Hearts Of Gold - Reflections from Gold Award Girl Scouts

Sheryl M Robinson
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Identifying a project, overcoming challenges, personal connections, outcomes, and special moments: hear from Gold Award Girl Scouts sharing their stories related to Girl Scout Gold Award projects.

  1. MAY 7

    Ep168 Teaching Empathy and Neurological Diversity with Hannah MacLean

    Hannah MacLean's Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on instilling patience, empathy, and understanding for neurologically diverse students within the Franklin Public School System. Motivated by the bullying and unfair treatment her younger sister faced, Hannah enhanced the district's anti-bullying curriculum and introduced a nuanced, Socratic-inspired curriculum focused on critical thinking. Her project involved three core components: collecting and distributing diverse books to middle schools, serving as an active student representative on local committees, and teaching her own educators how to incorporate neurological diversity into their classrooms. The curriculum she established remains a part of the school system's Mental Health Awareness Day. More from Hannah: In addition to my Gold Award, I have been a lifetime member of GSEMA since Daisies, and I recently worked as a camp counselor with the Girl Scouts of Northern California. Some of my favorite Girl Scout memories included selling cookies to fund a trip to the Grand Canyon with my travel troop, and discovering my interest in International Relations and Diplomacy through the annual Girl Scouts International Leadership Conference at Salve Regina. These successes I attribute to the incredible role models and leaders I had along the way, including but not limited to Roni Doherty, Joanna Lenahan, and Amy VanNederpelt, the lovely cookie Moms and role models of GSEMA, and the other incredible leaders who paved my way. Since this introduction to the accessible ways I could use my voice to make a change, I have graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics with a minor in Social Justice Theory from St. John's University in Queens, NY. Partly in thanks for my work with the Gold Award and Girl Scouts, I earned over $160,000 in scholarships and the privilege of traveling the world with the Vincentian Institute of Social Action through the Ozanam Scholars program. Full transcript available on SubStack: https://substack.com/@sherylmrobinson

    34 min

  2. APR 2

    Ep 167 Restoring History and Building a Digital Future with Layla King

    Layla King discusses her impactful Girl Scout Gold Award project to restore Lincoln Cemetery, a historically Black cemetery in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Partnering with the organization Saving Our Ancestors Legacy (SOAL), Layla took a hands-on approach to preservation, learning to clean and level headstones using specialized solutions to ensure the names of those buried there remain visible to future generations. Beyond the physical labor, Layla utilized her leadership role in SkillsUSA to launch a school-wide awareness campaign and donor drive, successfully bridging the gap between spreading a message and inspiring community action. Her project not only honored local history but also paved the way for her current success as a computer science major at Howard University and the founder of her own web design business. More from Layla: I'm Layla King, a freshman Computer Science major attending Howard University. I've been involved in Girl Scouts since I was little (about 2013), starting as a Daisy and working my way up, then finishing as a Juliette to earn my Gold Award in 2025. Outside of Girl Scouts, I own a web design business called A Young Mindset, where my long-term goal is to build an agency that values more than profit. I want to invest in community service projects and provide unemployed people with the opportunity to learn web design through a training program and eventually work at my company. I want my business to be a tool for lifting others up. In college, I'm involved in Howard's Inaugural DECA Cohort, the College of Engineering & Architecture Council as an Advocacy & Inclusion Intern, and the National Society of Black Engineers. In high school, I played soccer and ran track, participated in FBLA (won 1st in PA for website design and 10th nationally), SkillsUSA as Vice President (placed 3rd in PA for web development and design), the National Honor Society as Co-President, the National Technical Honor Society, and Four Diamonds. Lastly, I became an Amazon Future Engineer Scholar. Personal Portfolio Website: laylaking.com/ Business Website: ayoungmindset.com/ Instagram: @lay.kin9 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/layla-king/ Lincoln Cemetery SOAL Website: lincolncemetery.org/ Full transcript available on SubStack: https://substack.com/@sherylmrobinson

    9 min

  3. MAR 5

    Building Connections: The Impact of Adoption Peer Groups Loren Elle and the project that gained her acceptance to The Ohio State

    Loren Elle shares her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which focused on creating a peer group for adopted preteens and teens. Loren Elle discusses how her personal experience with adoption motivated her to provide a supportive space for others with similar backgrounds. Through her project, Loren Elle not only made a significant impact in her community but also gained acceptance to The Ohio State University, where she is pursuing her passion for fashion and retail studies. Join us as we explore the challenges she faced, the support she received, and the valuable lessons learned along the way. More from Loren Elle: My name is Loren Elle Ross, and I'm a freshman at The Ohio State University majoring in Fashion and Retail Studies with a minor in Communication and a certificate in Sports Communication. I'm also part of the Business Scholars Program, where I get to grow as a business-oriented leader and connect with peers who share similar goals. Before college, I was very involved in Girl Scouts, for 12 years, earning my Gold Award through a project that challenged me to lead, serve, and create lasting impact. I also balanced academics, National Honor Society, volleyball, fashion interests, and a part-time job, which taught me resilience, teamwork, and time management. At Ohio State, I'm excited to explore the intersection of fashion, branding, and consumer experience, with a special interest in sports merchandising and athlete styling. My future plans include building a portfolio that combines design, communication, and storytelling to prepare for a career as a creative leader in the fashion and retail industry. Full transcript available on SubStack: https://substack.com/@sherylmrobinson

    43 min

  4. FEB 5

    Advocating for Animals: Andrea's Journey to the Girl Scout Gold Award

    Andrea shares her inspiring journey as a Girl Scout working on her Gold Award project focused on advocating for animal welfare, specifically for dogs in Florida. With the state ranking fourth in county shelter deaths due to overcrowding, Andrea discusses the critical issues surrounding impulsive pet ownership and the lack of spaying and neutering. To combat this, she created a comprehensive pet owner's guide in collaboration with her school, offering resources, tips, and tricks for the community to help reduce shelter overcrowding. Andrea also reflects on her lifelong passion for animals, influenced by her family's experiences with pets and the pressing need for support in animal shelters. She highlights her partnership with Howling Hounds Sanctuary Rescue, a local organization dedicated to housing dogs in a nurturing environment. Tune in to learn more about Andrea's impactful project and how you can contribute to animal welfare in your community. More from Andrea: I am an Ambassador in Girl Scouts with a strong passion for leadership, service, and creativity. Over the years, Girl Scouts has given me incredible opportunities to grow, travel, and discover what inspires me. Last summer, I traveled to New York City on a Broadway-focused Girl Scout Destination, where I had the chance to see four amazing shows and fall even more in love with theater. Experiences like that have shaped who I am and what I hope to do next. This spring break, I plan to tour colleges across Florida because I hope to stay close to home for my next chapter. I'm excited to explore different campuses and find the right fit for my future. Next year, as a senior, my troop and I will be celebrating our high school graduation with a cruise—something we've looked forward to for years. Outside of Girl Scouts, I hope to spend this summer auditioning for local theater productions and getting back on stage. Performing is something I truly miss, and I'm ready to keep practicing, growing, and stepping into new opportunities. https://petprojectgs.wixsite.com/2manypawnotenoughome https://www.facebook.com/groups/700149011903399 https://www.instagram.com/gs.pet_project/

    13 min

  5. JAN 1

    Ep 164 Roadkill Awareness: Raina's Wildlife Conservation Project

    Full transcript: https://substack.com/home/post/p-182329540 Episode Description: Raina shares her impactful Girl Scout Gold Award project, which focuses on wildlife conservation and reducing roadkill. She discusses her volunteer work at the Red River National Wildlife Refuge, where she noticed a significant amount of roadkill due to its proximity to a highway. To address this issue, Raina created informative wooden signs urging drivers to "Slow for Animals," along with a poster board that educates visitors about local wildlife and road safety. Additionally, she developed pamphlets detailing animal behaviors and a Facebook page to spread awareness beyond Louisiana. Raina also talks about her beautiful graphics, which she designed herself, and how she transformed her artwork into stickers for fundraising, combining her passion for drawing with her conservation efforts. More from Raina: Hello! My name is Raina, and I'm a Girl Scout Ambassador. I've been a Girl Scout my entire life and have been part of five different troops, one for each place I've moved to. I've lived in Louisiana, Hawaii, Florida, Germany, and now New Hampshire. Something I hope to do in the future is visit all five of the Girl Scout world centers and collect the special pin from each. I have visited two so far, Our Chalet in Switzerland and the Pax Lodge in England! Some of my hobbies include drawing, writing and cosplay. I also like collecting things like rocks, bones, and shiny trinkets. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576728444244

    9 min

  6. 12/04/2025

    Ep 163 Empowering Neurodivergence: Lia's Sensory Friendly Futures Gold Award Project

    Diagnosed with autism at a young age, Lia discusses her passion for promoting neurodivergence awareness and the need for sensory-friendly spaces. She created 20 fidget bins, filled with calming tools like calming strips, water timers, and Pop-Its, which she distributed to libraries, schools, and after-school programs. Lia highlights her vision of helping others understand the experiences of neurodivergent individuals and the importance of creating inclusive environments. Tune in to learn about her impactful work and the significance of supporting neurodivergent communities. More about Lia: Lia created Sensory Friendly Futures for her Gold Award project to promote neurodivergence awareness, inclusion, and acceptance within her community. She designed and created fidget bins for neurodivergent individuals and placed them in her local libraries, schools and after school programs to create welcoming and calming spaces for self-regulation. In addition, Lia developed educational materials to teach the community about sensory needs, stimming, and the importance of creating supportive environments for all. Her goal was to make public spaces more inclusive and to inspire others to embrace neurodiversity with understanding and compassion. Through Sensory Friendly Futures, Lia hopes to create a world where everyone feels safe, seen, and valued for who they are. Her project can also be found on her Instagram: @sensoryfriendlyfutures and website. After High School, Lia plans to get a B.S in Legal Studies & go to Law School! sites.google.com/view/sensoryfriendlyfutures instagram.com/sensoryfriendlyfutures/

    28 min

  7. 11/06/2025

    Ep 162 Planting Trees and Building Community: Anita's Gold Award Project

    Anita's project was planting 20 trees along the riverfront in her hometown of Yorkville, Illinois. She discusses the importance of biodiversity, particularly in riverfront areas, and the challenges posed by soil erosion and fluctuating water levels. Anita explains her research process to select tree species that would thrive in these conditions and her motivation to enhance the local environment. She also emphasizes the role of community involvement in the project, encouraging residents to connect with nature and enjoy their parks. Tune in to learn about her journey, the challenges she faced, and the positive changes her project aims to bring to her community. More from Anita: I have dedicated the past 13 years to being a Girl Scout, and it has been an incredible journey filled with memorable experiences. I graduated from Yorkville High School in 2025, where I actively participated in cross country, competitive dance, and track and field on varsity for all sports all 4 years. Now, I am excited to continue my educational journey at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where I will be studying mathematics for education. Additionally, I am thrilled to continue my passion for running as a member of the Cross Country and Track team. I intend on becoming a High School math teacher and would love to coach a team some day.

    15 min

  8. 10/02/2025

    Ep 161 The Purrr-Fect Home Building Cat Houses and Community: Gabby's Girl Scout Gold Award Project

    Episode Description: Gabby shares her mission to support community cats in Gainesville by aiding the local trap-neuter-release operation, Operation Catnip. She highlights her efforts in building cat houses and raising awareness about the mental health benefits these community cats provide to university students, particularly at the University of Florida. Gabby explains the concept of community cats, differentiating them from feral cats, and emphasizes the positive environmental role they play. Tune in to learn more about Gabby's inspiring project The Purrr-fect Home and the importance of caring for community cats! More about Gabby: Gabrielle Ontiveros, also known as Gabby, is a sophomore at the University of Florida and a Girl Scout Alumna! She was in Girl Scouts for 10 years and officially earned her Gold Award in October of 2024 from the Gateway Council. Her Gold Award project, titled "The Purrrfect Home," targeted community cats and students in the Gainesville area. At the University of Florida she majors in Psychology (Behavioral Analysis) and minors in Media Management, Production, and Technology; outside of her classes she is involved in the UF Psychology Club, Women's Student Association, the McNair Scholars Program, and UF HOSA ,competing and placing internationally and serving as PR Director this upcoming year. Her future plans are to attend graduate school to earn a PhD. in Psychology to pursue research and teaching! Her hobbies including painting, reading, gaming, and going on adventures with her friends! linktr.ee/ThePurrrfectHome?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwL1-sFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp7uRiQvacGOKfVgXKHTiDp7T0NtqowkS8lRX_QV4rW_z8NRcheUPD5gUOdkY_aem_2PSYNJPBXeeqTXiwJnJozQ

    21 min
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Identifying a project, overcoming challenges, personal connections, outcomes, and special moments: hear from Gold Award Girl Scouts sharing their stories related to Girl Scout Gold Award projects.

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