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.