The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. For many, the leadership skills, organizational skills, and sense of community and commitment gained through the process set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship. There are seven steps to earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, including a final project. The project is something that fulfills a need within the community, creates change and hopefully, is something that becomes ongoing.

Girl Scout Council of the Mid-South is proud of the 2006 Girl Scout Gold Award recipients. These 10 outstanding young ladies demonstrated their courage and confidence, and are making a difference in their community. Below is a summary written by each girl about her project and Girl Scout experience.

To find out more about the Girl Scout Gold Award, contact [email protected].

Tiara Alexander

�HIV/AIDS Among Teens�

During my 11 years of being a Girl Scout, I have experienced new things. I�ve volunteered at places that I never knew about and I�ve gone to places that I�d never been. I have met and made new friends, some of whom I�ve built a life-long friendship with. But Girl Scouts hasn�t always been an easy journey; the projects, the work, and the disagreements were difficult. For example, my Gold Award was no walk in the park for me. It took hard work, dedication, time, and the heart for helping others. I admit that in the beginning, when I found out how much work that would have to be done, I didn�t even think about doing a Gold Award project. But after completing my presentation and realizing the results I was astounded. I was able to complete my project using the skills that I acquired during my Girl Scouting. Girl Scouts has been a major part of my life and it has taught me so much over the years. I may be graduating from the Girl Scouts, but the lessons that it has taught me will remain engraved in my mind and spirit.

Breonna Davis

�Earthquake Preparedness Symposium�

As I reflect on the last 11 years and my involvement in the Girl Scouts, I can truly say Girl Scouts has played an important role in the development and shaping of my ideals and character. The learning activities and experiences provided will enable me to grow into a well-rounded human being. I was blessed with wonderful troop leaders who served both as caretakers and role models. As Girl Scout leaders, they provided opportunities and support for our troop to work together as a team to help others. As a result lasting friendships were formed. Through Girl Scouts they taught us how to prioritize our tasks and time. I learned to set goals and to use skills learned to help facilitate achievement of my goals. The Girl Scout organization has taught me the importance of confidence, commitment, considerations and cooperation. With the training I received through participating in Girl Scouts, I am prepared to make valuable contributions to the world in which we live.

The primary objectives of my Girl Scout Gold Award project were to raise awareness in my community of the possibility of an earthquake in the Shelby County area and to provide valuable earthquake and emergency preparedness information, which will help decrease the number of injuries and death in the event of an earthquake. The oral presentations included preparation tips, protective measures and examples of an emergency kit for both home and travel. Flyers and brochures were designed and distributed in prominent public places. My immediate goal was to prepare as many residents as possible for one of the most frightening and destructive phenomena of nature. My long-term goal is to setup a network through the Girl Scout council with troops, allowing them to earn badges by distributing brochures/flyers and presenting an annual symposium on earthquake preparedness.

Margaret Day

�Leading, Loving, Learning LeBonheur�

Girl Scouts is an open door. By being involved in such an amazing activity, I�ve learned to break through stereotypes to be an experienced leader and to truly cherish those around me. I am so thankful to have been involved in Girl Scouting and to have gained the relationships I have today. Girl Scouts has greatly prepared me for the life I plan to lead. Because I became aware of the growing needs to satisfy boredom, promote learning and encourage family values in hospitals, I constructed and founded an audio library at LeBonheur Children�s Hospital. I focused on recording books for ages five to eight onto CDs. As I did so, I combined my project with two fellow Girl Scouts in order to expand the amount of books in the library. I hope to continue to expand the library throughout the next few years in order to make a child�s stay at LeBonheur the best it can possibly be.

Sarah Fry

�Loving to Listen�

When I started Girl Scouts 11 years ago, I never imagined myself this far. I�m proud of my accomplishments. In the future, I wish to serve as an inspiration to other Girl Scouts who are trying to achieve their goals. For my Gold Award project, I created an audio library for LeBonheur Children�s Hospital by recording children�s books onto compact discs with my computer. These recorded stories are meant to provide a diversion for hospitalized kids. The books I recorded can aid in relaxation and distraction from the trauma of the hospital. These stories can introduce laughter and imagination into a child�s day while promoting literacy. I myself have been an ER patient at LeBonheur twice and I know first-hand how stressful it is. Something as simple as a pair of headphones could make a huge difference in a patient�s mood, compliance and recovery. To meet the objectives, I found myself talking to the hospital�s assistant child life coordinator, a librarian, a computer specialist, Girl Scout leaders and fellow Girl Scouts. I am proud of myself for stepping out of my communication comfort zone and overcoming the challenge I had with computer recording. Through my Gold Award project I aim to benefit young hospital patients, their families and their doctors and nurses. I wish to add some relief in crisis situations. The CD players have been provided so all kids can listen. No one is left out. I have already started a collection of books donated from friends and family to take to the hospital as well, but I do not wish for this to be transitory project. I plan on constantly expanding the library by setting donation boxes at churches, schools and accepting help from my fellow Girl Scouts. That will help keep the project alive for generations to come.

Jasmine Gray

�Jaz�s Jammies�

For the past 11 years, I have been a member of Girl Scouts. As a Girl Scout, I have participated in many community service projects. For my Girl Scout Gold Award project, I came up with a concept of collecting new pajamas to distribute to sick children at St. Jude Children�s Research Hospital and Arkansas Children�s Hospital. Because of a birth defect, I have had numerous hospital visits over the past couple of years. I could really relate to kids who spend extensive time in hospitals, and I knew standard hospital gowns were not comfortable. In addition to being difficult for children, extended stay is also very expensive for parents. I took a load off the shoulders of parents by offering these comfortable, free pajamas. Often, society portrays teens as shallow, selfish and uncaring. I have always put myself in the shoes of others. Unlike stereotypical teens, I have deep concern for my fellow man. I developed a desire to more than double my original goal of 200 pajamas and ultimately collected over 860 pair of pajamas. It is easy for a person to hand over money for a cause. However, as a Girl Scout, I have learned when one really cares about people, she does even more. I really care about the kids in these hospitals and wanted to help. Therefore, I gave my time, talent and love. I gave myself.

Jennifer Lazar

�Let�s Get Kickin�!�

My Girl Scout Gold Award, �Let�s Get Kickin�,� was a sports camp for troubled teens between the ages of 12 and 17 living in Porter-Leath. I originally planned on teaching soccer skills as well as good sportsmanship; but the kids there had no interest in playing soccer, so it became a general sports camp. We spent time playing basketball, volleyball, soccer and even running track. My friends and I also tried to teach team work and good sportsmanship as well as ways to relieve stress through sports. When the camp first started, these teenagers were not use to being active during the day. They spend most of their time watching television and playing video games and painting their nails. By the end of the camp, the participants would actively participate in most of the sports and even work together as a team. I have been in Girl Scouts since kindergarten. Although Girl Scouts was never the most important thing in my life, it did have an impact. I enjoyed the patches/badges and the camping and trips more than the meetings themselves. Other than the fun activities, I did develop great leadership and social skills that I hope I will always be able to use.

Divya Moolchandani

�Pathway to Providing�

My Gold Award project included providing and building a secure storage unit to hold materials and products for homeless shelters. Girl Scouts has come to mean people, places and myself. Without Girl Scouts, I would never have met the beautiful, talented, amazing girls in my troop. They always inspire me and allow me to be myself. With this troop and Girl Scouts, I have gone to so many places and learned so many things. Whether it�s on a trip to Nashville or to Camporee or just to Starbucks for our meetings, I find myself learning new things and having a good time. The places one goes with a troop plays a huge role in the life of a Girl Scout. Finally, from Girl Scouting, I have learned to push myself to the finish. When I was afraid to suggest an idea, Girl Scouts taught me to speak up. When I felt the urge to make a difference in my community, Girl Scouts helped me not only benefit my community, but also to feel good about myself. I am proud to say that being a Girl Scout has affected my life in the most positive way, and has played a large role in shaping me into the person I am today.

Erin Parker

�Pass, Set, SPIKE!�

I have been a Girl Scout since Daisies and have remained with the same troop for 13 years. I have actively participated in all aspects of Girl Scouting and my association with the Girl Scouts has contributed greatly to what I am today. For my Gold Award project, I planned, staffed and ran a free two-week volleyball camp for teens at Porter-Leath. I set up the event with Porter-Leath administrators, prepared the curriculum, provided handouts, advertised the camp, secured donations from corporations and individuals, recruited a volunteer staff, and taught the camp.

Girl Scouting has helped me become a dedicated, responsible individual with a variety of interests. I have worked hard to excel in academics, athletics and philanthropic and religious endeavors. My achievements have been motivated by the efforts of the troop leader, Mrs. Diana Lazar, who has continued to support and encourage me for all these years.

Kelsey Stephens

�Pet Patio�

My Girl Scout experience was about making memories with my long time friends. Going to Girl Scout camp, taking trips and just attending meetings was a fun time had by all. Within my Girl Scout troop, we all have many different personalities, but when we come together, we look aside those differences and have fun.

For my Girl Scout Gold Award project, I constructed a Pet Patio for the Germantown Animal Shelter. This consisted of removing dirt, pouring concrete and building benches to create a relaxing place for the animal shelter dog walkers to sit after a walk. I designed this for a welcoming appeal to all prospective pet owners and a comfortable environment for the animal shelter staff to enjoy.

Emily Tuberville

�Bookin� It for LeBonheur�

The best aspect of Girl Scouts is making memories with my friends. No matter the activity or location, my friends and I always seem to have fun. Though we all have very different personalities, we all have so much fun together. Because of our varying personalities, we all contribute something unique to the group. Also, Girl Scouts gives you opportunities for improving leadership skills.

As a phenomenal children�s hospital, LeBonheur tries to create the best possible environment for its young patients. However, I was aware that the hospital lacked its own audio library. Because I have had experience as a LeBonheur patient myself, I understand the difficulty children face when they suffer injury, disease or surgery which requires hospitalization. Thus, I decided to build the foundation for LeBonheur�s personal audio library for my Girl Scout Gold Award project. By initiating the start of this library, there is room for growth through community contribution. Another chief objective of this project was to provide children with constructive entertainment to make their stay in the hospital, whether long or short term, more comfortable and enjoyable.