FHS Girl Scout Gold Award winners announced
Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians has announced its 2023 Gold Award recipients, and four of the 28 recipients are Farragut High School students or graduates: Laura Gilliard, Abhikhya Gudala, Sadie Pastor and Amelia Sandoval.
Gilliard repaired and remodeled her school’s old greenhouse, turning it into a safe, useable educational resource for its growing agriscience program. She recruited students from the program to help with the remodel and worked with her school’s chapter of Future Farmers of America to take over regular upkeep of the greenhouse.
Gudala built and installed three miniature art galleries around Knoxville and filled them with original artwork inspired by difficult topics, such as war, gun violence and mental health, during and after the pandemic.
Each work of art contained a QR code with links to the work’s statement and informational pages about the artist’s inspiration.
Pastor created educational resources for middle school students about the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and to encourage them to pursue studies in STEM fields. Pastor gave presentations on her research, led fun STEM activities for diverse groups of students and created a website where educators can access her presentations and educational resources.
Sandoval partnered with Young-Williams Animal Center to create several easy homemade pet treat recipes for cats, dogs and rabbits and designed three mini cookbooks for each type of pet. She shared her recipes with shelter volunteers who made the treats for pets at the shelter and at outreach events throughout her community.
Since 1916, thousands of Girl Scouts across the country have earned the organization’s highest honor, now called the Girl Scout Gold Award, for demonstrating extraordinary leadership and making sustainable change in their communities. Nationally, only six percent of all eligible Girl Scouts achieve the Gold Award, according to a press release.
Only Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors are eligible for the Gold Award; and before they can pursue it, they must meet prerequisites, including completing a Take Action project or earning the Girl Scout Silver Award, which requires a project to improve the neighborhood or community.
At a minimum requirement of 80 hours, most girls spend between one and two years on Gold Award projects.
“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,” said Lynne Fugate, CEO of the Girl Scout Council of Southern Appalachians.
“We are proud of their achievements. ...”
