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Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA) is proud to announce that Wellesley Girl Scouts Eleanor Boyd, Sinclaire Vandervoort and Abigail Yuan have earned the highest award in Girl Scouting: the Girl Scout Gold Award. They were honored with Gold Awardees from across the Commonwealth at a ceremony on Friday, June 9 at the Massachusetts State House. More than 60 Girl Scouts from Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts earned the Gold Award this year.
Since 1916, more than one million Girl Scouts have made meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world through completion of a Gold Award project.
Eleanor collaborated with a local Council on Aging chapter to create technology classes for seniors. Her lessons focused on the basics of the Internet, including Internet safety, social media, and computer security, and the basics of an iPhone, including what apps are, how to use a few popular ones, and taking and editing photos.
Sinclaire worked to raise awareness about food waste and how recycling, liquid disposal and composting systems already in place can address the problem. She created videos about how to cut down on household food waste, and how to make meals and pack school lunches that produce less waste. Sinclaire shared the videos through school emails, a website, and a YouTube channel.
Abigail developed a workshop for students in grades 6 - 12 to discuss gender and pay inequality, and to raise awareness of the movements and organizations where students can learn and volunteer. She conducted the workshop at various after-school programs in the Boston area, and for students in Germany while on a school exchange trip.
“When a Girl Scout earns her Gold Award, she has completed something truly extraordinary. She has harnessed her creativity, passion for helping others, and determination. She has challenged herself and others in order to take action and effect lasting change in her community,” says Patricia A. Parcellin, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts. “This is more than an amazing accomplishment today; it is an achievement that sets these young women apart far into the future.”
The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through Take Action projects that have sustainable impact in their communities and beyond. A girl must spend a minimum of 80 hours (completed over one or two years) working on her project, and must complete all seven steps. First she must choose an issue, then she investigates, recruits volunteers to help, creates a plan, and presents her plan. She takes action, improving her organization, problem-solving and leadership skills as she sees her project to completion. Girls achieve a true sense of accomplishment as they educate and inspire others, and see real change in their communities.
The Gold Award is an accomplishment that a Girl Scout can keep on her résumé, making her an appealing candidate to colleges and employers. In addition, Gold Award recipients who join the armed services enter at one rank higher than other recruits. The Gold Award demonstrates, beyond a doubt, that a Girl Scout is a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)TM.
Each Gold Awardee receives a Gold Award pin and special recognitions from many individuals and organizations, including Girl Scouts of the USA, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, the U.S. military, the Department of Health and Human Services, NASA, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the National Park Service, the White House, the governor, and both Massachusetts senators.
