ready for a future of their choosing,” said CEO Mary Pat King, in the release.
“Girl Scouts has prepared them to lead others courageously and confidently as they continue a lifetime of pursuing positive change,” said King.
To learn more about the achievements, visit GSWCF.org/gold.
Published June 26, 2024
