Special to Iredell Free News
Two local Girl Scouts recently earned the Gold Award, the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn.
Hollyn Gambill and Madison Lashley, both of Mooresville, were recognized by the Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont, one of 111 councils nationwide chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA to deliver Girl Scout program within specific geographic boundaries.
Gambill, the daughter of Steve and Sandi Gambill and a member of Girl Scout Troop 1947, created an online community called AmpuTeens that connects teenagers with limb loss and limb difference together in a shared spaced. Gambill felt most resources for amputees were geared toward adults, and she wanted a place for teens to share their stories and experiences. She interviewed several people from across the country, editing and sharing their stories on social media, as well as created a book that was distributed to Greenville Shriner’s Hospital for Children and other prosthetic clinics.
Lashley, the daughter of John and Sarah Lashley and a member of Girl Scout Troop 10009, created a summer tennis camp at her high school to introduce rising freshmen to current high school students. The camp, called Racquet Dash, taught girls about tennis and how to play, helped prepare them for the transition from middle to high school, and offered a chance to make new friends before the school year started.
Girls in high school are able to earn their Girl Scout Gold Award by creating sustainable change on a community or world issue. Gold Award Girl Scouts address the root cause of a problem, plan and implement innovative solutions to drive change and lead a team of people to success. Each girl must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to planning and carrying out her project, which must benefit the community and have long lasting impact.
As they take action to transform their world, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they are the leaders our community and world need. Gold Award Girl Scouts from Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont have created community gardens, addressed issues in foster care, combated bullying in schools and so much more.
“Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award designation is truly a remarkable achievement. It is the culmination of so many things- from a girl’s self-discipline and leadership abilities to time management and the creativity, initiative and mastery of skills it takes to complete these kind of projects,” said Jennifer Wilcox, CEO for Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont. “Every girl who earns this prestigious award is making a difference not only in her community, but her own life as well. The skills gained through the Gold Award process- strategic thinking, communication, collaboration, problem solving- are ones that will be used often in her future endeavors.”
Thousands of Girl Scouts earn the Girl Scout Gold Award each year, which first began in 1916 as the Golden Eaglet. Earning the Gold Award opens doors to scholarships, preferred admission tracks for college and amazing career opportunities.
LEARN MORE
Do you have a girl who wants to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award too? Find out more information about Girl Scouting in your local area at www.girlscoutsp2p.org.