Local Gold Award Girl Scouts Develop
Programs that are Making a Difference in the Community
Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The Girl Scout Gold Award, only open to Girl Scouts in high school (grades 9-12), is the highest and most prestigious award in the world for girls and the most difficult to earn. Today, Girl Scouts of Orange County recognizes four Laguna Niguel Girl Scouts who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award.
Through the Girl Scout Gold Award, Girl Scouts engage in a rigorous process that calls for leadership at the highest level, as girls tackle issues they are passionate about. Girl Scouts typically spend one to two years on their Girl Scout Gold Award project, which involves taking action on a local or global issue (such as poverty, education, or the environment) and results in long-term, sustainable change.
Girl Scouts who earn the Girl Scout Gold Award distinguish themselves in the college admission process and receive scholarships from colleges and universities across the country, in addition to immediately rising one rank in any branch of the U.S. military.
Over the years, nearly 3,000 Orange County Girl Scouts have earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. 107 Orange County girls joined this sisterhood of Gold Award Girl Scouts during the 2018 membership year. Girl Scouts of Orange County is proud to celebrate their leadership, dedication, initiative, and community problem-solving.
2018 Laguna Niguel Gold Award Girl Scouts
Aline Tusan – Troop 1130 – Laguna Niguel – 2018 Gold Award Girl Scout
Project Title: How to Become More Than a Comic Strip Artist
Aline lead a team that interviewed successful comic strip and animation artists and then created a brochure and video, which were shared at a STEMtastic event that Aline and her team organized for Discovery Education and Capistrano Unified School District. The brochure was used as a passport for the event, which included female role models. Aline recruited a female student to run the animation booth and interact with the youth, and the event brought comic strip art and animation to 122 girls and boys. Aline will continue to work with Discovery Education and CUSD.
“I learned communication and leadership skills while following my passion for comic strip making and animation art. The Girl Scout Gold Award was a huge undertaking and it took more than a year to pull everything together – including leading a team, tracking my time and activities, and writing a formal report. I learned I can rise to a very large challenge by working with a team.”
Erin Tilley – Troop 1130 – Laguna Niguel – 2018 Gold Award Girl Scout
Project Title: KIT Classes (Keeping in Touch): Technology Course for Older Adults
Erin was inspired to dedicate her Girl Scout Gold Award project to helping senior citizens operate technological devices. She implemented and taught classes on texting, calling, e-mail, social media, and photography to senior citizens, in order to help them stay in touch with their loved ones. Erin taught classes once a week at the Laguna Niguel YMCA and Aegis Living. The seniors in her community are now able to contact their families around the globe, and next year her high school’s National Honor Society will continue her project.
“As I worked with the senior citizens, I learned that life goes on, perfection is not key to learning, and my plan is not always the best plan. Earning my Girl Scout Gold Award has made me a better leader because now I feel ready to adapt to change in my life and feel confident to lead in any capacity in the future.”
Tatiana Knuf – Troop 1130 – Laguna Niguel – 2018 Gold Award Girl Scout
Project Title: Book Buddies
Tatiana developed a reading program for special needs students at Dana Hills High School. She partnered with the school’s library and special education department and designed a series of exercises, lessons, and reading-based opportunities that engage students across a wide spectrum of reading interest and ability. Many students who participate in the program now have a better understanding of and love for reading.
“This project required me to take on a leadership role at a level I have not previously experienced. I communicated a completely new idea and obtained commitments from many different constituents. I learned how amazing a community can be to support the cause of helping others. I learned that I can make a difference in our world by not only helping others myself but by also leading others to be involved on a larger scale.”
Sabrina Horn – Troop 1217 – Laguna Niguel – 2018 Gold Award Girl Scout
Project Title: Wolverine’s Military Alliance Committee
Sabrina created a club at her high school, which is geared towards supporting military troops and boosting civic education and involvement amongst her peers. Not only did the club connect with veterans and active military across the country via letter writing campaigns, it also forged partnerships with the City Council of Laguna Niguel’s Military Support Committee to support local initiatives. The Wolverines Military Alliance Committee will be carried on by a student who Sabrina selected as her successor.
“After completing my Girl Scout Gold Award I now have more confidence when organizing and leading a group in order to complete tasks. I have learned that no matter what obstacles may come up, if you set your mind to it anything is possible.”
Girl Scouts of Orange County CEO Vikki Shepp shared: “The Girl Scout Gold Award represents the pinnacle of achievement in Girl Scouting. We are so proud of what these young women have accomplished. They are community problem-solvers, who have created meaningful change through sustainable and measurable “Take Action” projects. These Girl Scouts have changed our world forever and for better, and they are poised to continue creating groundbreaking solutions long into the future.”
Girl Scouts has been preparing girls for a lifetime of leadership for over 100 years. According to the Girl Scout Research Institute’s (GSRI’s) report, The Power of the Girl Scout Gold Award: Excellence in Leadership and Life, 90 percent of Girl Scouts surveyed not only attributed their success in life to Girl Scouts, but they also said they wouldn’t have had access to the same experiences anywhere else. Furthermore, Gold Award Girl Scouts far surpass non-Girl Scout alum when it comes to seeing themselves as leaders, providing service to others through volunteerism, and having positive attitudes about themselves and the lives they lead.
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We are Girl Scouts of Orange County. We are 33,000 strong—nearly 20,000 girls and 13,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. With programs in every zip code in Orange County, Girl Scouts offers every girl opportunities to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit girlscoutsoc.org.
Photo Credits: Girl Scouts of Orange County
Melody M. Nuñez
Girl Scouts of Orange County
Communications Specialist
