Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Paige Jegierski of Alden, NY, as a 2021 Gold Award Girl Scout. Paige is from Troop 31902 and has been a member of Girl Scouts for 13 years.

What Paige said about Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts has made me appreciate everything I have and has taught me to be kind to everyone. Through Girl Scouts, I have participated in a great deal of community service and I am confident that I will continue assisting people in any way that I can in my future. I have also learned many things on the fun and informative field trips I attended, and I have made many long-lasting friendships.

Project: Community Theater Mural and Improvement Project

For my Gold Award Project, I renovated the backyard area behind the Alden Christian Theater Society building in my town. I fundraised by hosting an art auction. This was incredible because my community rallied behind my project and donated over 110 pieces of handmade artwork, jewelry, photography, and crafts. A group of volunteers helped me repair the fence and clear the yard of litter and debris. I then organized painting days with the members of the Rising Stars Theater Program and painted panels to attach onto the fence. These panels were covered in colorful murals that consisted of different symbols from shows we have performed in the past.

I worked with the Alden Art Club, the Alden Garden Club, and the Rising Stars Program in order to complete my project. My project impacted the community by creating a safe and visually pleasing environment in the village for people to enjoy. I chose my project because it benefitted a theater that has given me so much and I was able to incorporate my love of art to make a difference in my community!

About the Gold Award

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.

For more information on the Gold Award, click here.