Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Elizabeth Faust of Orchard Park, NY, as a 2022 Gold Award Girl Scout. Elizabeth is a member of Troop 31273.

What Elizabeth said about Girl Scouts

Girl Scouting has been an activity that I have done throughout my time in school, from when I was in kindergarten to a current high school senior. Some of my closest friends have come from being in the same Girl Scout troop, and I always look forward to the Girl Scout activities we do together. I always have a wonderful time with the people I have met through Girl Scouts. Having a sense of belonging and community is something that is very important in my life, and Girl Scouts has provided just that.

Project: After School: Library Mindstorms Robotics Club

My Gold Award Project focused on increasing interest in STEM through a program run at the library. I was a part of a FIRST LEGO League Robotics League for several years, and I learned many things about how to build and run a robot from my time there. When I learned that the library bought a LEGO Mindstorms Robot and was trying to start a STEM program with it, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to continue to spread my love of coding and building with the LEGO Mindstorms Robot set.

At the Orchard Park Public Library, I worked with my local FIRST representatives to get some donated materials to help instruct children how to use and build these robots. With this project, I impacted the community by spreading my knowledge of LEGO Mindstorms robotics and promoting the STEM field in children in my community. 

About the Girl Scout 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.