Ashley, a Hoover High School graduate who plans to attend the University of
Alabama in the fall of 2013, recently
earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Ashley earned
her Gold Award for her project Tera’s Treasures. Her project focused on
providing the patients of Children’s Hospital an escape from their illnesses.
She organized a tie-dying party and a cookie/snow cone party for the children,
and she recruited several students and groups to help with her project,
including the Hoover Juniorettes, Hoover High School Ambassadors, Hoover High
School Chamber Choir and other Girl Scouts. They put together 175 toiletry kits
for the patients, and they provided 100 pillowcases and T-shirts to tie-dye.
The Hoover Juniorettes will sustain the project in the future. Ashley educated
those who helped with her project by giving them information about childhood
cancer and the Children’s Hospital cancer unit. Ashley’s project encouraged her
to pursue a career in this area. She even got to shadow a child life specialist
in the cancer unit one afternoon.
“You could
tell how much [the children] needed time away from all their tests and
sickness. If just for a little while, they had fun and there were lots of
smiled and laughter, even in the midst of bandages, wheelchairs and IV poles,”
said Ashley.
“By earning
the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Trish Coghlan, chief executive officer of the
Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Ashley 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.
