AWARD CEREMONY Celebrating Those Who Have Earned the Highest Achievements in Girl Scouting - Girl ...
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AWARD
CEREMONY
Celebrating Those Who Have Earned
the Highest Achievements in Girl Scouting
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Honoring our 2020
Gold Award Girl Scouts and
Silver Award Girl Scouts
GIRLS CHANGE
THE WORLD
THE GIRL SCOUT PROMISE
On 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 LAW
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
MAKE NEW FRIENDS
Make new friends,
but keep the old.
One is silver,
and the other’s gold.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 2
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Northfield Drive-In Theater
Hinsdale, New Hampshire
Big Screen Presentation of Awards
Begins at Sundown
Presentation of Awards:
Pattie Hallberg, GSCWM CEO
Joan Bertrand, President/Chairwoman
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 3
Dear Gold Award Girl Scout,
Congratulations on your extraordinary achievement in earning the Girl Scout Gold
Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn!
Today, we celebrate your accomplishments as the culmination of your Girl Scout
Leadership Experience. You have demonstrated dedication to empowering yourself and
improving your community. You are now part of the legacy of impressive Girl Scouts
who have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and
around the world since Girl Scouting began in 1912.
Whatever your Girl Scout Journey has been, it has brought you here as a G.I.R.L. (a Go-
getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader). You are a source of pride for the adults who have
watched you grow and excel, and a role model for others in your community.
Many of you are graduating from high school, and we hope you will remain a part of
our sisterhood by becoming an adult member. Wherever you go next, your Girl Scout
experience goes with you. And your Gold Award sets you apart as a confident leader
and visionary change maker.
You are the embodiment of the Girl Scout mission: a young woman of courage,
confidence, and character, who makes the world a better place. We look forward to
seeing what you will do next and how you will fulfill the pledge you have taken so often,
“to live by the Girl Scout Law.”
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Patricia Hallberg Joan Bertrand
Chief Executive Officer President/Chairwoman
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 4
Congratulations to our
2020 Gold Award Girl Scouts
MOLLY BOGNER • Milford
Food with Friends
Molly decided to take a good thing and make it even better by helping her local church
expand their weekly community meal to more patrons and organize the inventory. As a Food
with Friends volunteer, she knew the need and she created an online sign up so volunteers
could easily become involved. She also mailed personal letters to local businesses asking if
they would like to volunteer during the meals. Molly then created and installed a permanent
shelving system to organize the donated food items. Molly just finished her freshman year at
the University of Maine, and is planning on continuing to pursue a degree in Parks, Recreation
and Tourism with a minor in Studio Art and Outdoor Leadership.
Girl Scouting means leading and empowering others. I have had many leaders that have
pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped me uncover my passions and talents.
Being a Girl Scout means I know I can do the same for another person.
DESIREE BUTLER • West Brookfield
Fields Of Gold
Tight school budgets can mean deteriorating school sports equipment with no plans to replace
it unless there’s a Gold Award Girl Scout in your midst. Desiree took her fondness for softball,
which she’s played since the tender age of five, and used it for her project inspiration. Using her
networking skills she was able to purchase and donate essential equipment for her school’s
athletes. Desiree attends Nichols College where she is a double major in General Business
with a focus in Human Resources, Marketing and Entrepreneurship while also majoring in
Psychology and minoring in history.
I am a dedicated advocate for those who can't be advocates for themselves.
HOLLY CAREW Westborough •
In Your Shoes Community Clothes Closet
Holly created a community store where there was none. Working with a local social service
organization she orchestrated a town-wide clothing drive and collected a wonderful array
of gently used coats, boots, mittens, gloves, and hats, as well as new socks and underwear,
all generously donated by local citizens. She mobilized her community through social
media, handmade posters, cable access TV, and published articles in her school and town
newspapers to stock the free store at her local food pantry. Holly will attend Providence
College in the fall and hopes to pursue a major in either English or History.
Because of Girl Scouts, I know I can be someone who is capable of changing the world for the
better.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 5
JULIE CARRIER Westborough •
Custom Costume Closet
Having personally benefited from her school’s theater club, Julie used her Girl Scout Gold
Award project to give back. She set out to transform the club’s costume closet from rags to
riches and funded it by holding theater workshops for kids ages 7-12. Julia knows firsthand
that exposing young children to theater is not only fun but also can help build confidence and
reduce stress by creating a safe space. Julie will attend Endicott College as part of the honors
program in the fall where she will major in Art Therapy.
Girl Scouts to me is a family. It's a group of people who pushes you to be your absolute best
and to keep serving others and giving back to your community.
ANNIE CURRAN Southampton •
Gone But Never for Rotten: A Community-Oriented
Bagshare Program
As a six-year volunteer with the Easthampton Community Center Food Pantry, Annie saw the
significant waste caused by the single-use plastic bags the pantry used for its distributions.
To reduce both waste and the pantry's spending on bags, Annie designed and implemented a
bag-share program for the community center. She organized fundraisers to donate necessary
materials and machinery to allow the center to transform used feed bags and irrigation drip
tape from local farms into new heavy-load-bearing bags. She hosted a bag making event with
the community and resolved the local food pantry's bag shortage while providing a valuable
new resource. Annie is studying biology and French at the University of Virginia for the next
four years. She plans to pursue a Doctorate of Medicine after completing her undergraduate
education.
Girl Scouting has encouraged me to engage with my community more than I ever would have without
it. Because of this, I've been able to identify the nuances of my surroundings and my neighbors within
them. I've noticed admiration, grievances, and everything in between, and being a Girl Scout has helped
me to effectively address and improve life in my community.
JULIA GAUVIN Granby •
Care Packages For Those We Care About
Julia turned to the United Service Organizations to solicit ideas for her Girl Scout Gold Award
project and settled on creating care packages of toiletries to send to service men and women.
She worked with her entire school district to collect donations. She even collected donations
to cover the overseas shipping of care packages to our men and women serving in the military
around the world. Julia is attending Fitchburg State University to pursue a career in nursing.
She also recently enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
Because of Girl Scouts I am not afraid to be myself, and show other people I am there for them
whenever they need me.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 6
SAVIDYA HETTIARACHCHI • Mansfield
Harmony in Our Community
Inspired to promote respect and understanding for people of all cultures and backgrounds,
Savi set out to address discrimination, stereotypes, and biased language in her high school.
She created brochures and a display that explained what stereotypes and biased languages
are, how to avoid using them, and how to respond to discrimination in a safe and respectful
manner. She found that, “Adversity only makes the effort more worth it, and the triumph more
sweet. Bringing change is always difficult, but it's also worth it.” Savi is a student at Haverford
College in Pennsylvania. She hopes to major in Biophysics with the dream of becoming a
medical researcher in the field of genetics.
Girl Scouts taught me how to be a strong, kind, supportive, trail-blazing woman. Girl Scouts
taught me how to be a leader, a listener, and an activist. It made me realize that I can achieve
all the things I always dreamed of doing, and gave me the skills I'll need to be the best person
I can be.
MOLLY HOFFENBERG • Granby
Animal First Aid Kits
Gifted a pet first aid kit as a preschooler, Molly probably applied bandages to every pet she
encountered in her community. Molly’s love for animals inspired her to create pet first aid
emergency care kits as well as an animal first aid booklet. The booklet lists the items any
pet lover would need for basic pet injuries and her kits are made available to her local police
department’s canine unit. In the fall, Molly is attending the University of Massachusetts in
Amherst majoring in Animal Science.
Girl Scouts means I can improve the current state of the world. It makes me feel good to know
that I am fully capable of creating a plan and following through to make change.
EMILY JORDAN Templeton •
Stomping Out Bullying
Experiencing and witnessing bullying inspired Emily to devote her Girl Scout Gold Award project
to raising awareness and encouraging prevention. Through a thoughtful survey, she was able to
assess where her community’s understanding lay and in doing so, opened a community’s eyes
to bullying. Emily educated school administrators and helped her community recognize and
respond to bullying. Her survey results air on community television. Emily will attend University
of Southern Maine where she will major in Liberal Studies Teacher Education K-8.
Being in Girl Scouts my whole life, I've learned how to be a helping hand in the community and
to make a difference in the world.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 7
VIDULA ANIL KUNTE • Westborough
Distress to De-Stress
The stress of middle school on students is well documented and Vidula was not immune.
She set her sights on helping to ease the effects of stress for other middle and high school
students through her Girl Scout Gold Award project. To help students be better prepared,
Vidula created and conducted stress management workshops in her local community and
in India. She discussed various stress management techniques and had participants fill out
worksheets that she designed herself and supplemented with hands-on activities such as
collage making and yoga. She provided detailed packets to hand out and created a website for
further reach. Vidula will attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she will major
in Chemistry.
Girl Scouting has given me the opportunity to help my community through volunteering and service. The
Silver and Gold Awards have allowed me to use my unique skill set to help make a difference in the world
around me.
MEGAN LEMPKE Granby •
Making Smiles Happen
Megan is helping children feel calmer in hospital rooms with her Girl Scout Gold Award project
by giving children something fun and calming to look at during their stay. She created images
from classic children’s books and movies on ceiling tiles after working through numerous steps
and presentations to the local hospital and its administration. Coordinating her project with
multiple departments, she was able to add drawings to ceiling tiles in hospital rooms to make
children feel more at ease. Megan will attend Bryant University in the fall.
Joy doesn't just come from doing community service, but from helping people or doing things that you
truly care about.
CAROLYN MCDERMOTT • Westborough
Engaging English Learners
Carolyn found inspiration for her Girl Scout Gold Award project in two kindergarten boys she
mentored as a high school freshman. Recognizing how the language barrier between them and
the other students in the classroom impacted the boys' confidence, academic performance,
and relationships with their peers, she created Engaging English Learners to engage not just
the two boys but anyone in the Worcester community learning the English language. She
procured thousands of donated books to stock the shelves she installed at a Worcester food
pantry and male recovery center, as well as a health service center in Worcester for families
to take at their leisure. Carolyn created a therapy dog reading program for a local elementary
school and local preschool, entitled “Books with Buddies”, where students in small groups read
out loud to the dogs. Carolyn will attend Fairfield University in the fall as a Nursing Major.
Girl Scouts has shaped me to be the person I am today, and I am incredibly thankful. I am able to create
positive and impactful change in my community.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 8
KARA MOULTON • Sterling
Water Safety Initiative
As a lifeguard and swim lesson instructor, it is no surprise that Kara dedicated her Girl Scout
Gold Award Project to raising water safety awareness in her community. Kara laid out the
potential hazards one could encounter around the water, how to prevent dangerous situations
from occurring and how to react if they do occur. She distributed the information by hosting
seminars, creating a website and informational pamphlets. Kara is currently enrolled at Saint
Joseph's University in Philadelphia where she is studying Chemical Biology.
To me, Girl Scouts means a community centered around helping others. There are so many opportunities
to do this, whether through the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Awards, or just working within your troop.
ABBY NICK Pepperell •
Junior Service Learning
Abby describes her introduction to community service as a high school freshman through her
school’s Service Learning Program as life changing. Recognizing the benefits of introducing
kids to the positive power of service at an earlier age, she created a Junior Service Learning
Program at her local middle school. Abby met with students throughout the school year
helping them conduct numerous service projects, and created a website outlining how to start
a service program with many examples of easy service project ideas. Abby will be attending
Trinity College in Hartford, where she will double major in Human Rights and Political Science
on a Pre-Law Track.
It doesn't matter your age, or where you are. Everyone has the power to change the world.
LYDIA O'CONNELL Westborough •
Family Fun on Westborough Trails
As an outdoor enthusiast and avid hiker, it was natural for Lydia to choose a project that
encouraged others to get out and find the joy in nature. She researched the local plants and
animals that can be found in her community’s trail system then shared her findings on a
website she created. She led community members on trail hikes and posted local information
she designed on trail heads. Lydia will be attending the University of St. Andrews in Scotland,
majoring in Chemistry.
I learned even more how the natural world around us is a truly amazing place. I never realized how
much time and effort went into preserving this land and making it accessible to the community and I
gained a greater appreciation for the importance of conservation.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 9
AUDREY O'CONNOR • Granby
Keeping Granby Beautiful
Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project Audrey inspired a community to take pride in their
town and show it through participation in an annual clean-up centered around Earth Day and
the “Adopt a Street” project. Through self-made literature distributed to schools, gas stations,
grocery stores, and social media posts, Audrey shared the nuances and benefits of removing
litter and beautifying a community. Audrey will attend St. John's University in Queens, New
York as a biology major on the pre-med track.
I learned that just one single person can make a difference, but together we can make a change. The
power of community is unstoppable. When people come together to achieve a common goal, nothing can
get in their way.
MORGAN O'CONNOR • Westfield
Water at Westfield Tech
In her determination to make life better for her schoolmates by providing better water
fountains, Morgan learned exactly how water supports the body's functioning. She also
learned the extent of the harmful effects plastics has had on our planet, and became focused
on helping to save our water sources. For her project Morgan replaced all the water fountains
at her school with new water bottle refilling stations and held assemblies for the entire school
to educate students about the importance of drinking enough water, staying hydrated, and
about the detrimental effects of disposable water bottles on both the health of a person
and the environment. After the assemblies, she provided all the students with reusable
water bottles, which she designed herself. Morgan will attend the New England School of
Communications at Husson University in Bangor, Maine with a major in Audio Engineering with
plans for a career in sound design and production in music or film.
I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t a Girl Scout. It has shaped me.
JACKLYN PLISKA • Hadley
fitness4fun
Recognizing that technology is leading kids to spend more time indoors than out, and that
many don’t have the toys to play with or structures to play on, Jacklyn set out to inspire
children in her community to play outside. Using skills learned as a Girl Scout to connect with
town officials, she created a rock wall at a local park to get kids more excited about going
outside to play. “My favorite part of the project was seeing how much I progressed from a
shy person with a small voice to a more professional, confident woman.” Jacklyn intends to
complete prerequisites at community college before applying to a dental hygiene program.
Girl Scouts means a chance to be who you are and stand up for what you believe in.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 10KAITLYN REED Sutton •
Don't Trash It, Recycle It.
Kaitlyn and her troop had been redeeming plastics, cans and glass for eight years out of
the dingy, town recycling shed and she had a desire to fix it or retire it. Taking the tenants of
“use resources wisely” to heart, Kaitlyn finally found the opportunity to refurbish her town’s
recycling shed. It was when she arrived as a vocational high school student that her project
idea came together. After high school, Kaitlyn plans to attend college to become a registered
nurse and continue on to become a doctor in family medicine or pediatric cardiology.
For me Girl Scouting was the beginning of how to learn to become a future leader. In Girl Scouts, I had
more opportunities to try different things and grow as a person.
JULIA RIORDAN • Milford
One Community
Seeing a disconnect in her community, and to bridge a gap between different language
speakers, Julia created a multi-lingual Town Resource Guide to serve diverse cultures. Working
with a multitude of town leaders, ESL teachers and school administrators, Julia filled her
guide with vital information, locations, and phone numbers of essential town services, health
& safety, social services, education, food & pharmacy, and places of worship in the town of
Milford. Julia also created English as a Second Language Tool Kits for Spanish and Portuguese
speakers which are available at her town library and community center. Julia will attend the
University of Florida where she plans to major in Nursing while on a Pre-Physician Assistant
track.
Growing up in Girl Scouting, I have learned how to not only advocate for myself but also others who
might feel as though they do not have a voice.
MONICA ROSA • Hadley
Golden Moments
Monica dedicated her Girl Scout Gold Award project to the senior citizens in her community.
By interviewing and extracting the poignant moments in their lives she was able to preserve
their important memories. She touched the hearts of elders in her community with handmade
letters and mementos that were customized for each of the individual’s life story and placed in
a golden box. The goal of her project was to remind elders that they are appreciated, important
and not forgotten. Monica is an early high school graduate and currently attending Holyoke
Community College, majoring in the Foundations of Health program in pursuit of becoming a
health care professional.
No matter what challenges I am faced with, I can always overcome them and no matter how big or small
a kind gesture is, it can mean the world to others.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 11ALISON ROUSH Pepperell •
Sisters Against Statistics
After discovering a passion for supporting young women and feminism as a whole, Alison
decided to utilize her skills as a martial arts instructor to teach young women how to defend
themselves against sexual assault. She developed two self-defense classes; one for middle
school girls and one for high school girls. She then adapted her curriculum for use in the
local middle school health class, where it will be used in the coming years. She expanded her
leadership skills by moving from teaching young kids to teaching young adults, and she learned
how to have difficult conversations about topics that are typically brushed under the rug.
Alison will be attending Florida State University as a member of the Honors Program, with
plans to double major in International Affairs and Environmental Science with a minor in
Russian.
I was inspired by the passion of the girls that I taught, and their genuine interest in the issues that I was
presenting them. It gives me hope for the progression of our society in a direction that uplifts women and
abolishes rape culture as a whole.
PAIGE SPIVEY Winchendon •
Care Packages For Those Who Care
As a health occupations student at her technical high school, and a certified nursing assistant
(CNA), Paige has hands on, real life experience working in the health care field and knows
the important but demanding role caregivers play in the lives of the elderly. Paige was also
aware of the prevalence of elder abuse and she set out to raise awareness. She created
care packages for direct caregivers working in a local nursing home with important but often
overlooked self-care tips. She included inspirational messages, tea bags, and stress balls.
The packages are provided to all new direct care employees during their job orientation. She
created a Facebook Group for fellow students, CNAs, mental health providers, and anyone
working in the health care field where individuals can share tips on self-care. She highlighted
the issue of elder abuse through a poster, pamphlet and purple ribbon campaign sharing
the risks, signs and prevention. Her poster will be displayed annually during Elder Abuse
Awareness Month at the Beals Memorial Library in Winchendon. Paige will attend Worcester
State University enrolled in the Occupational Studies Program with the goal of furthering her
studies at WSU to obtain her masters degree in Occupational Therapy.
Girl Scouts means sisterhood to me. It is a community that I will always be a part of. It is about working
together to accomplish a common goal for the betterment of our community or ourselves. It is an envi-
ronment where it is safe to explore who you are and grow into who you want to be.
AMELIA WEATHERBEE • Granby
Natural Play/Fairy Garden
A weeping willow tree and fond memories of her childhood daycare experience helped shape
Amelia’s Girl Scout Gold Award project. While the tree is gone the daycare center remains
and so she set about creating a low maintenance garden of local flora, bird feeders and
houses, and a system of tunnels for privacy and play, all in an effort to drive the imagination
and creativity of today’s children. Amelia will attend Holyoke Community College to major in
Graphic Design.
In Girl Scouting, I learned to embrace every opportunity and experience you get. Staying inside all day
is something you'll never miss, but a camping trip or an experience with friends is. Girl Scouting means I
am a strong and responsible leader. I can take charge of myself and situations.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 12ANNA WELCH New Ashford •
The Golden Generation Meets the “I” Generation
What began as one girl teaching her great, great aunt to navigate an iPad, turned into one
girl providing residents at an assisted living center with the technology skills needed to
communicate with far away loved ones on their very own laptop computers. Striving to bridge
the technology gap and help senior citizens connect, Anna made regular visits to teach and
created a pamphlet with easy step by step instructions residents could refer to when she
wasn’t there to help. Anna will be attending St. John's University in Queens, New York. She is
enrolled in their Tobin College of Business and plans on majoring in Marketing.
If it doesn't inspire you, you can’t expect to inspire others. But if you are inspired you will inspire others.
GABRIELLA WILKERSON South Hadley •
Do Try This At Home Science Kits
One STEM statistic that really stuck out to Gabriella inferred that people in STEM careers
were much less likely to come from lower socio economic backgrounds than in other fields.
Impassioned by this she wanted to create a resource for elementary school age students
that was free and would help kids find their own passion for sciences regardless of their
background. Gabriella worked with the Springfield Science Museum to create Do Try This At
Home Science Kits, a set of 6 experiments kids could do at home. Originally the project was
to create a lending library of kits but the outbreak of COVID-19 lead to her creation of 6 kits
with prompting questions, explanations, and comparisons to the real world as well as some
supplementary videos. The kit directions are in both English and Spanish and are accessible on
the Springfield Museum’s website. Gabriella will attend Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT,
where she will double major in Physics and Dance.
Girl Scouts has taught me that I can have significant impacts on our communities and that I don't have to
wait until I am a certain age to begin to make positive and lasting change. That can start at any time.
BRIANNA WILLIAMS • Clinton
The Proper Retirement
Brianna knew not every citizen is familiar with the United States Flag Code and her four years
involved with Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training inspired her to share with others
what the American flag represents and when and how to retire a flag with respect. Recognizing
it is not easy for everyone to dispose of worn or tattered flags, or conduct the recommended
solemn flag burning ceremony, she collaborated with her local VFW and identified drop off
locations her community could utilize. She enlisted her high school’s automotive body shop
to paint her mailbox receptacles with car paint so they would stand up to the elements.
Brianna just completed her first year of Biomedical Engineering school at the University of
Massachusetts Lowell’s Francis College of Engineering. She is also pursuing a minor in Uteach,
a program designed for STEM majors to prepare for a teaching career.
I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 13Congratulations to our
2020 Silver Award Girl Scouts
A Cuddle and a Smile Working with a team of friends, Mia instituted a program at Sunrise Assisted
Living in the Memory Unit where residents could visit with different breeds of
Troop #30433: Leominster rabbits while reminiscing about the animals they had when they were young.
Mia Puglisi She worked with her 4-H group and trained participants so the program would
continue. Mia learned that she can make a difference in the lives of others and
that she enjoys teaching.
A Hug of Love Wanting to provide comfort to families experiencing a tough time at the NICU
at Emerson Hospital, Gabriella learned how to crochet blankets and hats to
Troop #30433: Leominster wrap the newborn babies in. She then taught others how to crochet and has
Gabriella Puglisi set up a crochet night to continue her efforts. Gabriella learned how to be more
independent, not to over-promise, and worked on time management skills.
A Journey to Self Sanjana facilitated self-confidence and public speaking workshops at her local
elementary and middle schools, and gave Bollywood dance lessons to teach
Confidence children a new way to express themselves through an art form. She created
Troop #30506: Westborough informational pamphlets on becoming a confident presenter, as well as how to
Sanjana Pulaparthi express yourself in front of people that were given to more than 125 kids who
attended her workshops. Sanjana learned the importance of being extremely
persuasive when trying to advocate for something.
Alzheimer’s Awareness Publishing a website educating the public about Alzheimer’s, its symptoms, and
available resources was the focus of Esther and Marieanna’s project. Further
Juliettes: Westborough encouraging others in the community to attend a training with Dementia Friends
Esther Antony, Marieanna Das to learn about how to act and what to say, led to other Girl Scouts in town
becoming official Dementia Friends, and items for residents were donated to
local assisted living facilities. The girls learned that you have to ask questions and
speak up if you want to move forward.
Bedtime Backpacks for Identifying that there is an increasing number of foster care children in their
school who are removed from their homes without their belongings, the girls
Foster Children of Troop #64510 set out to help these children transition to their new homes.
Troop #64510: Fiskdale, Working with the Burgess Elementary School staff, they created age appropriate
Sturbridge backpacks with necessities and comfort items that the Sturbridge Police
Isabella Neslusan, Amber Reed, Ella Department will distribute. The girls gained an increased compassion for what
Reed, Gretchen Strasheim other kids in their school are going through.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 14Books and a Lending Working with Hope Lives Here, the girls of troop #11388 researched the types
of books that would most benefit families in their time of grieving. Through
Library for Hope Lives their money-earning activities of bake sales and a yoga event, they were able to
Here purchase books on grieving, suicide, mental health, self-help and saying goodbye,
Troop #11388: Boylston that were donated to the center and created a lending library for the center. Erika,
Elise, and Elizabeth learned that dividing the work between the team is the best
Erika Lavallee, Elise Poretsky, way to accomplish a lot of work.
Elizabeth Prochazka
Building for Gaga Inspired by summer camp and wanting to get children of all ages outside
and exercising, Jessica worked with the Shrewsbury Parks and Recreation
Troop #11087: Shrewsbury Department, local companies, and local contractors to source and build a gaga
Jessica Minton pit for the town. She also provided a plan and funding for the pit’s ongoing
maintenance. Jessica learned a lot about town government, the importance of
money and budget management, and perseverance through challenges.
Come As You Are: Believing that everyone should be able to experience a dance and feel safe while
doing so, especially those with sensory disorders and other special needs, Emily
A Sensory Friendly Dance partnered with Diamond in the Sky to host a sensory-friendly dance. She worked
Troop #11794: Holden with an occupational therapist to design an event with music, food and activities
Emily Clarke with accommodations and adaptations made for her participants. Emily learned
that even small changes can make a big difference.
Cushions for Cats Megan used her sewing machine skills to make a two month supply of cat
cushions (approximately 50) for the Pat Brody Cat Shelter. Encouraging others to
Troop #30433: Leominster pay it forward, she created instructions on how to make the cushions that will
Megan Dube go home with the adopted cats, and created an instructional video that lives on
the shelter’s website. Megan learned that following through on something can be
rewarding, not just for yourself, but for others.
From Cookies to Cats: An Christina used cardboard cookie cases to develop cat scratch mats to maintain
a cats’ good claw health and donated them to the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal
Adventure in Recycling Control and Adoption Center, Dakin Humane Society, and the Brimfield Cat
Troop #64521: Springfield Shelter. She created a brochure teaching the dangers of declawing cats, how
Christina Sitnik scratch mats are necessary for the care of cats, and it also contained a chore
chart for young children to encourage proper care of their cat that will be given
with cat adoptions. Christina learned to look at ordinary objects in a new and
useful way.
Helping Hearts Working with the Springfield Rescue Mission, Hope and Marguerite researched
the needs of and ways to help their local homeless population, and created flyers
Troop #12635: Agawam, and newsletters to educate the public. They held presentations for their school,
Springfield community and Girl Scout troops to further educate about homelessness,
Hope Clark, Marguerite Kocsmiersky culminating in a community-wide meal making event yielding more than 400
sandwich meals for the Rescue Mission. The girls learned that with the help of
others, they can make an impact on their community.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 15Kidpreneurs Awareness Through seminars at the Shrewsbury Public Library, SYFS, Windsor Ridge, and
online Zoom sessions, Kashvi educated and inspired children ages 5-15 to believe
(Young Kids With Big in their dreams and to start their own business to make a positive impact in the
Ideas) world. She continues to educate others about entrepreneurship through her
Troop #41061: Shrewsbury YouTube channel and other social media. Kashvi learned that she has the ability
to influence and encourage others to learn something new.
Kashvi Vishal Suchde
Lending Library for Hope The team from Troop #11388 designed and built a bookcase for Hope Lives Here
to house a collection of written resources on grieving for people coping with
Lives Here Bookcase loss. The girls designed bookmarks, posted a plaque, painted a landscape, and
Project created a website to promote the new lending library. Rebecca, Sydney, Lileaka,
Troop #11388: Boylston and Eva learned that there is always a solution when you step back and look at it
and that you have to be organized if you want to become a good leader.
Rebecca Hart, Sydney Socha, Lileaka
Thomas, Eva Turnquist
Making Memories Cheyanne developed music kits for patients with Alzheimer’s and Dementia
at Marlboro Hills consisting of CD players, headphones, music lists and CDs of
Through Music music for the residents to enjoy. She created a Facebook page to educate others
Troop #30186: Grafton of the benefits and value that music can have on these patients and that music
Cheyanne Houston is known to help bring memories to the surface. Cheyanne has learned that she
can accomplish more than she ever thought, even if there are obstacles.
Operation Save the The team from Troop #30304 planted pollinator gardens and installed bee
Pollinators habitats to help establish a healthy bee population, and they raised and released
butterflies into the gardens that will be maintained by the park rangers at
Troop #30304: Shrewsbury Buffumville Lake. The girls are further educating the public about pollinators with
Anjali Amin, Aanya Sachdeva, laminated information cards at the site and on their Facebook page. Anjali, Aanya
Sabrina Williams and Sabrina learned that careful planning and teamwork are critical to achieving
success.
Pavilion Power The girls of Troop #30939 partnered with the Uxbridge Youth Soccer League to
build an environmentally friendly, structurally sound pavilion that provides shelter
Troop #30939: Northbridge, from the weather and shade, with picnic table seating for the community. The
Uxbridge project taught Autumn, Avery, Madeline, Sophia and Sabrina that they could
Autumn Herrick, Avery Herrick, make a difference in their community with teamwork and cooperation, and even
Madeline Kay, Sophia Kay, Sabrina when members of different teams quit, that they can restructure a team to
Tibedo complete the project.
Paws for a Cause Marissa and Mikayla donated items that were needed to Pawfect Life Rescue,
including a bench that serves as a large donation bin when the facility is closed,
Troop #62425: Uxbridge and no-slip harnesses for the puppies and dogs. The girls raised awareness
Marissa Manning, Mikayla Ouellette about the organization through Facebook and their local newspaper. Marissa and
Mikayla discovered that to get what you want, you have to work hard to get it and
that they can make a true difference when there is a need in their community.
Paw-some Kitty Beds Kaitlyn made beds for the cats and kittens at the Second Chance Animal Shelter
to provide comfort to them while in the shelter, and to have something to take
Juliette: West Brookfield with them when they are adopted. She supplied the shelter with additional
Kaitlyn Osborne blankets and instructions on how to make the blankets that will be posted on
their website, in their newsletter and building, and be included in adoption kits.
Kaitlyn learned how great it feels to give without receiving.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 16PAC-Project Air Care Troop #11630 launched a public awareness campaign to educate Agawam
about the air quality and each individual’s role in impacting the quality of the air
Troop #11630: Agawam they breathe. The girls created brochures and pamphlets that were handed out
Cora Edwards, Bailey Gervais, Guilia throughout town, put up a display at the Agawam Public Library, published in the
Perella, Mykayla Talbot Agawam Advertiser, and appeared in a video on the news. Cora, Bailey, Guilia and
Mykayla learned that one Girl Scout can make a difference, but together they can
change the world.
People Project Working with the activities director at the Ludlow Senior Center, the girls of Troop
#11138 developed activities for the residents at the center that included senior
Troop #11138: Ludlow lunches, brown bag deliveries, chair volleyball and a pen pal campaign. These
Caitlyn Authier, Victoria Fogg, Katelyn activities were developed to bridge the gap between generations and help the
Morris, Madelynn Philibotte seniors feel more connected. The project taught Caitlyn, Victoria, Katelyn, and
Madelynn the value of seniors and learning from their experiences.
Project Busy Bees Emma, Rachel and Kaitlyn began their project by planting an apple tree to provide
food to pollinators and a place for birds, and then planted a pollinator garden,
Troop #30304: Shrewsbury installed bee houses and raised butterflies that were released into the garden.
Emma Dumont, Rachel Harvie, They created a PowerPoint presentation for the public and Facebook, and were
Kaitlyn Silverberg published in two Yankee Engineer publications. The girls learned how to identify a
problem, find a solution, and create a plan to make it happen.
Project Pollination With the assistance of Park Ranger Giles, Samantha and Natalie planted pollinator
gardens with bee houses at Buffumville Lake/Hodges Village Dam. Their team
Troop #30304: Shrewsbury also released butterflies that they raised into the gardens and created an
Samantha Thomas, Natalia Vasquez educational display for the public to increase awareness of the bee population
decline, and what can be done about it. Samantha and Natalie learned that with
the right team, there is nothing they can’t accomplish.
Read with Furry Friends Katelyn, Joshika and Meredith arranged volunteers with certified therapy dogs
to go to Fales Elementary School, the Westborough Public Library and the
Troop #41061: Southborough, Southborough Public library where emerging readers from grades K-3 read to the
Westborough dogs. The program will continue to benefit the children at two of the locations
Katelyn McCarthy, by Tufts Paws for People and Tails of Joy, and donation bins for dog rescue
Joshika Prabhugee, organizations have been arranged. The girls learned about leadership and taking
Meredith Swanson control of things.
Redecoration of the As part of creating an inviting and welcoming space in the church, Abigail and
Izabel refurnished and reupholstered a chair for the entryway and created art
Greendale Peoples Church pieces to set up in the lobby. They held an opening ceremony inviting those that
Troop #65167: Worcester use the church encouraging the use of the space and the ongoing upkeep of it.
Abigail Epple, Izabel Kruczynski The girls learned that every role in a project is important, even when you think it’s
not.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 17Saving the Bees! Wanting to save the bees led Rachel to enlisting the help of her community to
plant a flower garden and to fixing up the Vets Mall landscaping honoring the
Troop #40291: Charlemont veterans. She created radio announcements, a video for multiple websites,
Rachel Elizabeth Hayes a slideshow to educate the public, and has gotten the Franklin County Jail to
maintain the garden. Rachel learned that she can do a lot as a 13 year old and
that kids really can make a change.
School Bathroom Painting Ava, Allyson, and Jenelle stripped down the lobby bathrooms at Chocksett Middle
School and painted them with a fresh, bright color so that visitors would have a
Troop #30520: Sterling better image of their school when using them. The girls held a grand opening of
Ava Bouley, Allyson Fisher, Jenelle the freshly painted facilities for the students and faculty. They learned that hard
Remy work pays off and is rewarding.
Senior Citizen Prom The teammates of Troop #11794 hosted a Senior Citizen Prom night at Briarwood
Retirement Community to help residents socialize, complete with music, dancing,
Troop #11794: Holden and snacks. The event was so well attended and enjoyed by all that it is going to
Althea Bediako, Sara Gregoire, Donna become an annual event. Althea, Sara, Donna, and Laura learned that anyone can
Perrott, Laura Williams have fun, regardless of their age.
Shelter Helper Answering the needs of the Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton, Annabelle
made cat scratching posts, blankets, and a dog bed that will be given out to
Troop #41061: Westborough people fostering animals from the shelter. To ensure her project has a lasting
Annabelle Koshy impact, she published a website on how to make the cat scratching posts and
the needs of shelters. Her experience has taught Annabelle that she can do
anything if she has confidence in herself.
Sunshine for Seniors The girls of Troop #11020 held money-earning activities so that they could hire
a professional painter to create a mural that would bring the town’s landmarks
Troop #11020: Douglas, inside the senior center and brighten up the small space. The girls painted and
Uxbridge decorated flower boxes and held an open house event at the Douglas Adult
Ciara Brule, Catherine Hughes, Sadie Senior Center promoting socializing and the inviting redesigned space. Ciara,
Schultzberg, Sarah Synder Catherine, Sadie, and Sarah learned that connecting with their community is
rewarding and the smiles they received made it all worth it.
The Early Development Emily and Kayla created an online tour about the history of Westborough to
encourage visitors of all ages and abilities to visit the historic downtown area. The
of Westborough Through girls publicized the tour through postcards, posters, newspaper articles, and on
Church & State: A Walking the Westborough television station. The tour lives on the Westborough Center for
Tour History and Culture’s website, maintained by the library. Emily and Kayla learned
how to adapt to change and that change can make things more meaningful.
Troop #30551: Westborough
Emily Bartee, Kayla Niece
The Gluten Free Girl Molly and Helena created a photo cookbook of their favorite gluten free recipes
for the patients in the Gastroenterology Unit of the UMass Memorial Medical
Scouts Center and copies of the cookbook were left for the hospital resources, doctor’s
Troop #11255: Pepperell offices, and libraries. The girls held a baking workshop for kids ages 7-12, created
Molly Allen, Helena McGowan bookmarks, posters, business cards, and an informational resource website for
the Celiac community. Molly and Helena learned to improve their communication
and leadership skills.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 18The Therapeutic Elizabeth and Sarah improved and updated the waiting room for families, riders,
volunteers, and staff at the Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Holyoke by providing
Equestrian Center a new microwave, coffee machine, and a general cleaning. They also created a
Lending Library Project lending library, collected books, and instituted a weekly cleaning schedule for the
Troop #11624: Easthampton volunteers to maintain the room. Elizabeth and Sarah learned how far hard work
can get you and that putting themselves out there really paid off.
Elizabeth Murdock, Sarah Rolland
The WHEAT Café The girls of Troop #30520 used their artistic abilities to paint a large tree mural
spread over four canvases, each representing its own season, for the visitors and
Beautification Project volunteers of the WHEAT Café in Clinton. The team felt that creating a brighter,
Troop #30520: Princeton, more welcoming space is just what the soup kitchen needed and will be enjoyed
Sterling for years to come. Tia, Lauren, and Julie learned how to work efficiently in a group
Tia Camire, Lauren Hare, Julie Turner and that success is easier with a team.
Trauma Bears Giana, Kaitlyn, and Cora made Trauma Bears to benefit children 3-9 years of age
in traumatic situations and donated them to the local police departments and
Troop #11225: South Grafton, fire stations. They held a Bear Making Day where the community came together
Worcester to help make bears, provided an instructional binder to the Grafton Public library,
Giana Conti, Kaitlyn Mitchell, and created a website with tutorials and where to donate. The girls learned that
Cora Taillefer they enjoy giving back to their community and helping the children who live in it.
Uke’n Do It! Ava and Juliana exposed children at an early age to music by teaching free
ukulele lessons to children ages 5-11, culminating in a concert for the students’
Troop #11594: Northborough families. They brought attention to the needs of the Northborough-Southborough
Ava Arcona, Juliana Oyola Music Association and instituted the Zen School Ukulele Club for elementary
school children. Ava and Juliana learned that a lot of qualities come with being a
good leader and that working with children takes patience and teamwork.
Welcoming International Cassandra, Rachel, and Kimberly created Welcome Bags full of supplies
and snacks for international students of Westborough High School’s and
Students Gibbons Middle School’s English Language Learners program. The girls hosted
Troop #30506: Northborough, a multicultural potluck to help international families make connections in
Westborough Westborough and both the Welcome Bags and Potluck will continue yearly. The
Cassandra Geng, Rachel Martin, project taught the girls about the importance of planning and showed them how
Kimberly Telles to make a positive impact on their community.
Women in STEM Expo Zainab and Lehna held presentations for girls in grades K-3 to inspire an interest
in STEM, consisting of fun experiments, information on women in STEM, and
Troop #41061: Westborough booklets with experiments to try at home. They created a website with fun
Zainab Anwar, Lehna Estes experiments and games, and information on notable women in STEM. Zainab
and Lehna both realized how eye-opening and inspiring it is to teach others
something they are passionate about.
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 19Congratulations to our
2020 Bronze Award Girl Scouts
Animals all Around Community Garden: Reviving,
Troop #30838, Uxbridge Growing and Giving Back
Natasha Carreiro, Julia Clark, Rachel Coleman, Troop #30774, Clinton
Isabella Field, Abigail Guertin, Veronica Jordan, Caroline Arsenault, Annika Busenitz,
Abigail Kay, Caitlin Kelly, Kennedy McGrath, Danielle Champagne, Juliana Dugan, Archer Gray,
Karley Petion Evangeline Jackson, Sophia Kern, Ana Sofia LaPorte,
Jasmine Leger, MacKenzie Lamb, Amber McNamara,
Zoey Morfis, Alice Beth Pynn, Reese Taylor
Around the World: A Cultural
Event
Troop #64651, Westminster Creating Winter Shelter Bins for
Samantha Belkin, Jocelyn Croteau, Wildlife and Feral Cats
Cecilia Maki Morales, Olivia Puczynski, Troop #64721, Holden
Natalie Robb, Kylie Williams Kallie Boudreau, Grace Coppolino, Erin Cross,
Kendall Elliott, Delaney Haskins, Avery Henderson,
Natalie Lamberton, Leeann Miller, Abigail Weldon
Bears for Care
Troop #30413, Ludlow
Alexis Aniolowski, Victoria Davidson, DES Playground Improvement
Savannah Fuller, Alyssa Guerin, Eve Gran, Project
Amanda Miller, Emily Periera, Isabella Woods Troop #12930, South Deerfield
Naomi Bedell, Lauren Galli, Peggy Huang,
Blaze a Trail Lily Josephs, Taylor Krusiewski,
Lydia MacMunn Seaman, Sara Pontani,
Troop #30993, Shrewsbury Amalia Smith
Sharvi Kathuria, Alexis Maloney, Claire Maloney,
Kaitlyn Minton, Nikhita Patil, Ivy Sullivan,
Claire Troy Equality in Holden Sports
Troop #20400, Holden
Care Packages for Veterans Carolina Hamburger Medailleu, Aima Ojeikere,
Lily Tremblay
Troop #30760, Lancaster
Saoirse Egan, Sarah Giger, Melanie Gould,
Emma Lemire, Lea Mcclellan, Kira Novak, Girls and Animals Unite
Isabella Paul Troop #64500, Charlton
Alexa Anderson, Christina Arthanayake,
Chocksett Pride Trash Alissa Burlingame, Maya Girasuolo, Lydia Metcalf,
Bella White
Pick Up Day
Troop #60502, Sterling
Rebecca Brandes, Alicia Contreras, Emma Cooper, Project Fur Baby
Julia Fogerty, Nora Kiernan, Tea Morini, Troop #40160, Hampden
Maren Paquette, Kaelyn Perry, Maria Petronino, Romy Allen-Schubert, Rosalie Alpert, Dylan
Hannah Rausch, Charlotte Ray, Alyssa Ricciardi, Berthiaume, Isabella Boudreau, Kelsey Coyle,
Alyssa Trombley, Sydney Tufts, Jaylinn Wallace Jessica Danehey, Laila Hosnander, Hannah Luff,
Maya Marquez, Katie Pronovost, Cynthia Roche,
Madelyn Sackrider, Yazmin Tafolla Chapin,
Janiyah Wilkerson
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 20Project Playhouse!
Troop #30260, Grafton
Evelyn Correia, Alana Derry, Elspeth Henthorne,
Elizabeth Lentz, Caitlin Marr, MacKinzie Quinn,
Julie Verdolino, Nya Winslow
Save the Bees!
Troop #30853, Rochdale
Jordan Giggey, Natalia Kallio, Isabella LePoer,
Hannah Martin, Zoe Morales, Nola Perry, Gold Award Committees
McKenzie Settle, Nicole Tuson, Dakota Zinkevich
Our council is fortunate enough to have
Shoes for the Homeless three regional Gold Award Committees
Troop #64552, Templeton fully dedicated to working with our Gold
Alyssa Burns, Marissa Cormier, Gwendolyn Mahoney Award Candidates.
Skip the Straw, Save a Turtle On behalf of GSCWM and all of the
Troop #64587, Wilbraham girls, we’d like to thank the Gold Award
Victoria Ambrose, Katarina Brook, Allison Demetri,
Committee Mentors for their significant
Gabriella Duffany, Camille Dziura, Teagan Lawor,
Charlotte Powell, Sara Schutt, Therese Testa commitment of time and talent, and
their dedication to the Girl Scout Mission.
Taking Care of Our Earth-Don’t be You are truly making a difference in the
a Litterbug! lives of girls who, in turn, are making the
Troop #11572, Bolton world a better place.
Halle Barraclough, Emily Beyranevand, Jean Baxter
Abigail Fantana, Charlotte Hess, Isaline March,
Allison Mortimer, Scarlett Paradis, Samantha Sharma, Paula Brault
Charlotte Thoin
Jenn Cherry
Team WEED DWEEBS! Mim Creamer
Troop #30260, North Grafton Glynis DeVerry
Lily Drew, Lila Mahoney, Jenna Rowe
Pam Hennessey
Sue Labelle
Stacy O'Bey
Jane Schroeder
Tawnya Tiskus
Ann Marie Waller
Jane Wilson
Arlene Wolfe
We would also like to thank the following
for their many years of service and wish
them well as they retire from the Gold
Award Committees:
Polly Billiel
Ellen Moorhouse
2020 GOLD SILVER AWARD CEREMONY 21Holyoke Leadership Center Worcester Leadership Center
301 Kelly Way 115 Century Drive
Holyoke, MA 01040 Worcester, MA 01606You can also read
