Friday, February 28, 2014

Meet Teresa Zuñiga Odom, 2014 Mildred Bell Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Hoover resident Teresa Zuñiga Odom will receive the 2014 Mildred Bell Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award, an award given annually to a woman who has a prior affiliation with Girl Scouting and has made a lifelong contribution to her community by distinguishing herself through professional, community or humanitarian efforts. The Mildred Bell Johnson honoree serves as a role model for past, present and future Girl Scouts.

GSNCA will present its Women of Distinction Luncheon on Friday, March 7, 2014, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Harbert Center in downtown Birmingham. This luncheon will recognize 10 outstanding women representing Walker, Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, Chilton and St. Clair counties.

Odom has been a volunteer in Birmingham’s Hispanic community for many years. Through her involvement with the Hispanic Business Council (HBC), she helped to create the annual Fiesta in 2002. The event was begun with the goal of awarding scholarships to deserving Hispanic students, and the event is now going into its 12th year.

Since Fiesta’s inception about $50,000 has been awarded to deserving students. The success of the event is one of Odom’s proudest accomplishments, right behind her family and Girl Scouts.

“As a founding board member we didn’t know if Fiesta would last one year, but we were determined to try because a group of us felt strongly that Birmingham and the region needed a cultural event like Fiesta,” said Odom. “We weren’t disappointed when the crowds showed up and the community—both Hispanic and non-Hispanic—responded positively to this event.”

Community service is important to Odom, and she says it has always been a learning experience.

“I believe the lesson you learn through community service is that you keep learning—about people, issues, community needs and yourself,” she said.

In addition to her work with HBC, Odom has worked with UAB Foreign Language Advisory Committee, and she has served on the boards of the Leading Edge Institute, Childcare Resources, Oasis Women & Children’s Counseling, Hispanic Business Council, The Women’s Network, the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (HICA), for which she has always held a leadership position, and others.

“I first jumped into board service because I wanted to ‘help.’ Little did I know that within a few short months, I would be asked to serve as chair of the organization and we would go through a major transition!”

In addition to her invaluable experiences, Odom has been able to share her passion for community service with the people she has met.

“Each experience has built upon the next and I’m forever grateful for these experiences and the people I’ve met along the way…people I’ve shared a passion with about whatever work we were doing at the time,” she said. “I’ve made some life-long friends through these experiences; people with such giving hearts that I try to emulate.”

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Tuscaloosa Native Earns Gold Award with Success in School Project

Audrey, a student at the Alabama School of Math and Science and Tuscaloosa native, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Audrey earned her Gold Award for her project Success Starts in School. Audrey was concerned about the large number of adolescents dropping out of school in her region, so she focused on educating middle school girls on the importance of staying in school. She created a website with a motivational video designed to teach girls to stay in school and make good decisions for their futures, and she gave a seminar about the importance of staying in school. Ninety percent of the seminar attendees said they learned and/or gained skills or knowledge from the seminar. Audrey’s project will be sustained by Women of the World as they continue to educate middle school girls on the importance of continuing their education. Audrey’s project taught her how to communicate more effectively and how to be more self-reliant.

“The interaction with the girls I was reaching out to with this project was very positive, and it was a rewarding feeling to know that my project affected them,” said Audrey.

“By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Melva Tate, interim chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Audrey has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.”

The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.

About Girl Scout Gold Award
The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting; it recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have successfully answered the call to go gold, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world. For more information about the Gold Award, visit girlscoutsnca.org/gogold.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Mountain Brook Senior Earns Gold Award with Library Project

Riva, a senior at Mountain Brook High School, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Riva earned her Gold Award for her project Reading to Recovery. Riva created a library for the patients at UAB’s psychiatric hospital. Through book drives and donations, patients at the hospital can now benefit from using puzzle books and reading new materials on several subjects. The nurses and other Girl Scout troops will help to sustain the project so there will be a steady supply of books in the library at all times. Riva hopes her project will help to combat the stereotype of people with disabilities. The project helped Riva become more confident in herself as a leader, and it helped her develop her career goals.

“Mental health is a huge community issue that many who don’t feel affected by it overlook. I want to bring to light more problems in the community because I now know that there are people who are willing and eager to help others..I want to do more to raise awareness, and now I feel like I really can,” said Riva.

“By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Sheila Smith, chief financial officer and interim chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Riva has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.”

The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.

About the Girl Scout Gold Award
The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting; it recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have successfully answered the call to go gold, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world. For more information about the Gold Award, visit girlscoutsnca.org/gogold.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Huntsville Senior Earns Gold Award for Animal Hope Chest Project

Isis, a senior at Bob Jones High School, recently earned 

the Girl Scout Gold Award. Isis earned her Gold Award for her project the Animal Hope Chest. Her project focused on educating people about animal cruelty and adoption. She held educational sessions where professional speakers taught attendees about animal care. Each person left with a bag of age-appropriate information about animal care, strays and adoption. Through her project Isis learned networking and public speaking skills, and she now wants to help her community in any way she can.

“I am looking forward for more projects to come, and I am definitely excited for what the Animal Hope Chest will do for animals of all kinds, everywhere,” said Isis.

“By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Sheila Smith, chief financial officer and interim chief executive office of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Isis has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.”

The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.

About the Girl Scout Gold Award
The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting; it recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Since 1916, girls have successfully answered the call to go gold, an act that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their communities and the world. For more information about the Gold Award, visit girlscoutsnca.org/gogold.

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Gadsden Girl Scout Earns Gold Award with Clothes Closet Project

Karen, a graduate of Gadsden City High School, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Karen earned her Gold Award for her project Clothes for All. She focused on providing clothes for people who were in need because of house fires or other extenuating circumstances. Karen raised awareness about her project using word-of-mouth and flyers. She coordinated the donation of supplies to build an area for the clothes, plus she organized volunteers to help with the clothes closet. Karen’s project will be sustained by the youth of Bellevue Baptist Church so people will continue to benefit from her efforts.

“I hope that those that we help will be touched and be able to help someone else down the road as we have helped them,” said Karen.

“By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Sheila Smith, chief financial officer and interim chief executive office of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Karen has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.”

The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.