Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Elizabeth Fairchild of Honeoye Falls, NY, as a 2020 Gold Award Girl Scout. Fairchild’s project, STEM at the Library, involved hosting a day of STEM activities at the Mendon Library and providing the library with STEM activities for the future.

Fairchild’s goal was to address the need for women in STEM fields and keep girls interested in STEM throughout their years in middle school. Fairchild stated, “They learned about different STEM topics, the problem with the shortage of women in STEM fields, and were inspired to continue STEM education and encourage other girls to be interested in STEM.”

Fairchild created a website that has all of her program plans on it along with other resources to help girls learn more about STEM. She also sent her program plans to other area libraries so they can use the activities. She will train someone to continue running STEM programs at the Mendon Library after she graduates.

Fairchild said, “I have learned so many life skills in Girl Scouts and I have bonded with many people. My Silver and Gold Awards helped me develop my leadership skills.”

By earning her Gold Award during the 2020 Girl Scouting year, Fairchild will be included in a virtual acknowledgment this June. All 2020 Gold Award Girl Scouts will receive the option to be a part of the 2021 in-person Gold Award ceremony next year to receive their Gold Award pin. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award in the world for girls. 

The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” A Girl Scout’s project should be something that a girl can be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action that encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. The project should also fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities and she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the most prestigious award in the world for girls, 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.

The Gold Award requires a Girl Scout to identify an issue and investigate it to understand what can be done to address the problem. The girl then forms a team to act as a support system, including a project advisor close to the issue who is not a troop leader or family member, while she leads the project. The Girl Scout creates a plan to ensure they know what steps they must tackle while working on the project. The Girl Scout submits a proposal for her project to her local Girl Scout council. After acceptance, the girl begins to work through the steps of their plan utilizing the assistance of her support team where necessary. Lastly, the project is used to educate and inspire others about the cause they are addressing.

To learn more, visit gswny.org.