Friday, September 2, 2016

Homewood Girl Scout Earns Gold Award by Prepping At-Risk Children for Kindergarten

Isabel Estes, a junior at Homewood High School, recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. Estes earned her Gold Award for her project, “Vamos a la Escuela” which addressed the lack of readiness that Hispanic children often experience when entering kindergarten. Estes worked with HICA, the Hispanic Interest Coalition, to create a camp to teach children skills such as using scissors, identifying colors or simply being away from their family, that are often missed when children don’t attend a preschool.  

“As I continued both in Girl Scouts and observing community issues, I heard a conversation that peaked my interest about how some children who head to kindergarten have never been in any type of school setting,” Estes said. “I wondered how they knew how to “get in line” or “be a scissors monitor” since those aren’t things you would hear in a home setting.”



“[By completing this project] I feel like I realized that I am a leader. I gained confidence in speaking, in setting up meetings, in following through and figuring out what to do when things don’t go as planned.”

Estes plans to share her lesson plans with her church, school and other places in her community to hopefully be an inspiration to continue. She plans to continue the project in Homewood in 2017.

“By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Karen Peterlin, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, “Isabel 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
Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. They are our future, and it looks bright! To learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award, visit girlscoutsnca.org.

About Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama
We're over 14,000 strong—9,500 girls and 5,000 adults in 36 counties in the state of Alabama who believe girls can change the world. It began over 100 years ago with one woman, Girl Scouts' founder Juliette Gordon "Daisy" Low, who believed in the power of every girl. She organized the first Girl Scout troop on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, and every year since, we've made her vision a reality, helping girls discover their strengths, passions, and talents.


Today we continue the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is a United Way partner. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscoutsnca.org or call 800-734-4541.