Thibeault among five Gold Award Girl Scouts
Five area Girl Scouts, members of the Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians, were among 20 recently announced 2022 Gold Award recipients.
Girl Scout Gold Award represents “exceptional achievement in leadership development, positive values and service,” a press release stated.
“The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive,” said Lynne Fugate, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians.
“These young women have worked hard to develop the leadership skills required to earn this prestigious recognition, and their dedication has made a positive difference in our community. We are proud of their achievements and grateful for their commitment to making our world a better place.”
Only Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors are eligible for the Gold Award. At a minimum requirement of 80 hours, most girls spend between one and two years on Gold Award projects. Nationally, only six percent of all eligible Girl Scouts achieve the Gold Award.
The following Gold Award recipients are from Farragut and Hardin Valley:
• Elaina Thibeault, 2022 Farragut High School graduate, worked with FHS athletic director Donald Dodgen to renovate an unfinished closet space to provide the wrestling team a safe and welcoming place to practice.
When COVID-19 hit, the school’s wrestling team — of which Thibeault was a member — was relegated to an unfinished closet so the previous space could be re-purposed as a COVID-testing site. With no space to practice, the wrestling team struggled to attract students and promote the importance of an active lifestyle.
Through Thibeault’s renovation, the wrestling team was able to practice in a supportive environment and promote healthy living among students.
“The Farragut wrestling team pushes students to achieve their physical and athletic goals in what is now a safe and equipped space, and I am proud to have helped make that happen,” Thibeault said. “... Wrestling is a very under-appreciated sport, and I wanted people who joined to feel safe and supported in a positive environment rather than the dusty storage room we started with.
“Another very influential and supportive figure in making this project happen was Jason Stinnett, our assistant coach,” she added. “He provided materials and labor throughout the entire process and is overall an amazing person.”
• Carolyne McCord, Hardin Valley Academy Class of 2022, created a website with online resources to destigmatize dyslexia — a disorder she herself experienced. Through McCord’s website, parents, teachers and students easily can access resources to support dyslexic students and alternative learning styles. “The website is for everybody,” McCord said.
• Cynthia “CC” Hazelton created a closet at GSCSA’s Camp Tanasi, stocked with supplies so all campers have an equal opportunity to participate in camp activities. She also worked to educate camp staff about the importance of recognizing resource differences.
• Peyton Pettyjohn of Knoxville recognized many students were unaware of available college and career options, so she created a comprehensive list of resources for students and young adults to explore opportunities after high school.
She then designed and painted a large-scale mural showcasing different career options to inspire and empower students. It has a QR code so viewers can scan and access her resources list.
• Paraskevi “Vivi” Christopoulos of Farragut was profiled in the Aug. 3 issue of farragutpress as being eager to help families through the difficult time of having a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit after her family experienced the same challenges.
