G I R L S C O U T G O L D A WA R D C E R E M O N YM A R C H 6 , 2 0 1 6

GIRLS CHANGE THE WORLD

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Program of Events

“Canon in D” by Pachelbel Pilar Athaide-Victor Emma Fitzpatrick Michaella Huber Madison Jaros Gold Award Recipients Opening Suzanne Valle Gold Ceremony Committee Presentation of the Colors Meg Clark Rebecca Gulick Megan Jofriet Katie Karnosh Marissa Linder Lauren Pelan Valerie Welch Gold Award Recipients

National Anthem Michaella Huber Madison Jaros Gold Award Recipients

Girl Scout Promise Colleen Bell Gold Award Recipient

Girl Scout Law Ariel Georgeff Gold Award Recipient

Invocation Sandrea Austin Gold Award Recipient

Introduction of Special Guests Suzanne Valle Gold Ceremony Committee

Welcome Roni Luckenbill CEO

What it takes to earn the Gold Betty Bryant Highest Award Alum

Presentation of Gold Awards I Eilanna Price Suzanne Valle Gold Ceremony Committee Roni Luckenbill CEO Jody Wainscott Board Chair

Introduction of Special Guest R. Peach Owen Norman Gold Award Recipient

National Young Woman Hadiya Harrigan of Distinction 2015 NYWOD Recipient

Presentation of Gold Awards II Eilanna Price Suzanne Valle Roni Luckenbill Jody Wainscott

Introduction of Keynote Emily Rasmussen Gold Award Recipient

Keynote Speaker General Janet Wolfenbarger

Presentation of Gold Awards III Eilanna Price Suzanne Valle Roni Luckenbill Jody Wainscott

Passing the light and Alexandra Bielecki spirit of Girl Scouts Gold Award Recipient

“Juliette” Song Sarah Poppel Gold Award Recipient

Closing Remarks Eilanna Price Suzanne Valle Gold Ceremony Committee

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Pilar Athaide-VictorSandrea AustinColleen BellAlexandra BieleckiKylie BushMikayla CaudillSarah ChaneyMeg ClarkAllison CooperAnnalise DonavanEmma DooleyEmma FitzpatrickEmily FultonAriel GeorgeffElise Grinkemeyer

Rebecca GulickMeg HesslingMichaella HuberMadison JarosMegan JofreitKatherine JohnsonKatherine KarnoshCeleste KearneyMelissa KelleherKorinna LakesMarissa LinderAmanda LowryAbigail LynchMary McKinneyBrittany Meister

Marlena MerlingAnna MumfordR. Peach Norman OwenKashvi PatelLauren PelanShelby PleimanSarah PoppelPaige PurdyEmily RasmussenLaramie ReynoldsVictoria RussellJennifer WallaceNathalie WeissValerie Welch

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The Girl Scout Gold AwardSince 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others.

These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. They are our future, and it looks bright!

Recipients

History of the Girl Scout Highest Award1916-1919 Golden Eagle of Merit The Golden Eagle of Merit, the highest award in Girl Scouting from 1916 to 1919, marked the beginning of a long tradition of using prestigious awards to recognize girls who make a difference in their communities and in their own lives.

1919-1938 Golden Eaglet The Golden Eaglet Award was the highest award of Girl Scouting from 1919 through 1938. A total of 10,658 Golden Eaglets were awarded.

1938-1940 First Class In 1938, First Class became the highest award. To achieve First Class meant that a girl was an “all-around” person with skills in many fields and proficient in one.

1940-1963 Curved Bar The Curved Bar Award was introduced in 1940 as the highest award for Intermediate Girl Scouts who had completed the rank of First Class.

1963- 1980 First Class In 1963 the highest award went back to being called First Class.

1980- Present Gold AwardSince 1980, the Gold Award has inspired girls to find the greatness inside themselves and share their ideas and passions with their communities. While earning the Gold Award, girls design, plan, and lead a Take Action project that will make a lasting change for the better in their communities and beyond.

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GENERAL JANET C. WOLFENBARGER General Janet C. Wolfenbarger was commissioned in 1980 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and began her career in acquisition as an engineer at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), FL. She has held a variety of assignments at headquarters Electronic Security Command and Air Force Systems Command. Gen. Wolfenbarger has held several

positions in the F-22 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, served as the F-22 Lead Program Element Monitor at the Pentagon, and was the B-2 System Program Director for the Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC), Wright-Patterson. She commanded ASC’s C-17 Systems Group, Mobility Systems Wing. She was the Service’s Director of the Air Force Acquisition Center of Excellence at the Pentagon, then served as Director of the Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Intelligence and Requirements Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB. She served as AFMC vice commander from December 2009 to September 2011. Gen. Wolfenbarger next served as the Military Deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Pentagon, Washington, D.C. Gen. Wolfenbarger culminated her career as the Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson. The command employs some 80,000 people and manages $60 billion annually, executing the critical mission of warfighter support through leading-edge science and technology, cradle-to-grave life cycle weapon systems management, world-class developmental test and evaluation, world-class depot maintenance and supply chain management, and world-wide installation and mission support. Gen. Wolfenbarger retired from the US Air Force on July 1, 2015, after a 35-year career of dedicated service to the nation.

KeynoteHADIYA HARRIGAN2015 National Young Woman of Distinction A 2014 Cum Laude Society graduate of the Seven Hills Upper School, Hadiya is currently a sophomore at Tuskegee University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

Hadiya was selected by Girl Scouts of the USA as one of the 2015 National Young Women of Distinction, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, for her Gold Award project, Computer Programming Handbook & Modules. She has received a number of local and national awards for her achievements, including the Frederick Hauck Scholarship for commitment and achievement in the fields of Mathematics and/or Science, the Cincinnati Leaders for the Future Award, the 2014 National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Aspirations in Computing National Award, and both a 2013 and 2014 NCWIT Ohio Affiliate Award. She is a Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, Gold, and National Young Woman of Distinction Award recipient.

Special Guest

Thank You to Our Corporate Partners for Investing in Girls!

GOLD PARTNERPRESENTING PARTNER

Thank You to Our Corporate Partners for Investing in Girls!

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PILAR ATHAIDE-VICTOR Swanton, OhioA senior at Toledo School for the Arts, Pilar plans to attend a Conservatory of Music and major in Violin/Viola Performance & Arts Management. A member for 13 years, Pilar’s favorite Girl Scout moments include Camp Libbey, CIT, and Canadian Camporee. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Write Out Loud—Pilar’s project addresses the issue of articulation in under privileged communities. She saw that many children, particularly those whose second language is English, had difficulty speaking in front of people. By creating a speaking program for Hispanic children, Pilar wanted to boost their confidence so they could thrive in both a school environment and daily life. She created a cohesive curriculum that included activities and games to enhance public speaking skills. She gave these children an opportunity to speak in an inviting and welcoming environment. Each student gave a speech at the final event recital and celebration. Pilar said one girl told her at the end of the program, “I am no longer afraid of anything!”

Gold Award RecipientsSANDREA AUSTIN Dayton, OhioA senior and valedictorian at Horizon Science Academy, Sandrea plans to attend college. A member for 13 years, Sandrea’s favorite Girl Scout experience is a trip to Kings Island with her troop.

Summer of Fun/Gift of Giving—Sandrea volunteers at Mt. Enon Missionary Baptist Church every Sunday in a program called First Fruits, which helps feed the community. She recognized a need for additional programs for the children and their families. She developed and implemented two large programs, Summer of Fun and Gift of Giving. Summer of Fun was held in June and served over 100 less fortunate children. She had games, movies, crafts, singing, dancing, and served dinner. A few community organizations had booths scattered throughout the gym. The Gift of Giving, which was held in December and focused on families, had over 100 participants. The children made gifts for their families as well as enjoyed singing, crafts, a visit from Santa, and a hot meal. The church plans to continue the Gift of Giving program with Sandrea’s help.

COLLEEN BELL West Unity, OhioColleen is a junior at Hilltop High School. A member for nine years, Colleen’s favorite Girl Scout experience is a Night at the Museum. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

TMI: Teach, Mentor, Inspire—Colleen lives in the small town of West Unity and discovered the need for a tutoring program for students. Colleen worked in collaboration with the public library and the elementary school to establish an ongoing tutoring program for young children in need. She researched materials to find creative ideas to help teach children concepts that they were struggling with. From giving speeches to different organizations, Colleen gained publicity for her program and gathered donated school supplies for her students. The school and library will now work together to ensure this important opportunity continues.

SILVER PARTNERS

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MIKAYLA CAUDILL Mount Orab, OhioA senior at Western Brown High School, Mikayla plans to attend Columbia College and major in Cinematography. A member for 13 years, Mikayla’s favorite Girl Scout moments include camping and earning badges. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

S.L.A.P. (Safety Light Awareness Project)—With the recent economic downturn, many local schools have lost funding and turned to levies to make up the lost income. After Mikayla’s school’s levy failed, busing was cut for much of her district, forcing over 300 students to walk to school. Mikayla recognized the danger this presented to students. Friends of hers were injured because they were not seen by drivers while walking on early, dark mornings. S.L.A.P. allowed her a way to prevent this from happening to other students. Through her project, over 300 students were given blinking, reflective wristbands to alert drivers of their presence. Additional kits and safety measures were also put into place, making her school safer for students. More awareness was raised through newspaper articles and information given out to drivers.

ALEXANDRA BIELECKI Centerville, OhioAlexandra is a junior at Centerville High School. A member for 11 years, Alexandra’s favorite Girl Scout experience is attending “Rock the Mall” in Washington, D.C. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

Healthy Lifestyles Through Yoga—Living a healthy lifestyle has always been important to Alex. She founded the Centerville High School Yoga Club and did a two month teacher training program. To expand the benefits of yoga to more students, she worked with middle school, high school, competitive athletes, and children in the foster care system. At Magsig Middle School health and gym classes, she taught yoga and stress management. At the high school, she worked with female athletes during summer conditioning, using yoga as an injury prevention measure. Alex reached out to the Ohio Mentor Foster Care program. She hosted two weeks’ worth of day camps for around 40 kids. She focused on yoga, diet, meditation, and relaxation as coping mechanisms. The Yoga Club is now a permanent program at Centerville High School.

KYLIE BUSH Kettering, OhioKylie is a 2015 homeschool graduate. A member for eight years, Kylie’s favorite Girl Scout experience is going to Great Wolf Lodge with her troop. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Love for Kids—Kylie’s project was inspired by her love of children. She taught several multi-age groups how to knit and crochet hats and headbands, with the goal of taking them to a children’s hospital. She strengthened her public speaking skills, by working with Girl Scout troops, home school groups, friends, and senior citizens. She solicited for donations of yarn via social media and visits to craft stores. The Fairborn Senior Center Yarn Club and the Trotwood Crochet Club were especially helpful. Overall, Kylie was able to donate 250 hats and 150 headbands decorated with 200 flowers made from a Knifty Knitter. She and some of her volunteers took the knitted and crocheted items to Dayton Children’s and walked around to hand them out.

Cincinnati Insurance Companies

HORAN

Lincoln Financial Services, Hartmann and Associates

Planes Moving & Storage

RiverPoint Capital Management

BRONZE PARTNERS

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MEG CLARK Toledo, OhioMeg is a senior at Toledo Natural Science Technology Center and plans to attend Michigan State University and major in Animal Sciences. A member for 12 years, Meg’s favorite Girl Scout experience is making friends. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Animal Care Kit—Meg’s love of animals inspired her project. She researched and developed an animal care guide for children. She included in the guide the thirteen most common pets. The guide teaches children how to be responsible pet owners and includes topics such as: supplies needed, safety, food, and health. Meg also interviewed professionals from the Toledo Area Humane Society and created a DVD for children to watch. The educational materials developed will be used at the shelter for their education classes and as resource materials for families considering adopting a new pet.

SARAH CHANEY West Chester, OhioA 2015 graduate of Lakota East High School, Sarah is a freshman at Miami University, majoring in Strategic Communications and Psychology. A member for 13 years, Sarah’s favorite Girl Scout moments include becoming a PA and LIT. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

Adopt a Legend—Through her volunteer work with Hospice and Operation Hawk, Sarah saw that she could make a change with her project. Sarah developed the Adopt a Legend program that recruited high school students to connect and volunteer at a local nursing home. She matched students with residents that may not have had any visitors of their own. Through research and training, she facilitated and taught others the best and most beneficial way to connect with residents. These connections not only allowed students to volunteer in a meaningful way, but they became friends with the older generation. On top of regular visits, Sarah planned events for residents that included many activities for students and residents to participate in together.

ALLISON COOPER Colerain Township, OhioA 2015 graduate of Colerain High School, Allison is a freshman at Middle Tennessee State University, majoring in Music Industry and Audio Production. A member for 13 years, Allison appreciates the special opportunities Girl Scouts provided her. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Houston Art Wall—Art has played a large part in Allison’s life, so when she saw the decline in funding and education, she knew she had to take action. After looking deeper, Allison decided to build a creative space for young students to inspire them to pursue the arts. She approached a local school and collaborated to create this simple art program. With this space, teachers and young students are able to use simple activities and lesson plans to explore art concepts. The wall can be used formally or informally, allowing true creativity to prosper. Students can now express themselves visually, while demonstrating a greater understanding of emotions and the way the world can impact them. Allison hopes that more students will be inspired to pursue the arts.

Bartlett & Co.

Bob Ross Auto Group

Dayton Dragons

Decoy Arts Studio

Maguire Agency

Medical Mutual of OhioMorgan Stanley, Debbie Williams

Mutual of America

PNC Financial Services

ProMedica

R/P Marketing

Swapalease

Taft

Trophy Nut Co.

FRIENDS PARTNERS

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EMILY FULTON Greenville, OhioA senior at Greenville High School, Emily plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University and major in Nursing. A member for 13 years, Emily’s favorite Girl Scout activity is camping. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Camp Chosen—The issue that inspired Camp Chosen was the lack of a camp for children with disabilities in the area. Emily realized that implementing this type of camp would require a lot of funding. She applied for and received two large grants and enlisted the aid of three local churches. Emily attended a Special Olympics event to recruit participants. She had 21 kids ranging from K-4th grades, along with siblings. Her 20 volunteers manned different stations and served lunch/snacks daily. The camp covered four days, with each day having a different theme. Some activities included making treasure chests, David & Goliath stones, foam clouds, tie-dye, singing, dissecting owl pellets, and Bible studies. The pastor from St. John’s spoke about Camp Chosen at a meeting with other pastors in Springfield, OH, thereby providing an opportunity to expand her project beyond Darke County.

ANNALISE DONAVAN Delhi, OhioA 2015 graduate of Oak Hills High School, Annalise is a freshman at Wright State University, majoring in Industrial Engineering. A member for 11 years, Annalise’s favorite Girl Scout activity is volunteering.

Now You Know—Annalise chose her project after seeing the destructive habits people have in their lives. She wanted other students to know the facts behind their decisions. So Annalise, with the help from school administrators and other students, created a poster series giving students real-world knowledge of their choices. Along the way Annalise polled students to determine what subjects were most important so she could track their impact. Her project allowed her to target high school students in ways that affect them the most. Annalise hopes that students, now armed with this knowledge, will feel more empowered to make smart choices. To keep her project going, the school has been prepared to maintain her work, even adding on to it.

EMMA DOOLEY West Chester, OhioEmma is a senior at Lakota East High School and plans to attend Southeastern University and major in Early Childhood Education. A member for 12 years, Emma’s favorite Girl Scout activity is camping. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Foutbòl nan Ayiti—Emma combined her love of soccer and mission trips into one opportunity. Her church offered her the chance to go on a mission trip to Haiti and, while there, she was able to implement her Gold Award project. After months of planning and organizing, she created a soccer program to inspire young girls to play and succeed right along with the boys. Emma specifically targeted the orphan girls in Saint Louis Du Nord, Haiti. It turned out that her project was just as much about empowering the girls as it was educating the boys! While there, Emma refurbished the orphanage indoor gym area and facilitated her soccer program complete with tournaments. To keep it going, she left behind supplies and programs for her soccer club. Emma cannot wait to return and deepen her impact with the youth she met.

EMMA FITZPATRICK Beavercreek, OhioA senior at Beavercreek High School, Emma plans to attend University of Dayton and major in Music. A member for 12 years, Emma’s favorite Girl Scout experience is Camporee. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Caterpillar Garden—Emma wanted to address the issue of people being unconnected with nature and their community. She got permission to clean up and utilize a section of the E.J. Nutter Park to build a caterpillar garden. With the help of 20 volunteers, she cleared out the old garden, prepared and planted host caterpillar plants, built obelisks and constructed information signs. She trained her volunteers on the use and safety of power tools, planting, and mulching. She engaged a Master Gardener for advice on creating a healthy ecosystem for moths and caterpillars. Her wood signs detail each plant and what type of caterpillars feed on them. Additionally, she planted cabbage plants and a Pawpaw tree at the entrance to the park. Emma provided a place where people can watch caterpillars in their natural habitat.

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ARIEL GEORGEFF Kings Mills, OhioA 2015 graduate of Kings High School, Ariel is a freshman at Xavier University, majoring in Middle Childhood Education. A member for 13 years, Ariel’s favorite Girl Scout experience is the Leadership Institute. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Those Amazing Women and Their Flying Adventures—Ariel has spent the last five years volunteering for the EEA AirVenture Air Show in Oshkosh, WI. Year after year, she saw that women were not highlighted or recognized throughout the event. Many were even surprised at her own passion and excitement to be there. She feared that young girls were not pursuing careers in aeronautics, because they did not see female role models. Her research backed up her concerns. To combat this, Ariel created a special puppet show, complete with activities and fun information based on female pilots, and targeted the youth who attend these air shows. Ariel used her knowledge and creativity to inspire more girls to touch the sky. AirVenture has already asked her back, and the National Parks Service also plans on utilizing her work.

ELISE GRINKEMEYER Beavercreek, OhioElise is a junior at Beavercreek High School. A member for 12 years, Elise’s favorite Girl Scout experience is making friends. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Needles in a Haystack—Elise was diagnosed as a Type I diabetic at an early age. She wanted to focus on correcting misconceptions and educating the public about both Type I and Type II diabetes. In short, she wanted to become a diabetes advocate. She developed and implemented a program of materials and presentations that was used at various community events. Some of those events included festivals, health fairs, high school health classes, and Girl Scout troop meetings. Elise was a counselor at Camp Korelitz, a camp for Type I diabetics. During the week-long camp, she focused on being a good role model and being supportive of the other children and staff. She created educational materials for use in the Dayton Children’s resource library. Elise educated hundreds of people about diabetes through her project.

MEG HESSLING Cincinnati, OhioA 2015 graduate of St. Ursula Academy, Meg is a freshman at University of Dayton, majoring in Civil Engineering. A member for 12 years, Meg’s favorite Girl Scout experiences include trips to the Grand Tetons and Costa Rica. She is a Girl Scout Bronze Award recipient.

Rain Garden Rescue—After working at the Cincinnati Zoo Go-Green Garden, Meg learned about the importance of rain gardens and developed the skills to build her own. She decided to “practice what you preach” by educating and inspiring others to build their own rain gardens. With this knowledge, Meg rescued a local rain garden that had become a hazard to her local church due to poor construction. She took her project one step further by hosting an open house with a presentation on rain gardens and their benefits. In addition to her open house, she wrote an article for a local newsletter and other publications. She also left an informational sign posted outside her garden. Meg’s comprehensive sustainability plan will ensure that her garden continues to thrive and inspire others well into the future.

REBECCA GULICK Sylvania, OhioA senior at Sylvania High School, Rebecca plans to attend the University of Cincinnati and major in Criminal Justice. A member for 5 years, Rebecca’s favorite Girl Scout activities include troop trips. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

SaishoCon—Rebecca has a passion for many things including her hobby —anime. She wanted to help her community understand the benefits of this artistic expression, by hosting a family Anime Convention for children. Rebecca recruited five Ohio State Convention panelists, as well as other experts in their fields to facilitate sessions where students and parents learned about Japanese culture, drawing, prop making, sewing, public speaking, makeup application, and creative expression in cosplay and anime. In her work as an event planner she oversaw numerous volunteers, graphic designers, photographers, technicians, security, building crews, and panelists. This successful event educated children and parents about Japanese culture, creative artistic expression, life skills, and acceptance. Her event will continue in the future through the school’s anime club commitment.

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MICHAELLA HUBER St. Marys, OhioMichaella is a junior at Memorial High School. A member for 11 years, Michaella’s favorite Girl Scout experience is camping at Brookside. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Seek and Peek Nature Park—Hoping to inspire more people to get outdoors and combat the nature-deficit among American youth, Michaella worked with Rotary International in St. Marys, OH, to revitalize an under-used and overgrown nature trail at a community park. Recruiting groups of dedicated volunteers, she turned the existing trail into a place for both recreation and learning. She lined the trail with plants, labeled the trees and plants, built a bench and added bird and bat houses. Michaella organized workshops with area youth, one to build the bird and bat houses for the park and one perennial planting class. By the end of her project, Michaella had gathered over 90 people of all ages on 11 different occasions. She confirmed that members of Rotary International and the city of St. Marys will continue to work together to maintain the nature park.

MADISON JAROS St. Marys, OhioMadison is a junior at Memorial High School. A member for 11 years, Madison’s favorite Girl Scout activity is canoeing . She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Sew Much to Learn—Seeking to combine her desire to help the elderly in her community with her passion for sewing, Madison organized multiple sewing workshops in her school’s former sewing classroom. Her workshops taught basic sewing skills, such as how to fix a hem, operate a sewing machine, and how to use patterns. Projects from the workshops were donated to cancer patients at Dayton Children’s. Members of the community and new sewers from her workshops were then invited to attend sewing sessions where they made over 200 walker pockets that were donated to area nursing homes to enable the elderly residents to carry necessary items on their walkers. Madison approached her school board to ask them to include sewing education in their school’s curriculum. They requested she propose the school begin a sewing club to meet that need.

MEGAN JOFREIT Milford, OhioMegan is a senior at Milford High School and plans to attend college and major in Engineering. A member for 12 years, Megan’s favorite Girl Scout experiences include becoming a PA and Day Camps. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Trail Improvement for Improved Exercise in Kids—Megan saw that her community, specifically the youth, were not going outside and staying active. She wanted to offer something fun and free. With that in mind, Megan took an old run down trail around a local school and transformed it into a fun exercise course. Megan knew that if she could improve this trail, students and local residents would be more inclined to get outside and use the space available to them. She engineered improvements and re-mulched for physical and visual enhancements. Megan knew that if others were really going to use the trail, there should be an educational component. She installed activity posts that listed exercises and health benefits and added a scavenger hunt for students. For sustainability, Megan found a company to donate mulch as needed and enlisted Scout troops to keep it going.

KATHERINE JOHNSON Perrysburg, OhioKatherine is a junior at Perrysburg High School. A member for 11 years, Katherine’s favorite Girl Scout experience is a Toledo Zoo Overnight. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

Teaching Enrichment Murals—Katherine addressed the issue of early enrichment opportunities for preschool children. By kindergarten, children are expected to have already mastered recognizing shapes, colors, and letters. To help children so that they do not fall behind in school, Katherine created and developed teaching materials to enrich and enhance learning. She hand painted colorful mobile murals on canvas that can be used in multiple classrooms. Each painted mural focuses on a skill, such as learning the alphabet, shapes, or colors, and includes songs and hand motions. By combining verbal, visual, and gross motor skills, all of the children have a greater potential to learn. Katherine says that through the Gold Award process she learned that the qualities of a leader include being composed, professional, flexible, open to criticism and new ideas, knowledgeable, brave, and kind.

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KATHERINE KARNOSH Springboro, OhioA 2015 graduate and salutatorian of Springboro High School, Katherine is a freshman at University of Notre Dame, majoring in Accounting and Psychology. A member for 11 years, Katherine’s favorite Girl Scout activity is camping. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

Historical Museum Makeover & Victorian Activity Day—The Franklin (OH) Area Historical Society wanted to improve the labeling of historical items at The Harding Museum and introduce educational programs for children. Katie volunteered at the museum due to her love of history. She researched and created 13 different information sheets which are hung throughout the museum. They include facts on architecture, artifacts, and historical figures from Franklin. She then set out to develop and implement a Victorian Activity Day. Katie had 11 participants and eight trained volunteers. Activities included embroidery, music, games, and dancing. They also rehearsed and presented a short 19th century play for their parents. Everyone enjoyed a Victorian themed lunch. The museum is continuing the Victorian Activity Day program with good results and has found the information sheets invaluable to visitors.

CELESTE KEARNEY Cincinnati, OhioA 2015 graduate of Walnut Hills High School, Celeste is a freshman at Dartmouth College, majoring in Government. A member for 13 years, Celeste’s favorite Girl Scout experience is making lifelong friends. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SSAC)—Celeste found it crucial that students have a say in their school and also for the superintendent to have student feedback for plans affecting students. She knows that leadership training is a vital part of one’s education. The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council provided the opportunity for two-way communication between students and the Superintendent in the Cincinnati Public Schools. The SSAC gave students the opportunity to implement student-run projects and programs that will positively impact the student population. Celeste hopes that representatives find meaningful participation and skill building. In the future she sees more schools following this model allowing students to take an active role in their schooling.

MELISSA KELLEHER Spring Valley Township, OhioA 2015 graduate of Carroll High School, Melissa is a freshman at The Ohio State University, majoring in Education. A member for 13 years, Melissa’s favorite Girl Scout activity is camping. She is a Girl Scout Bronze Award recipient.

The Campton Book Project—Melissa saw, through her summer visits to Campton, KY, how education is the key to fighting illiteracy and breaking the poverty cycle. She started with a large book drive in the Greater Dayton area. She collected over 1900 books and used volunteers to help sort and pack them. Melissa took 1000 books as well as donated backpacks of school supplies and distributed them to the children in Campton via the library. She also held a week-long Summer Reading Program at the Family Violence Prevention Center of Greene County in Xenia, OH. Melissa had 12 children from ages 3 to 12 who greatly benefited from the 5-day program. Each day was a different theme and the children’s reading and writing levels noticeably improved. She created a presentation about the issue of illiteracy that she presented to various groups throughout her community. Her 4-H Club will continue the book drive and reading program.

KORINNA LAKES Centerville, OhioA senior at Centerville High School, Korinna plans to attend Ashland University and major in Sports Science. A member for 13 years, Korinna’s favorite Girl Scout activity is making s’mores.

Dribble, Pass, Connect—The focus of Korinna’s project was to integrate incoming freshman girls trying out for soccer with upperclassmen teammates, especially seniors. She wanted to address building self confidence and removing anxiety associated with entering high school, by establishing bonds with upperclassmen. She developed a structured training and fitness camp for all freshman girls trying out for soccer in June when no coaching is allowed. To spread the word about her camps, she utilized texting, Twitter, Instagram, and team websites. With eight volunteers, she held several 2-hour camps for a month. As word of her camps spread, she had between 20 to 45 girls at each session. She focused on conditioning, skill level, and building relationships. Korinna also got all the girls together to watch the World Cup games, adding to the bonding experience. Her program was so successful that the Boys Soccer team wants to implement it next year.

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MARISSA LINDER Liberty Township, OhioMarissa is a junior at Lakota East High School. A member for 11 years, Marissa’s favorite Girl Scout experience is going to Savannah to celebrate Girl Scout’s 100th Anniversary. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

The Refurbishing & Educational Expansion of the Shawnee Nature Trail—Understanding the importance of youth experiencing nature and learning about the outdoors, Marissa tackled the dilapidated trail outside of her old elementary school. Her project was two-fold, the trail needed a big facelift and to really utilize it, she knew that teachers needed new educational elements. To complete these tasks she repaired and replaced the broken, vandalized structures and cleared the overgrown bushes and trail hazards along the path. To build in the educational elements she added functional outdoor classrooms and developed activities to be used in them. This included trail maps, with informational guide posts, and simple lesson plans for parents and teachers to utilize. All of her work allowed students to have a safe and positive way to explore nature.

AMANDA LOWRY Spencerville, OhioAmanda is a senior at Spencerville High School and plans to attend Rhodes State College and major in Nursing. A member for 9 years, Amanda’s favorite part about Girl Scouts is making friends. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Summer Reading—Determined to impact the lack of interest young children have in reading in her community, Amanda partnered with the local library to provide a summer reading program for children aged 6 and under. She created lesson plans for a nine-week reading program and scheduled guest readers from the community, including a fireman, a policeman, a teacher, and a member of the military. She also held fundraisers to cover the cost of the craft materials, snacks, and other needed supplies. Amanda spoke at the local preschool to promote her program, made fliers for the community, and organized a book drive so the children who participated would receive books they could take home. Children were encouraged and rewarded for reading at home in between programs to further promote their love of reading.

ABIGAIL LYNCH Huber Heights, OhioAbigail is senior at Wayne High School and plans to attend Miami University and major in Botany. A member for 13 years, Abigail’s favorite Girl Scout experience is when she ran a Girl Scout camp for CSAs. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

The Value of Community Service—The focus of Abby’s project was increasing the confidence of grade school children by engaging in community service. She gathered children from several churches, the community, and Girl Scout troops to participate in her projects. Some of the community service projects included making cards for overseas military, “thank you” goody bags for the police, placemats for a senior center, tie blankets, care baskets for the YWCA, and activity sheets for Dayton Children’s. Overall, Abby engaged around 50 children to help her with these projects. In October she held a Pet Supply Drive involving even more members of the community. She collected food, toys, bleach, distilled water, dish soap, etc. for the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center. Her project showed children that even though they are young, they can still make a difference.

MARY MCKINNEY Union, OhioA 2015 graduate of Northmont Senior High School, Mary is a freshman at Sinclair Community College, majoring in Culinary Arts. A member for 12 years, Mary’s favorite Girl Scout experience is a troop trip to Walt Disney World. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Dreaming of a Better Tomorrow—Mary’s job at a pizza restaurant increased her awareness of nutrition and her passion for healthy eating. She used a focus group of 6th graders to understand their level of knowledge and interest in health and fitness. From that sample group, she developed and implemented a presentation on fitness and nutrition that was presented to health classes, school organizations, and Girl Scout troops. Mary decided she wanted to develop a website as a tool for proper nutrition and exercise. She gathered a group of volunteers to brainstorm the website content and develop exercise videos for posting. Once the website was established, she tested it with high school students, looking for improvements. She passed out flyers as a way to advertise. Mary will continue the website herself.

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BRITTANY MEISTERWest Chester, OhioBrittany is senior at Lakota East High School and plans to attend college. A member for 14 years, Brittany’s favorite Girl Scout experiences include becoming a PA and LIT at Girl Scout Camp. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Garden Goods—During a mission trip to Kenya, Brittany was inspired by the people who grew their own food supplies in gardens. She tied in this inspiration with what she learned from the SOW What? Girl Scout Journey and decided on a sustainable garden to impact her community. She knew that families in need did not have regular access to healthy food options, and she wanted to change that. Brittany really brought this idea home by building and planting a vegetable garden outside of her church’s food pantry. This gave people in need affordable and healthy food options, including a wide array of vegetables. Through her leadership, the community benefits from her project by allowing families to grow their own food.

MARLENA MERLING Wilmington, OhioA 2015 graduate of Carroll High School, Marlena is a freshman at University of Dayton, majoring in Biology. A member for 11 years, Marlena’s favorite Girl Scout activities include troop trips. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Summer and Spring Break Reading Club—Marlena’s passion for reading and volunteering at the Wilmington library gave her the idea to host book clubs. She focused on the incoming freshmen required reading book at Wilmington High School, “Four Perfect Pebbles” by Lila Perl. She planned and held the summer reading sessions at a local book store and the Wilmington Public Library. The following summer, Marlena expanded the freshmen required reading book, “A Separate Peace”by John Knowles, program to include Clinton-Massie High School. She then hosted a spring break reading club for 5th and 6th graders using the book, “The Map Trap” by Andrew Clements. She used games, word search, crossword puzzles, and guest speakers to talk about the book. She created a booklet, “How to Host a Book Club,” and provided it to several libraries as her sustainability.

ANNA MUMFORD Beavercreek, OhioA 2015 graduate of Beavercreek High School, Anna is a freshman at Wright State University, majoring in Design Technology. A member for 14 years, Anna’s favorite Girl Scout activity is camping. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Embrace Yourself—Anna’s project addressed the issue of domestic abuse and the impact it has on victims. She started by collecting small personal hygiene items and making fleece tie blankets for distribution to domestic violence shelters. She collected over 50 items. She held workshops to make the fleece tie blankets and gave presentations on domestic abuse at these workshops. Anna created a website to bring more awareness of domestic abuse. Her website is divided into three sections: Types of Abuse, How to Get Help, and Where to Get Help. She held an overnight at her church for girls focusing on expanding their knowledge of domestic abuse and how to combat it. The girls were told about warning signs and how to empower themselves if they are ever in that situation.

R. PEACH NORMAN OWEN Milford, OhioA 2015 homeschool graduate, Peach is currently interning for KFUK-KFUM Scouts of Norway. A member for 13 years, Peach’s favorite Girl Scout experiences include GS Destinations and GSLI. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Connecting with Social Media – Bridging the Digital Divide—Through close relationships Peach formed with the elderly in her community, she discovered that many of them felt isolated because they had no family nearby. To further their isolation, they felt intimidated by technology to connect in that way. Over the years Peach’s “honorary grandparents” taught her many skills, and she wanted to be able to return the favor. As a result, Peach created a workshop that taught adults how to use digital devices, social media, and services that would allow them to connect with loved ones. She tutored over 120 adults on how to use smart phones, Facebook, Skype, and more. Now they are better connected with their loved ones and with Peach, as she is currently living in Norway as in intern in the KFUK-KFUM Scouts program.

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KASHVI PATEL Swanton, OhioKashvi is a senior at Maumee Valley Country Day School and plans to attend college. A member for 13 years, Kashvi’s favorite Girl Scout experiences include troop trips and the Salt Lake City National Convention. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Writing Warriors—Kashvi created a project to address the writing needs of Spanish speaking children from low income areas. She created a curriculum to teach children how to overcome language barriers and develop an enthusiasm for writing and sharing their work. Through multiple workshops, Kashvi focused on teaching description, plot structure, and characterization. She taught them how to use peer review for positive feedback on enhancing their writing. Kashvi also organized a final presentation where the students invited others to come hear their stories that they read aloud. Through her project, the students in this Latino community gained confidence in their speaking, reading, and creative writing skills, while practicing and using the English language.

LAUREN PELAN Beavercreek, OhioA 2015 graduate of Beavercreek High School, Lauren is a freshman at Wright State University, majoring in Engineering. A member for 13 years, Lauren’s favorite Girl Scout experiences include overnights at Little House. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Lead Yourself—Lauren’s project came from her observation of high school girls lacking in self-confidence and needing stronger leadership skills. She herself attended and served on staff at Leadership Camps. She decided to develop and implement an overnight lock-in for girls in grades 6 through 10 on boosting self-confidence and improving leadership skills. She extensively trained her volunteers with weekly meetings. Presentations included: Developing Your Team, Personality Tests, Discovering Your Type of Leadership, Problem Solving, Communicating Well, and The EDGE Trainer Method. Participants were able to do ice-breaker games, team development activities, and practice communication skills. In addition to an event book, Lauren produced a DVD with all the presentations and submitted them to her Service Unit for duplication.

SHELBY PLEIMAN Maria Stein, OhioShelby is a senior at Marion Local High School and plans to attend college and major in Early Childhood Education. A member for 11 years, Shelby’s favorite Girl Scout experiences include major trips. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

Old to New—For her project, Shelby decided to reinvigorate a community resource: the Maria Stein Spiritual Center. Using her knowledge of color theory, Shelby chose soothing color and artwork that promote tranquility and reflection. She recruited, trained, and directed volunteers from the community to update the interior of 13 rooms and 14 restrooms at the center. Shelby and her volunteers held a community can drive in conjunction with the recycling center to cover the cost of the supplies necessary for the renovation. To further educate youth on the connection between emotions and colors (color theory), she created and facilitated a workshop with over 25 area youth at the Spiritual Center. A copy of Shelby’s curriculum was presented to the Spiritual Center so that the workshop can be replicated in future summer programs.

SARAH POPPEL Springboro, OhioA 2015 graduate of Springboro High School, Sarah is a freshman at Eastern Michigan University, majoring in Education. A member for 12 years, Sarah’s favorite Girl Scout experiences include making memories and friends. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

Going Batty—Sarah’s research found that mosquitoes spread diseases and need to be controlled in public places. She discovered that bats thrive on eating mosquitoes, so she set out to build bat houses for Patricia Allyn Park in Clearcreek Township. She trained and led several volunteers over the course of two months to build eight (3 chamber) bat houses and four (4 chamber) nursery bat houses. Several community organizations donated the materials, tools, and a fork lift to build and install the bat houses. Sarah planned and implemented two badge workshops at the park to share her knowledge of bats. Juniors earned the Animal Habitat badge and Cadettes went on a night hike to earn the Night Owl badge. Each group did crafts, held discussions on bats, and fulfilled all the badge requirements. The Park District has agreed to maintain the bat houses.

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PAIGE PURDY Minster, OhioPaige is a junior at Minster High School. A member for 12 years, Paige’s favorite Girl Scout experience is making friends. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

Connecting the Young and the Old—Hoping to inspire youth in her community to volunteer with the elderly, Paige organized a volunteer program at an assisted living facility in New Bremen. She created a website for the facility that could be easily updated with volunteer opportunities and that potential volunteers could use to sign up online. Paige spoke with multiple community groups to promote the new program, recruit new volunteers, and also led new volunteer orientations. She also educated volunteers on working with the visually and hearing impaired. Paige organized a toiletries drive that allowed her to make welcome baskets for new residents and involved volunteers in assembling them. Paige made sure her project was sustainable by recruiting a student at her school to manage the website.

EMILY RASMUSSEN Loveland, OhioA 2015 graduate of Loveland High School, Emily is a freshman at University of Cincinnati, majoring in Marketing and Informational Systems. A member for 14 years, Emily’s favorite Girl Scout experience is program planning with her mom for Service Unit events. She is a Girl Scout Silver Award recipient.

Technology in Loveland Schools—Emily decided that she wanted to combat the negative stereotypes of Informational Technology. Many people look at technology careers as “sitting in the dark eating Cheetos,” and Emily wanted the students in her district to see technology as a fun career option. Over the course of her Gold project, Emily created three age appropriate workshops to engage students from 4th grade through high school. After coordinating with three different schools, Emily was eventually able to reach almost 1400 students through her workshops covering robotics, coding, and more. At the end of her project, Emily saw a spike in student interest in the district’s available technology classes. Her hope is that these students continue to drive the modern world.

LARAMIE REYNOLDS Swanton, OhioLaramie is a senior at Maumee Valley Country Day School and plans to attend college. A member for 9 years, Laramie’s favorite Girl Scout experience is Jamboree. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

The Written Word—Laramie addressed the issue of essay writing performance on standardized testing. She notes that it is more important now than ever for students to go to college; however, some students are limited in their college options due to low standardized test scores that do not accurately reflect their intelligence. Laramie created a free workshop to teach necessary essay writing skills. She recruited educators as guest facilitators and developed curriculum and activities which taught students how to develop a strong thesis statement, structure an essay, and write within a time limit. She also created a website with all curriculum materials so more students have free access.

VICTORIA RUSSELL Cincinnati, OhioA 2015 graduate of Walnut Hills High School, Victoria is a freshman at The George Washington University, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Law & Society. A member for 13 years, Victoria’s favorite Girl Scout experience is bridging to Adults at Pax Lodge, London. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Stand Up and Speak Out: Encouraging Youth Advocacy and Awareness—Tori is very passionate about speaking, especially when it comes to youth and her peers. She believes that it is important for us to be aware and to be involved in our communities and to actively make a difference in the world around us. Throughout her project, she spoke in different communities around Greater Cincinnati. Through a partnership with Cincinnati Works, she targeted low income neighborhoods where she strove to inspire youth to make a difference in their lives. Together they sparked the conversation between youth and their surrounding organizations. She hopes that the individuals who participated will feel more empowered to be an advocate for themselves and others. Through her partnerships, Tori sees this program continuing each summer and growing over time.

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JENNIFER WALLACE Colerain Township, OhioJennifer graduated Summa Cum Laude from Colerain High School in 2015. She is a freshman at Miami University, majoring in Zoology. A member for 12 years, Jennifer’s favorite Girl Scout activity is camping.

A Not So Silent Spring—Jennifer wanted to inspire others to love nature and science as much as she does. She knew that one of the best ways to do this was to develop a partnership between her local park, Farbach-Werner Nature Park, and her high school’s Science Club. This partnership went on to create a playscape, bat habitats, park clean up days, and new activities for visiting students. Jennifer sees this relationship growing and inspiring more students to join the high school Science Club, which in turn will benefit the park by increased attendance. The idea of conservation and cooperation will continue to spread as the involved students take the lessons they learned back into their lives and share it with others. She hopes other women will see that they can make a difference in their community, too.

NATHALIE WEISS Mariemont, OhioNathalie is a junior at Mariemont High School. A member for 14 years, Nathalie’s favorite Girl Scout experience is assisting her mom in Service Unit events. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

South 80 Transformed—While doing research for her Gold Award project, Nathalie discovered that 1/3 of all adults are obese. To combat this issue, she wanted to create a way for adults and children to lead healthier lives. She learned about the South 80 Trails in her community and thought that they could be better utilized to make a difference. With a plan in mind, she redesigned and built part of the South 80 trail to include exercise guides along the way. She educated others through a flier campaign, postings on her neighborhood blog, and announcements at school sporting events. To encourage others to use the new trail she reopened it with a free “Fun 2B Fit” run that over 100 people attended. Nathalie has recruited her school to continue her Fun Run.

VALERIE WELCH Beavercreek, OhioValerie is a senior at West Springfield High School, VA, and plans to attend Penn State University and major in Communications (Journalism). A member for 13 years, Valerie’s favorite Girl Scout experiences include being a member of 10 different troops and Pax Lodge, London. She is a Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Award recipient.

Summer Sun Safety—Valerie chose sun safety as her project because her grandmother is a survivor of melanoma. She participates in crew, so she is very aware of the dangers of skin cancer and heat stroke. She focused on raising awareness about the importance of wearing sunscreen and staying hydrated. She engaged the public at multiple large community events, such as Camporee, Expos, 5K runs, and Space Fest. Valerie gathered volunteers to make UV bracelets to hand out at the events. UV bracelets change color in sunlight to let you know when to reapply sunscreen. She also coordinated supply drives to collect sun related items (sunscreen, water bottles, hats, sun glasses, etc.). She then donated all these items to The Greater Dayton Rec Center. Valerie used all her research to construct a website that she will maintain.

Gratulerer Peach!

Very Proud of You!

Love,Mommy and Poppa

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Mission Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

The Girl Scout PromiseOn 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 LawI will do my best to behonest and fair,friendly and helpful,considerate and caring,courageous and strong, andresponsible for what I say and do,and torespect myself and others,respect authority,use resources wisely,make the world a better place, andbe a sister to every Girl Scout.

Congratulations, Celeste and Tori,on earning the Gold Award!

Victoria “Tori” Sherman (left) and Emerson Celeste Kearney (right).

Thank you to our wonderful Troop Leader, SUSAN RUSSELL!

Congratulations,

Troop 48716,

Family, & Friends

Victoria Celeste

&

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Thank YouA special thank you to the following for their support and dedication!

Gold Award Committee MembersToledo

Sheri BentonMegan Gardam

Meredith Griffi nJoann Miller

Rebecca Sarantou-Staff Support

DaytonJolene Hoggatt

Jessica LimbachEilanna Price **

Jean SimsSuzanne Valle **

Laura WaltersSarah Kelly-Staff SupportLima

Laurie CollertKaren Long

Phyllis MontroseKris Smith

Diane Timmerman *Karen Timmerman *

Megan Ramey-Staff Support

CincinnatiBecky CrowleyCassie Kiesey

Lindsay MosovskyGlenna Stricklett

Devon Beck -Staff Support

*Committee members who participated on the Gold Award Ceremony Committee** Chairs of the Gold Award Ceremony Committee

Ron Valle, Photographer Pictures from today’s ceremony will be posted on Shutterfly. http://ronv.shutterfly.com

Congratulations and Way to Go, Ariel!

We are all very proud of you and your accomplishments!

With all our Love,Mom, Dad, Nicole, Nicholas II,

Michael, & PopPop

Congratulations,Meg Hessling!

You are ourGolden Girl!

Love,Mom and Dad

Well Done, Lauren.

Scout On!

Love,Mom, Dad, and Justin

Congratulations,

Abby!

Love,Mom and Dad

Congratulations, Valerie!

Way To Go Gold

Love, Mom, Dad& Amanda

gswo.org 888.350.5090

05-1959-01

Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped the

Girl Scout Gold Award recipients achieve their goals!