Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Grace Tabone of Grand Island, NY, as a 2021 Gold Award Girl Scout. Grace is from Troop 31157 and has been a member of Girl Scouts for 9 years.

What Grace said about Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts has given me many opportunities from STEM activities such as a Cybersecurity Day to volunteer initiatives like my Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards to political experiences like being a National Delegate and voting in the National Council Session. I believe that Girl Scouting has made me a stronger, more confident person because of the safe environment that Girl Scouts of the USA offers.

Project: The Importance of Physical Education During a Pandemic

I painted outdoor activities for Sacred Heart Villa School in Lewiston because they weren’t able to have gym classes due to COVID-19. Sherwin-Williams generously donated the paint and supplies.

I chose my project because I used to attend Sacred Heart and my brother currently attends the school. I wanted the students there to be able to have physical fitness during the pandemic. The purpose of the project was to give the students an opportunity develop their social and physical fitness skills. The project allows the students to have physical education classes while being socially distanced. I created a presentation for the school to ask permission to go through with my project. I contacted Sherwin-Williams to ask for donations. I painted the activities on the pavement with the help of two art teachers who volunteered to help.

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.