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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Nationally, only 3.7 percent of all girl scouts nationally, age 14 to 17 have earned the Gold Award. On Sunday, March 26, Julie Han of Medfield, joined this elite group. At the Gold Award & Ambassador Bridging Ceremony, Julie and seven of her Girl Scout peers were honored. A bridging ceremony recognizes a Girl Scout’s move from one level to another. It is a defining moment when a girl becomes aware of her achievements and becomes ready for new adventures and responsibilities. This ceremony celebrated the achievements of the Girl Scouts of Medfield.
Joined by local dignitaries including Denise Garlick, Pete Peterson, Mark Fisher, and others, Corrin DeBettencourt, Medfield Service Unit Manager, welcomed friends and families of the hard working girl scouts to the ceremony. “Medfield Girl Scouts is one of the oldest service units in the country,” she began. “They are remarkable group that has accomplished much. I am very glad to welcome all of you on their behalf.”
Joan Reilly, the Manager of GSEM Council Awards and Recognitions spoke next, regarding the Gold Award and Julie’s accomplishments. “It recognizes girls in grades nine through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable take action projects.” Begun in 1916, the award has changed names over the years, but the dedication and principles behind it remain the same today.
“Gold Award projects address a wide range of issues. Once she has found an issue she is passionate about, [a Scout] works to create a project that addresses that issue,” Reilly explained. “What sets the Gold Award apart from other awards is that girls must be sure their projects are sustainable, and continue to impact the community far into the future.”
Julie spoke directly about her project, titled “Notes That Carry Over.” “Music is one of my passions, and to be able to share this love of music with others is an honor. My grandmother lives in Korea, and when visiting her, I noticed that she has many connections with those of her age or middle ages, but none with those of a younger generation,” Julie began. “I believe that music is a universal language that can be taken advantage of to bring different kinds of people together, whether it be different nationalities, cultures, or in this case, age.”
Julie recruited 18 members of the high school band to mentor seven novice musicians from Dale Street School and Blake Middle School. “We put on a winter holiday program for members of the adult respite care center in Medfield. The students played solos and duets with their mentors, as well as pieces with the entire ensemble. Following the concert, the students mingled with the seniors at the reception,” Julie explained. "Although the seniors from this respite care program have dementia, they were able to remember the majority of the holiday songs and were able to sing along and enjoy these entertaining pieces. Everyone had a great time, which made all of the work worth it.”
In addition to Julie, Megan Keith, Kaitlyn O’Connor, Laura Sullivan, Grace Rankin, and Sarah Turner were honored for their commitment to the Girl Scouts and their dedication to living by the Girl Scout code and law.
