Local Girl Scouts earn highest awards

 

 

May 7, 2012 – Miami, Fla. – The Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida, Inc. presented 39 local Girl Scouts with the highest girl-earned achievement in Girl Scouting – the Gold Award. The award ceremony took place on May 6, 2012 at Banyan Bowl at Pinecrest Gardens. One hundred Girl Scouts were also recognized for earning the second highest honor in Girl Scouting – the Silver Award.

The Gold Award recognizes a girl’s personal journey through leadership skills, career exploration, self-improvement, and service. Prior to beginning a Gold Award project, a girl must have completed two Girl Scout Journey books (the leadership development curriculum) or have earned the Silver Award and completed one journey. After fulfilling the requirements, girls must identify an issue, investigate it thoroughly, build a team, create a plan, present this plan, gather feedback, take action, and lastly educate and inspire others. These requirements enable girls to develop skills, practice leadership, explore career possibilities, and discover their self-potential.

Gold and Silver Award Pictures

Gold Awardees

Brittany Anderson, is a member of Troop 57. Her project revolved around the theme “To be a Better Me”. Brittany wrote and illustrated a book for pre-K and kindergarten students which encouraged them to have stronger self confidence, and to believe in themselves. Brittany plans to go into the nursing field.

Valerie Arguelles, is a member of Troop 57. She wrote a series of books for kids, which will help them become better people. Valerie also made puppets to go along with the books. She chose this project because she wanted to give back to her former school, Palmetto Elementary. Valerie plans to study interior design.

Teagan Beasley, is a member of Troop 239. She organized and executed a campout. She feels it shows a great deal of leadership, as well as patience. She enjoyed working with children.

Rebecca Bogert, is a member of Troop 57. She created a program that would provide the patients of Miami Children’s Hospital with visits from singing Disney Princesses. Rebecca would dress up like the chosen princess and sing a song for the patient. She would like to attend an Ivy League university or West Point, with a major in Psychiatry.

Zoe Cosner, is a member of Troop 57. Zoe created “busy bags” for the Holtz Children’s Hospital. Zoe made 1000 bags that came in different age levels and contained activity books designed for each age group. Zoe plans on being a doctor who specializes in Genetic Diseases.

Megan DeSautel, is a member of Troop 239. She held a camp for younger girls, during which the girls learned about healthy nutrition and physical activity. She believes it is important to share new information about physical activity. Megan plans on becoming a successful physical therapist.

Angela Diaz, is a member of Troop 239. She organized a Get Up, Get Moving camp to help girls become aware of fun ways to get active and stay healthy. She plans on becoming a Doctor.

Christine & Melissa Ellenburg, are in Troop 57. They each designed lesson plans and led a kids camp in Costa Rica, where they worked with rescued monkeys. Christine wrote a story about protecting wild monkeys and Melissa wrote about rainforest conservation. Together, these stories became an educational book, and copies were donated to several elementary schools and community partnership for the homeless. Christine plans on becoming a business executive, while Melissa would like to major in biology or neuroscience.

Victoria Fiedler, is a member of Troop 57. Victoria wrote a book about the importance of perseverance. She read it to various schools and donated it to the schools, as well as a homeless shelter. She wrote the book to share one of life’s most important lessons with children. She plans on becoming a teacher or nurse.

Katherine Fry, is a member of Troop 871. She created the annual Bed Races to take place in her community. This helped raise cancer awareness in her area.

Haylee Glasel, is a member of Troop 121. Her project raised awareness and encouraged people to sign up to become organ donors. Haylee organized a presentation within her school about this issue. She chose this project because of her interest in the medical field; she plans on becoming a surgeon.

Jenna Glick, is a member of Troop 1239. Her project was called “Warm Fuzzies” consisted of the creation and distribution of about two hundred fleece baby blankets to various organizations such as the Lotus House, Jesse McCreary Elementary and JAFCO. Jenna also taught her troop and temple youth group how to make the blankets. She hopes to attend a university and major in an area that allows her to work with children.

Kimberly Gooden created an activity book for the older siblings of premature babies born in South Miami Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This project is important because she was once a “preemie” in the NICU and she wanted to give back to the place that gave her life. Kimberly hopes to study pharmaceuticals in the future.

Christina Guzman, is a member of Troop 426. She painted classrooms and created cabinets at Miami Lakes United Methodist pre-school. She also created a “clean-up” day as well as a “wishlist” for the school.

Kearris Haughton, is a member of Troop 347. Her project was based on giving back to those who are less fortunate in her community. She plans on studying nursing and becoming a Girl Scout Leader.

Jade Hayes, is a member of Troop 239. She organized a Get Up, Get Moving camp to help girls become aware of fun ways to get active and stay healthy.

Tiffany Hernandez, is a member of Troop 8. She built an outdoor shower and changing area next to a food pantry, so that those visiting the pantry would be able to shower and get clean clothes. She hopes that this will help them get on their feet and erase their “dirty” image.

Rasheba Jones, is a member of Troop 1026. She restored a pond, created a butterfly garden, recycled discarded materials, and planted native plants at William Turner Technical Arts High School.

Caitlin Kaloostian's project was a Florida ecosystem mural which was painted on the front of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions office building. She also planted a native butterfly garden on location. Caitlin chose this project to promote awareness towards our fragile environment. She wants to attend college with a major in Environmental Engineering or Science.

Savannah Koval, is a member of Troop 871. She created the Annual Bed Races to take place in her community. This helped raise cancer awareness in her area.

Amanda Kupke, is a member of Troop 871. She created the Annual Bed Races to take place in her community. This helped raise cancer awareness in their area.

Shannon Larson, is a member of Troop 57.  She created 1,000 age appropriate Busy Bags to distract the kids at the Holtz Children's Hospital while they wait for their treatment, when the playroom is not available. Shannon chose this project to lessen their anxiety and keep them occupied. She plans of double majoring in Business and Psychology.

Kira Levin, is a member of Troop 121. She collected over 300 pounds of new and gently used school supplies at local schools. These supplies were donated to the Education Fund, which is a nonprofit that gives supplies to teachers. Some of these supplies were sent to Tanzania. Kira plans on going to school for International Affairs and then joining the Peace Corps.

Nicole Matamala, is a member of Troop 975. She restored an abandoned greenhouse at Lamar Louise Curry Middle School to be used by the schools agricultural department. It will help expand the student’s education about agricultural practices and “green” techniques.

Jah’Senya Mackenzie, is a member of Troop 347. She made of collection of pill bottles to be donated to Haiti, to benefit the victims of the 2010 earthquake.

Karina Montenegro, is a member of Troop 426. She created an online marketing tool for Miami Lakes United Methodist Pre-school.

Danielle Neibar, is a member of Troop 239. Her project was a health camp for younger girls to teach them the importance of health and exercise. Danielle plans on doing something that makes her happy and enjoying life.

Lady Nwadike (project description forthcoming)

Rachel Peacock, is a member of Troop 871. She created the annual Bed Races to take place in her community. This helped raise cancer awareness in her area.

Stephanie Pinon, is an independent member of Service Unit 18. She noticed a problem with too many stray cats in her neighborhood, and decided to write an educational brochure for the Humane Society. She also created a blog outlining the importance of rescuing animals and spaying and neutering your pets.

Allison Richards, is a member of Troop 57. Her project was with the Possible Dream Foundation. She chose this project because she has connections with the organization, and it was within her future career aspirations. Allison would like to be a doctor.

Miracle Rogers, is a member of Troop 347. She wrote an original musical production to engage students at her high school and surrounding communities. All the proceeds raised went towards equipment for her school’s auditorium. She wants to attend college and major in Athletic Training and Kinesiology.

Brittany Schiffar, is a member of Troop 57. Her project was to create a series of children’s books with the moral of “How I Became a Better Me”. After making a puppet show and reading the books to elementary school children, the books were donated to a number of elementary schools in Miami. She plans on enrolling in college where she will study to become a veterinarian.

Rebecca Stantic, is a member of Troop 288. She planned an event which she opened up to both her service unit and schools in the area. It was inspired by endangered animals and their need to be protected. She plans on going to college and having a career in digital media.

Leah Schwartz, is a member of Troop 48. Leah's project was a full day conference with workshops of "Womens Empowerment Day" (at the Museum of Science) of speaker led sessions designed for the target audience of girls 13-20 from the inner city area of Miami who attend the STEM Upward Bound and TRiO programs of Miami-Dade. She is considering pursuing a degree in dermatology.

Lauren Teller, is a member of Troop 57. She created a program that would provide the patients of Miami Children’s Hospital with visits from singing Disney Princesses. She would dress up like the chosen princess and sing a song for the patient. She chose this project because she had been a patient at MCH and wanted to put her talents toward giving the children a bit of magic to ease their situation. She plans on getting her degree in Musical Theatre.

Jessica Warden, is a member of Troop 975. Jessica collected food, toys, and treats to dónate to the shelter, and created adoption bags for people who were adopting a new pet. She chose this project because she loves animals and wanted to help them. Jessica plans to attend college and become a veterinarian.

Caroline Warrell, is a member of Troop 838. She built a hydroponics garden for the students at Palmetto Middle School and taught them to use it. She hopes it will encourage students to eat more healthy foods, by exposing them to fresh vegetables.

Silver Awardees

Troop 2
Leader: Yesenia Ruano
Members
Monica Bolanos
Bryanna Cisneros
Daniela Delphus
Yesenia Montenotte
Lidiana Montes
Melissa Perez
Natalie Perez
Nicole Perez
Kelsy Ruano
Hannah Sanchez

Troop 48
Advisor: Marcia Breiter
Member: Kaitlin Schwartz

Troop 58
Leader: Olivia Curbelo
Members
Alexandra Curbelo
Ashley Fernandez
Elizabeth Fernandez
Katherine Fernandez
Kirstin Guidi
Andrea Peterson
Kelsey Someillan

Troop 121
Leader: Debbie Simpson
Member: Raina Levin

Troop 272
Leader: Cindy Hill
Members
Megan Beauregard
MaryJean Budebo
Gabriela Diaz
Emily Groff
Grace Hill
Alexandria Macajoux
Alizee Richards
Alexis Rodriguez
Danielle Schwartz
Brianna Schwartz

Troop 290
Leader: Irma Colon Alonso
Members
Natalia Alonso
Andrea Diaz-Ariza
Lauren Mullis
Isabella Otruba

Troop 324
Leader: Isabelle Wheeler
Members
Christy Abraham
Casey Frankenfield
Gena Sims

Troop 347
Leader: Janice Coakley
Members
Arianna Gay
Ma'Kia Moulton
Mariah Poag
Amari Thompson

Troop 500
Leader: Marianne McCready
Members
Briana Burke
Bianca Larsh
Tatiana Morales
Faith Morgan

Troop 511
Leader: Jamile Brown
Members
Kala Brown
Kristiana Chinyere
Kenya Niblack

Troop 537
Leader: Ana Carrillo
Members
Sarah Abella
Victoria Arguelles
Sarah Benjamin
Gabrielle Bogert
Kayla Buttafuoco
Sophia Carrillo
Elisha Grob
Christina  Miranda
Brianna Prindle
Camila Solis
Julia Tesmond
Stefani Tolchin

Troop 586
Leader: Ingeborg Grenet
Members
Juliette Dubon
Lauren Garcia
Elana Grenet
Maya Lora
Yazmeen Torres

Troop 610
Leader: Ivette Gomez
Members
Andrea Cano
Alexandra Colon
Catherine Finn
Elena Gehrke
Brianna Georges-Pierre
Emily Gibson
Erika Gomez
Brooke Lehman
Jessica Navarrette
Bryanna Newberry

Troop 832
Leader: Judith Leong
Members
Abigail Herring
Rachel Leong
Kristen Leong
Katarina Otruba
Christina Richards
Marisela Solis

Troop 870
Leader: Liliana Hernandez
Members
Erica Hernandez
Jacqueline Mantilla
Melina Paan

Troop 1239
Leader: Marice Band
Members
Hailey Cannon
Isabella Cooper
Alexia Gallian
Olivia Herrera
Lila Kreis
Cassidy Little
Cheyenne  Mueller
Gabriela Ramesar
Valeria Sonderegger

Troop 1938
Leader: Maria Pendas
Members
Karina Alvarez
Amanda Del Valle
Vanessa Iglesias
Lauren Koeppel
Elisa Ramirez
Adriana Ramirez

Madeleine Caceres

Valeria Sarito