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- Girl Scout Gold Awardees 2011-2012
Girl Scout Gold Awardees 2011-2012
Natalie Abatte
Cranberry Twp., PA
Natalie develped a lesson plan based on feeling and how to deal with them for 3 & 4 year olds as part of a troop project that incorporated an opening, closing lesson, coloring pages, parent letters, a website and a graduation ceremony so parents can help reinforce what was learned. All based around Maggie the cow and her barnyard buddies. She plans on continuing lessons with the 4 year olds despite her project being done.
Rachael Agnello
Cranberry Twp., PA
Rachael was inspired by the group Satchels of Caring which provides cancer patients in the Pittsburgh area with a hand made satchel and items to help them cope. She researched copyright laws then created relaxing musical cds by playing selections of classical music both on the piano and flute, had them professionally recorded, and included them in the 100 sachels her troop created. Sharing how to particiapte in Satchels of Caring was also part of her Gold efforts to several local groups both business and community based.
Ashley Altieri
Carnegie, PA
Ashley devised a fun and creative way for people to learn about their environment an the plants around them. She designed and created informative flower and plant podiums and placed them throughout the Panhandle Trail along with an online GPS coordinated list and map for people to use to locate the podiums.
Ashley Anderson
Finleyville, PA
Lindsay created art appreciation classes for pre-schoolers at St. Joan of Arc School along with painting a mural of Noah's Ark on the wall in their play room. The project was near and dear to her heart since this was the room she used to stay in while attending an after school program when she was little. She considered giving back and encouraging the kids to appreciate art the most sucessful part of her project.
Sarah Aravich
Dubois, PA
Sarah restored the stations of the Cross at St. Joseph cemetary in Dubois to their original condition and taught a class on the stations once the restoration was complete through a scavenger hunt.
Abby Beckwith
Tarentum, PA
In an effort to address community needs, Abby chose to be a part of a team that revamped three areas of Deer Lakes Park. She added a flower bed, birds houses, benches, (which were placed so elderly as well as parents could take advantage of them) repainted all playground equipment, sanded and painted 50 picnic tables (after removing rusty nails, staples and thumbtacks). Further enhancing safety for those attending the park, she cleaned and painted 10 fire hydrants bright colors so they could be easily located if needed.
Kinberlee Bell
Ford City, PA
Kimberlee's project encompased building a sandbox and picnic table, staining the horse areana, painting apavilion resoring picnic tables and celebrating the renvoations with a grand opening picnic for kids.
Taylor Bell
Irwin, PA
Taylor's project focused on her stong religious background and working with children. She held two mini-camps during the summer to teach the children about Judaism and Israel (the Jewish homeland).
Selina Bitting
Gibsonia, PA
Selina's project forcused on providing homes for birds in her local area. Her own neighborhood had been a forest before being developed for homes. She held several birdhouse workshops for her nighborhood as well as her Girl Scout community to encourage new homes for the misplaced birds.
Sadie Caccimelio
Chalk Hill, PA
Sadie fused her love of art and reading into "Reading Around the World" mural at the Uniontown Salvation Army. Upon completion she hosted an open house to introduce children to the reading room.
Paige Nichole Campbell
Gibsonia, PA
Paige was inspired by her mother, a retiree from the US Army, to work with the Butler VA Medical Center to help with entertaining patients. She established a media drive, held in conjunciton with Veterans day and was guest speaker at her school.
Danielle Carlson
Ridgway, PA
Danielle, an accomplish musician, chose to share her talents with the students of Francis S. Grandinette Elementary School Choir to help them with practise and plan a performance for their fellow students and their families held in May of 2011.
Devin Carr
Cheswick, PA
Devin chose to train "Tucker" as a certified therapy dog to better the lives of people living in nursing homes. Devin also set u booths at the WPKA Dog Show and the Deer Lakes High School Volunteer Fair to educatioe other through their own dogs.
Alison Chesky
Trafford, PA
Alison chose to address the issue of self-esteem girls have when moving from late elementary school through middle school and into high school. She focaused on low self-confidence in pre-teen/teen girls through a three day workshop for girls entering 5th-9th grades which focused on accepting yourself as a unique and special individual.
Kattie-Jo Clark
Vanderbilt, PA
Kattie-Jo chose to work with children in art expression and a way to deal with stress through art. She shared many different forms of art and encouraged the kids to work in different mediums at the Carnegie Free Library in Connellsville.
Catherine Clements
Ligonier, PA
Catherine installed a playground at the Darlington Baseball fields and threw a grand opening with an egg hunt for the community.
Samantha Conklin
Russell, PA
Samantha utilized local business, friends and family as resources while undertaking the restoration of a local Howitzer cannon. This project was quite extensive and required sandblasting equipment to remove layer of old paint. Samantha's goal was to not only update the cannon's appearance but to promote community awareness of honoring verterans and volunteering opportunities.
Cassandra Lynn Cook
Butler, PA
Cassandra chose to plant a Colonial garden at Succup Concervancy by building a greenhouse to grow seedlings, while training others how to grow seedlings, then later, to transplant and to plant vegetables in the garden. She also met the challenge of controlling deer and groundhogs by fencing in selected plants.
Laura Anne Cottington
Cranberry Twp., PA
Laura Anne helped turn a weather-worn pavilion into an outdoor oasis at St. Barnabas Nursing Home in Richland Township. In addition to repainting the pavillion, planting a large vegetable garen, a herb garden, rebuilt the wishing well, she also added perenial flowers and plants beside the pavillion. A ribbon cutting rededication ceremony culminated the project.
Anna Coutsoumbis
Monroeville, PA
Anna hosted a four day basketball clinic. With the help of her high school team, she exposed the kids to basic ball handling drills, shooting and passing drills and plenty of exercise to help them with fitness.
Jordan Curry
Monongahela, PA
Jordan led a project where students of the Ringold School District recorded various reading and interest levels onto CD's the result of 250 "talking books" to help Ethiopian students with learning English while practicing their diction, improving their fluency and grammar. JOrdan had the opportunity to travel to and spend 3 weeks i Mizan Teferi, Ethiopia where she spent her stay organizing and distributing not only her 250 talking books but 5000 other books sent from Afica Reads.
Anastasia Cygnarowicz
Pittsburgh, PA
Anastasia chose to give back to her community through restoing the kitchen and community room of the Ingram Community Room. This project enabled her to share valuable life skills with a teenage volunteer group she led through the process of restoration.
Rachel Dabney
Coraopolis, PA
Rachel addressed the issues of High School with her project "High School 101". Along with 9 other Junior and Senior students, 8th graders were guided through 5 general topics, over a 2 day period, that would help them transition from middle school to high school. She also created a video with interviews from teachers and students asking advice and their favorite part of high school was.
Rebecca Davis
Clearfield, PA
Rebecca teamed up with local professionals to develop a brochure (and run a clinic) that can be used by area socer coaches with their players to teach strength training and stretching routines. She was very concerned abut preventing injuries of young player because of inadequate basic stretching and strengthening routines. Rebecca suffered numerous injuries that could have been prevented by these routines.
Jenna DeLozier
Duncansville, PA
Jenna's project consisted of building 52 birdhouses and 10 feeders that were put up around the Holidaysburg Veterans Home so the birds would stop destroying local crops on the campus. She also donated a bird watching kit that contained 4 book on birds and 4 binoculars to the residents so they can enjoy the birds.
Nikkolette Diehl
Duncansville, PA
Nikkolette's community issue was providing comfort in a time of need. She rallied her community for support in creating comfort bags for children in an emergency foster care situation and rape victims so they had dignity. Each bag included numerous essential items, such as pajamas or a sweat suits, a stuffed animal or a journal & pen and toiletries.
Rose Dixon
Mars, PA
Rose worked with fellow Girl Scouts to turn a weather-worn pavilion into an outdoor oasis at St. Barnabas Nursing Home in Richland Township. In addition to repainting the pavilion, planting a large vegetable garden and an herb garden, she also added perennial flowers and next to the pavilion. A ribbon cutting re-dedication ceremony culminated the project.
Jennifer DoVale
Wexford, PA
Jennifer created the outdoor games for St. Alexis bible camp. She created games that symbolize bible stories and made a book for games as a resource for future bible camps.
Natalie Drissler
Pittsburgh, PA
Natalie's goal was to teach 2nd graders at Avonworth that hands on activities can be both fun and rewarding, while learning the importance of working together. Together with the 2nd graders she built a butterfly garden using plants that connect the butterfly and it's life cycles. The class donated many of the plants and parents even helped with gardening tools and expert advice. Now the next classes will be able to enjoy the butterfly garden for years to come.
Bryton Dybowski
Ridgway, PA
Bryton designed a butterfly garden for the elementary school in Ridgeway so that they could take their curriculum outdoors. With the help of many volunteers she created walkways, prepared the soil and planted flowers as well as setting up butterfly boxes and hummingbird feeders. The garden is giving teachers and students new methods of learning about our environment.
England Fields
Wexford, PA
Olivia Foss, Seven Fields, PA: Olivia, as part of a group project, addressed bullying in a daycare environment which is ofter overlooked for bullying curriculum. After researching and finding nothing available-she helped write a six session program for 3 year old and also for 4 year olds featuring Maggie the cow and her barnyard friends.
Molly Freehling
Saxonburg, PA
Molly revamped outdoor equipment and wooden gazebo that children use daily at the Concordia Childcare center. She was assisted by the children from the daycare in decorating the gazebo with their hand prints in yellow and orange in the shape of the sun.
Jennifer Gandolfi
Home, PA
Jennifer designed curriculum about parables for a week long vacation bible school for Plumville Presbyterian Church. She directed 30 volunteers and 43 children and coordinated all of the details, including sending invitations and pamphlets to prospective students, designing the event T-shirt, coordinating meals and planning lessons.
Julia Gauthier
McMurray, PA
Julia helped ope the doors of Animal Friends in Washington County through first taking some training herself, then helping the area residents understand what Animals Friends does and how to prepare yourself for pet adoption at a Community days event. She helped more than 500 visitors through the course of the day.
Anna Goetler
Gibsonia, PA
Anna addressed the issue of violence in her community and how it affects children. She created a Toy lending library for VOICe, the Victim Outreach Intervention Center, a shelter for survivors and victims of violent crime.
Allison Green
North Huntington, PA
Allison's project addressed the issue of lack of resources for underprivileged mothers. A community wide donation drive and special baby shower helped these stressed and overworked mothers feel appreciated.
Kristen Harig
Sandy Lake, PA
Kristen's two projects included building and erecting a sign for the entrance to her community and writing and presenting a program on drug and alcohol abuse to Lakeview eighth graders.
Julia Hayko
Corapolis, PA
Julia helped Harrison Hills Park educate children of the community about local birds, including identification of each species, their habitats, diets, sizes, and wingspans.
Heather Heitzenrater
Punxsutawney, PA
Heather wrote and illustrated a brochure on the coal mining towns in the Jefferson County area.
Jacqueline Marie Hetzler
Emlenton, PA
Jacqueline developed and led a Youth Cheerleading Camp in which seventy-four first through sixth graders gained self-esteem and confidence while working as in teams. They learned that physical fitness can be fun.
Rachel Heyse
Pittsburgh, PA
Rachel organized a World Culture Festival featuring booths from 21 countries, run by volunteers from various community groups. Over 200 people from the community attended.
Natalie J. Hilbert
North Versailles, PA
Natalie organized a three-day soccer clinic for over 250 children ages 4-14. She also organized a coaches clinic where high school coaches advised those who would be coaching younger children. She wrote a brochure that included common soccer terms, fundamentals of soccer, positions and basic soccer moves.
Kristen Hill
Monroeville, PA
Kristen organized a culturally diverse group of volunteers to provide an eight-day program of music, food, discussions, travel videos, cultural dress, books, pictures, crafts and live performances for elderly residents of Cedars of Monroeville. She also prepared a binder that catalogs all the activities and materials used so that the event can be done in the future.
Jenna Horomanski
Monroeville, PA
Jenna worked through the Monroeville Public Library to present three events for children, Word Bingo, World Craft Day, and Olympics, to help them learn the importance and significance of diversity. Jenna created a scrapbook of the events and donated it to the library.
Emily C. Huwe
Pittsburgh, PA
Emily planted a perennial gardens on the grouns of the Kearns Spirituality Center to provide fresh flowers for guests' rooms. She then formed a garden club for 3rd and 4th graders at Providence Heights Alpha School. The students learned about gardening and tend the garden at the Spirituality Center.
Chelsea Jones
Johnstown, PA
Chelsea organized and supervised the sewing of approximately 75 caps from cotton t-shirts for chemotherapy patients. She also shared information on the signs/symptoms of cancer with members of her community and church family.
Sarah Jugovic
Pittsburgh, PA
Sarah organized her community in the production of twelve crocheted sleeping mats from recycled plastic bags (1,000 bags per mat) for the homeless as well as collecting toiletries for them. The mats were donated to Operation Safety Net. Mat making starter kits were distributed to the Jubilee Soup Kitchen, public libraries and other Girl Scout troops.
Mary Kafferlin
Spring Creek, PA
Mary created a Pennsylvania history timeline which she coordinated books in the Corry Public Library to help children discover their past. She created puppets, puzzles, and coloring pages, painted the ceiling of the library's discovery room, and developed and performed a story time for children.
Carley Kastriba
North Huntington, PA
Carley designed and completed 50 lap quilts. Volunteers helped by donating fabric and time. The quilts were given to residents of Juniper Village.
Brady Keister
Warren, PA
Brady organized the refurbishing of a howitzer cannon, researched its history to help the community understand its importance, and planned a dedication ceremony.
Elizabeth Martina Keller
Venetia, PA
Elizabeth (Lizzie,) in her concern for children who could drown because they don't know how to swim enough to save themselves, devised a program to eliminate fear of water and to teach swimming rudiments to children 2-5 years old. Through water toys and games, the children learned not to panic when they fall into water and learned how to float, tread water, and swim to the side of the pool.
Pauline Grace Keppler
Johnstown, PA
Pauline rejuvenated the hallways at the Cambria County Christian School with paint and creativity. The walls and lockers were painted and murals and paw prints completed the new look.
Melina King
Natrona Heights, PA
Melina chose Music as her passion and taught children music appreciation and self confidence through a series of classes which culminated with a performance and an ice cream social for all attending. She also added a recycle theme and participant donated recycled items and non perishable food item for their local food bank.
Anne Kisak
Glenshaw, PA
Because of the lack and sporadic pattern of pleasure reading in teens, they only use the library for school work or popular fiction. Anne marketed the use of the library with posters and blogs about the current hit book, pairing one book or series with another, and "stepping up" to a higher age group.
Rachel Kmetz
Dunbar, PA
Rachel built six boxes for the wood duck of Fayette county to have a safe place to lay their eggs and raise their young. She also built a bat box large enough to hold 500 bats, plus three smaller boxes to be placed around ponds in State Game Land 51. She also contributed five bat boxes to people in her neighborhood. She educated people on the value of bats, each one eating up to 500 mosquitoes each hour. Rachel also held a fishing clinic where children learned safety guidelines, baiting, casting, and how to take fish off their hooks.
Emma P. Knox
Grove City, PA
With the help of family and friends, Emma installed a new sidewalk, a seating area, and landscaping for the Harrisville United Methodist Church.
Mary C. Komandt
Delmont, PA
Mary planned and executed an 8-day camp for 91 students at the Clelian Heights School for Exceptional Children. Activities included those that were physical, singing and playing music, reading, and making a variety of crafts. A total of 13 volunteers helped with the camp. The student's self-esteem raised as they made their crafts and participated successfully in the physical activities.
Beth Kopczyk
Indiana, PA
Beth painted rooms at Birthright of Indiana County, made a promotional DVD, a PowerPoint presentation and a financial brochure. She also held a clothing/diaper drive and refinished a chair.
Angela M. Kovac
Butler, PA
Angela held a five-day STEM camp that she called "A LEAFY STEM" (Artistic, Leadership Education for Ambitious Female Youth in Science.) She led the elementary-aged girls through activities that helped them gain a greater appreciation for STEM. She planned, organized and led the activities.
Emma Jean Kulik Dickson
North Huntington, PA
Emma's project provided Underprivileged mothers with a S.I.D.s speaker to help new mothers learn about proper sleeping techniques and how to prevent SIDS during a baby shower that she threw for them. She also included a bathing demonstration as well as supplies from a baby drive she coordinated in her school district. Each mother was given a bag filled with supplies to help her take care of their newborn and other essential items were raffled off and 32 baskets each with a separate themes were given away.
Alexa Jewel Kunkle
Creekside, PA
Alexa organized and directed a sleepover for girls ages 7-14 where they learned fire safety, first aid, and street safety, taught by professionals. She created a Health and Safety Coloring Book. The books were distributed through the Marion Center schools, the Alice Paul House, and Children and Youth.
Kayley Kuntz
Mars, PA
As her Girls Scout troop met in the building of the MySchool Preschool, Kaley noticed the peeling paint and outdated look. She improved the appearance of the building by priming and painting a hallway wall, painted jungle themed artwork in a bathroom and repainted shapes on the floor. She also led stories, songs, crafts, and games related to her jungle-themed project at local libraries and daycare centers.
Maria Lang
Dubois, PA
Maria Set up and orienteering course at the Parker Dam State Park and led several groups through the course.By creating a brochure, Maria made sure that the orienteering course can now be a self guided tour.
Erin Nicole Lockhart
Franklin, PA
Erin created family night at the local mall where parents and kids could interact and spend quality time together through crafts and educational projects.
Harshitha Mannam
Sewickley, PA
Harshitha 's project focused on educating Pittsburgh resident at the Northland Public Library, the Library staff and some Boy Scouts about CPR through the American Heart Associations learning tool kit (CPR Anytime Personal Learning Program Kit) The Kits included a DVD and a manikin and all attendees who participated are now educating friends and family with their kits. She also conducted classes in Chittoor, India in different schools in her native language. The schools are now incorporating CPR as part of their Physical Education Department.
Alyssa Manzion
Wexford, PA
Alyssa's project addressed the need for a recreational program for women veterans who are often overlooked. After extensive research and interviews, Alyssa designed a program to increase socialization, promote more physical activity and help increase overall well being for women residents in the VA hospital.
Kaila Marunjak
Dunbar, PA
Kaila remodeled a room at the local Salvation Army for kids and expressed her creativity through paint and attention to detail while furnishing the room to better educate the kids who attend program there.
Elizabeth Matthews
Allison Park, PA
Because young children are not exposed to Spanish in her community, Elizabeth planned a fiesta to enrich their knowledge of the language and culture. Through a variety of games, food, songs, dance and crafts, the children learned about both. Elizabeth also prepared a workbook containing the instructions for the fiesta activities as well as additional ones. She created a website to allow children to continue to learn.
Megan Matthews
Pittsburgh, PA
Megan fulfilled a need within a refugee Community to help young children assimilate totheir new country. She worked with them on reading, attending cultural events and simply talking. Megan created a resource guide and educated others in the community around her so that more refugees may be helped.
Kaitlin McDermott
Cranberry Twp, PA
Kaitlin was part of the group who worked with Satchels of Caring. She held a workshop to teach younger girls how to sew and make gift tags, personally created 20 bags and designed and printed note cards.
Jenna McLay
Zelienople, PA
Residents of the Passavant Retirement community in Zelienople traveled with Jenna eleven times, via pictures in power point presentations, refreshments, props, and word searches created by her.
Kelsey Milhalcin
Beaver Falls, PA
Working with the Tiger Pause organization for underprivileged children in Beaver Falls, Kelsey developed the "Pause for Fun Art Club." Their first project was a Noah's Ark mural in a new meeting area.
Audrey Miller
Bethel Park, PA
Audrey collected 100 bottles of chewable vitamins for children in Nicaragua, produced colorful posters in Spanish to educate and motivate children to take their vitamins. She contacted people who will be going to Nicaragua to encourage them to add vitamins to their lists of items to provide for children there.
Katherine Miller
Cranberry Twp., PA
Katharine and her Girl Scout troop created and implemented a preschool anti-bullying program that focused on friendship, acceptance, emotions, self-control, and conflict resolution, using their mascot Maggie the Cow and her Barnyard Buddies. Katharine created the lesson on friendship, teaching what it means to be a friend, making new friends and including everyone as friends.
Caitlin Miller
Union City, PA
Caitlin provided table space for computers, made a sign for young adults, and created a Facebook page for the Union City Public Library. She also designed a homework pamphlet and held a presentation to promote it.
Ella Miller
Creighton, PA
Ella and her Girl Scout Troop, after recruiting volunteers, restored Deer Lakes Park, Groves Carp 1, 2 and 3. They planted flowers at all park signs, sanded, cleaned, and painted playground equipment, built and placed 18 bird houses, restore and painted 50 picnic tables and cleaned and painted 10 fire hydrants.
Paige Minor
Portage, PA
Paige held a volleyball camp for grades 7, 8, and 9. Contacting girls, distributing flyers, and preparing the camp program, and enlisting volunteers were all part of the project.
Beth Molnar
Portage, PA
In order to insure the volleyball team would continue to succeed, Beth organized and led a camp to teach young girls volleyball fundamentals. Each skill that was taught had multiple games and sessions.
Elena Maria Mroczko
Pittsburgh, PA
After recruiting volunteers Elena designed and built a quiet and welcoming space for 60 students age 1,3,4 to read at St. John Fisher Preschool. The Book Nook encourages the children to read.
Danielle Mueller
Manor, PA
Danielle enlisted friends to help her make 140 burp cloths for mothers who might not be able to afford them. The cloths were donated to Women's Choice Network, a center that cares for underprivileged mothers. Each cloth was sewn with love and hope.
Victoria Rose Mustovic
Mars, PA
Victoria refurbished the library at the Evergreen Nursing Center in Harmony by collecting over 500 books and books on tape, donating and decorating book shelves, as well as providing equipment to play the books on tape. She hung photographs she took on the library walls and founded a book club.
Jenna Nelson
Wexford, PA
Jenna planned a weekend retreat for high school girls that included talks and activities that highlighted true beauty, womanhood, and faith. The girls who attended learned that they were all beautiful and loved by God and others, despite society's definition of beauty.
Bernadette Nollinger
Russell, PA
Bernadette and other members of her troop refurbished a howitzer cannon that is the centerpiece for the community Memorial Day celebration. Bernadette did the landscaping around the cannon. She poured a base, mulched around and under it as well as placing gathered stones in the wall that encircles the cannon.
Erin Norton
Knox, PA
Erin and volunteers scraped, sanded, power washed,replaced boards and painted 25 picnic tables at the Peanut Park in Knox. She solicited free materials from Rhea Lumber, Home Depot and the Civic Club. Erin also taught younger girl scouts how to make gingerbread houses and managed kid's games at a winter carnival.
Sarah O'Hearn
Greensburgh, PA
Sarah helped senior citizens at Pershing Square, gain and improve their computer skills. She held six classes teaching basic Word and internet skills. She developed a manual for the Pershing Square residents to follow.
Andrea J. Orochen
Beaver, PA
Annie researched activities and recipes from the 1920s and organized and trained the volunteers who helped young girls as the colored paper dolls, made cloche hats and paper flowers, cooked authentic 1920s food, and learned the famous Charleston dance.
Kelly Ostrowski
New Castle, PA
Kelly partnered with the Lawrence County Children"s Advocacy Center, sewing 50 flannel baby blankets and collecting children's books. She organized a drive for book bags and school supplies for needy families, as well as an Easter egg hunt. She also prepared a power point presentation to educate parents on Sun Safety, including samples of sun screen.
Sydney Owens
Wexford, PA
Sydney chose to create a gathering place for residents of St. Barnabas. With the help of others in her troop, she planted raised gardens, rebuilt a wishing well, painted banisters, sanded picnic tables and painted a pavilion. Four handmade stepping stones show four themes of the Gold Award: Become, Belong, Believe and Build.
Jacquelyn Palgua
Wexford, PA
Jacquelyn helped create a gathering place for residents of St. Barnabas with other members of her troop. Her part included beautifying the school yard by cleaning the area, planting flowers, adding edging and yard decorations, cleaning birdbaths and statues. She led Eden Hall 6th grade students in painting flower pots, bird houses and garden label sticks, and helped prepare the dedication ceremony.
Mary Palko
Pittsburgh, PA
Through an interactive program Mary and her recruited volunteers and taught children ages 3-8 the value of respect, responsibility, honesty, perseverence and teamwork at two day care centers.
Lindsey Patton
Pittsburgh, PA
Concern for Alzheimer's patients inspired Lindsey's project, making 30 blankets for residents of HCR ManorCare in Whitehall. The blankets are made from two pieces of soft, fleece in vibrant colors of red, orange, and brown stripes. She recruited and trained 12-year-old girls in the correct way to make the blankets, produced a brochure, and spoke to several groups on the importance of remembering those in nursing homes with visits and activities.
Annaliese Phelps
Pittsburgh, PA
Annaliese galvanized her community to participate in Earth Day by Adopting-A-Highway for three years and collecting over 100 bags of trash. They also collected five truck loads of used electronics that will be recycled through Goodwill Industries, providing jobs for people and keeping e-waste from landfills. Annaliese gave each of her volunteers a Norway Spruce tree sapling to plant. She also published a pamphlet and a coloring book to educate both children and adults.
Samantha Pikras
Pittsburgh, PA
Samantha organized and conducted a Lacrosse Camp for young girls in the Upper St. Clair area in order to motivate volunteers and begin a youth Lacrosse program there.
Chloe Pizor
Slippery Rock, PA
After seeing a wall of crosses in a New Mexico church, Chloe chose to create a Crosswall in her church, the North Liberty Presbyterian Church. She taught cross design to 60 children at Vacation Bible School. Families devised unique crosses that represented them and hung them on the Crosswall. Chloe made a scrapbook with a picture, the family name and significance of each cross.
Gretchen Plant
Wexford, PA
Gretchen helped 21 families at HEARTH (a charity that helps homeless women with children become self-sufficient) be able to decorate their new homes and begin new Christmas traditions. She held a shower to thank the donors of decorations who were made aware of homelessness and the mission of HEARTH.
Michele Polakowski
Natrona Heights, PA
In order to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease, Michele collected family recipes from her community and posted them in an online blog. She also planned and organized a "Cook-Off" with young children, raising awareness of the disease and how to prevent its progression.
Melissa Puppo
McKees Rocks, PA
Melissa held an event for second and third graders at an animal shelter. The children learned how to keep pets safe, about wild animal safety, how to properly meet a people-friendly dog, and other fun activities. The event gave Brownies and Cub Scouts an opportunity to work on their badges.
Megan Quinlan
Venetia, PA
Megan created a science fair for students at the Peters Township Middle School in order to expose them to the scientific method. Pairing each of the 30 students with a high school honors mentor enabled the youth to learn to apply the universal scientific method to projects that they presented at the school's science fair. A similar event will be sponsored by the teachers every two years in the future.
Rebekah Radyansky
Vanderbilt, PA
Rebekah solicited sewing items and material from members of her church from which she created 50 personal "Ditty Bags" for residents of Mt. St. Macrina Manor. The bags are large enough to hold personal items, Bibles, magazines, etc., and have a special pocket for eyeglasses. The long handles can hook onto wheelchairs. Rebekah personally presented the bags and met a resident who is a Girl Scout of many years, and they continue to keep in touch. Rebekah also made at least six presentations to groups to show how the bags can be made.
Emily Rankin
Natrona, PA
Emily held a Civil War Day camp for children ages 7-12. Activities included: Civil War period dancing, drilling, baseball. The ate period food and looked at Civil War period artifacts. The boys played marbles and made Lincoln hats and the girls learned fan etiquette and made fans. Civil War Re-enactors from the 78th PVI Freeport company F supported her efforts.
Rose Reed
Cresson, PA
Rose created a book showcasing Vietnam Era Veterans who had ties to Cresson Area to showcase and honor the vets who were not respected for their service so that a part of history and their lives, memories and experiences may live on.
Sarah Ritchie
Seven Fields, PA
Sarah worked with the Korean Catholic Community in Pittsburgh to encourage 2nd and 3rd graders to embrace their diversity. She provided a space for learning by collecting school supplies and painting shelves. She wrote a short story that she presented to the students about standing up to bullying and accepting diversity.
Jennifer Sager
Irwin, PA
Jennifer renovated the social hall in Paintertown Lutheran Church, by recruiting volunteers, painting the walls, scrubbing the floors, and painting a huge rainbow mural on one wall. She then taught the children about the meaning of rainbows.
Lindsay Schich
Pittsburgh, PA
Lindsay provided a dance and ice cream social for the senior citizens of her church. After researching the 1950s era, she created sand and carnation centerpieces that looked like ice cream sundaes. The banana splits, ice cream and brownie sundaes were big hits. Borrowed CDs provided the 50s popular music hits for dancing. The successful event will be duplicated again next year.
Natalie Schwer
St. Marys, PA
Concered about children's illiteracy in her area, Natalie made audio CDs of seven children's books to enable children to listen as they read. She also created fun activities incorporating counting, hands-on projects and games for each book. She then made a bag to hold all the materials for each book. The materials were donated to the library where Natalie worked with children to introduce the books.
Sierra Seath
Erie, PA
Sierra taught 20 dancing sessions to young children at various locations, including teaching ballroom dancing children with autism. The classes increased physical activity, introduced the children to fine arts, and enabled them to have fun.
Katelin Serody
Wexford, PA
Katie organized a day of service in honor of Martin Luther King. 64 students and 15 teachers worked to benefit 8 organizations that help the homeless, the poor, the elderly, and animals. An impressive list includes 100 bagged lunches, 15 scarves made, 2000 children's books collected, 200 pairs of shoes collected, 12 fleece blankets assembled, 12 birdhouses buildt, dog treats and cat toys made, and 20 girls' dresses sewn from pillowcases.
Michelle Severa
McMurray, PA
Michelle's project brought to the attention of about 500 people the value of neutering and spaying animals.t She prepared signs, flyers, and postcards to attrach visitors to her booth at the Peter's Township Community Day celebration. The visitors picked up animal silly bands and literature on Animal Friends, as well as doing a coloring game with children.
Rebecca Olivia Sirey
Portersville, PA
Using interviews, photographs and census materials, Rebecca created a book memorializing those buried in the cemetary at the Portersville Presbyterian Church. The book paints a picture of who the people were and what they meant to the community and the church. It is placed in the church library and is being made available to interested community members.
Alyssa Shrump
Washinton, PA
Alyssa organized 19 volunteers to help her catalog photographs at the Washington County Historical Society. The phots were cataloged by identification, description and information. Each one was scanned to create a computer database and an archive binder was produced with all the information. The original photos will not have to be handled, thus preserving them. The photos were then put in an online exhibit. A flyer is now available to alert other historical societies to the exhibit.
Shannon Smith
Indiana, PA
Shannon recruited volunteers and planned activities for the residents at Beacon Ridge Skilled Nursing Facility, including a 1950s Sock Hop, a Carnival, a hawaiian Luau, and Christmas Caroling. Shannon created a Snapfish Photo book with all the pictures of the events for the residents. She also made a brochure and a DVD so that other scouts can learn how to something similiar.
Maria Spanoudakis
Apollo, PA
Maria wanted to create homes for Bluebirds in the Northmoreland Park area. With support of friends and family and the PA Game Commission she was able to build and install 50 Bluebird houses to help manage many bugs throughout the park and especially mosquitos in the lake area.
Bianca Stiffey
North, PA
Bianca organized many scout troops to visit nursing homes each week for five months, playing Bingo, eating, singing, making crafts, and Christmas caroling.
Jessica Swager
Natrona Heights, PA
Concerned about shut-ins who were identified as needing a blanket, Jessica sew patchwork quilts for them and then taught others how to do the same.
Tori Switzer
Knox, PA
Tori and volunteers scraped, sanded, power washed,replaced boards and painted 25 picnic tables at the Peanut Park in Knox. She solicited free materials from Rhea Lumber, Home Depot and the Civic Club. Tori conducted a safety course for volunteers because of the poor condition of the tables.
Sarah Tady
Tarentum, PA
Because she felt a lack of support for the arts, the community and the environment, Sarah built a stage out of environmentally friendly materials and organized a Grand Opening for the outdoor classroom at the Environmental Learning Center of Harrison Hills Park. Children can now sing, dance and play there.
Rikki Lynn Thomas
Union City, PA
Rikki built and puppet theater and stand for the Union City Public Library's downstairs play room. She then organized a fun night where children acted out books and girls from her scout troop performed skits with the puppets.
Alyssa Thornton
Venetia, PA
Noting the lack of enthusiasm for learning in the schools, Alyssa created two events to interactively demonstrate highlights of biology, chemistry, and physics. Helped by AP science student volunteers, they attracted children of all ages to the Science Discovery table. Alyssa also taught three one-hour workshops for middle school girls interested in science. She used discussion, observations, and small experiments to delve deeper into the sciences.
Shannon Truesdale
DuBois, PA
Shannon created butterfly flower beds and boxes to attract butterflys along with benches at her Church Christ Lutheran.
Abbey Turner
Renfrew, PA
Communication between the Butler Jr. Tennis Association, its players and the public grew through Abbey's project. She developed an email and Facebook account for the association, posting events about matches and practices, Volunteers were contacted to help with clinics and the summer tennis program was advertised with flyers and on the internet. The program grew significantly through Abbey's efforts.
Taylor VanHoose
Cranberry Twp., PA
Taylor supported the Satchels of Caring Foundation for women with cancer by collectng numerous donations of small personal care items to fill satchels and participated in completing 100 Satchels for the 100 years of Gil Scouting. She sewed 25 satchels herself and taught several local sewing classes how to make them and how to provide ongoing support.
Brianne Wagner
Windber, PA
Brianne designed and executed a mentoring program at her high school, pairing seniors and juniors with middle school students. The students achieved academic improvement as well as self confidence. Brianne continued to be a mentor during her senior year.
Theresa Walsh
Pittsburgh, PA
Theresa chose to help families through CYS (Children Youth and Family Services) She created and led a team from Kohl's to create shoe boxes filled with age-appropriate materials for toddlers, elementary aged children, and teenagers with items families can use to bond during special family time.
Shelby Welsh
Pittsburgh, PA
Shelby contacted and coordinated 57 volunteers to erect a permanent sign and landscape the South Park Theater grounds.
Jennifer Weyandt
White, PA
Jennifer placed a "peace pole" that said, "May peace prevail on earth," in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Sign Language at the domestic violence center. She distributed pamphlets to local churches, helped at the Domestic Violence booth at the Fayette County Fun Fest, overseeing games and awarding prizes. She also made awareness ribbons that were distributed throughout Fayette county and arranged for Domestic Violence personnel to present values programs at two elementary schools.
Samantha Weyers
Cranberry Twp., PA
Samantha with the colaboration of her troop created a bullying program for pre-schoolers in the hope that starting at a younger age the kids would be less effected by bullying as they grew up.
Sarah Whitaker
Dubois, PA
Sarah created a self-guided walking tour to 20 historical sites in DuBois. Working with the DuBois Historical Society and her school's Community Action Group, she developed a brochure for the tour. She held a preliminary walk and a kick-off walk and made presentations to the DuBois Revitalization Group and the DuBois Rotary Club. Brochures are available at the Historical Society.
Jessica White
Gibsonia, PA
Jessica chose to give back to her community through a huge project at Deer Lakes Park because of her interest in recycling and nature. She planted flowers, sanded cleaned and painted swing sets, monkey bars and a sliding board and additionally installed bird houses along with benches. Upon discovering a huge need she then refurbished 50 picnic tables by removing thousand of rusty staples thumbtacks and nails then repainting the tops and legs. They also repainted fire hydrants bright colors so they could be wasily located when needed.
Angel Wolfe
Brackenridge, PA
Angel planted a butterfly garden, taught local adults and teens how to plant, maintain, and then winterize a garden. She developed a butterfly program for children using crafts and activity books, including laminating butterfly fact cards.
