Twin girls earn Girl Scout Gold Award

Hannah and Hally Everett, seniors at Downingtown’s STEM Academy, both earned the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Hannah and Hally Everett, high school seniors at Downingtown’s STEM Academy, both earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, Girl Scouting’s highest honor. Both received their award at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania’s Gold Award Ceremony recently.

The Girl Scout Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. It recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through remarkable Take Action projects that have sustainable impact in their communities and beyond.

The Everett girls are members of Troop 41580, led by Marypat Ahern. Both girls also earned the Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards.

Hannah’s project focused on the U.S. military. Although unable to enter the military due to a concussion during high school, Hannah decided to commit her project to helping those who serve our nation. She spent more than 100 hours on her project, which had four main aspects. She led a team of high school students in the creation of 75 paracord bracelets, which servicemen and women can use for a variety of survival purposes when in the field. Additionally, Hannah and her team sewed 25 necktie coolers. In preparation for sending these items overseas, Hannah and her team also wrote over 100 cards and letters of appreciation to the U.S. military. She teamed with Operation Gratitude for delivery of the items. Finally, she developed a website and led sessions to help teenagers understand how important our military is and what they do. Hannah earned her award in April 2016.

Hannah will be attending West Chester University in the fall, planning to major in accounting and finance.

Hally spent her 80-hour project focused on beautifying the garden and enclosed outdoor space in the dementia unit at St. Martha’s Villa in Downingtown. Hally has an interest in the medical field

and gardening, and combined those interests to help her community. She led a team of high school students as they planted flowers, painted, weeded, trimmed, and improved the outdoor garden space for the dementia patients and their families to enjoy. In addition to the many hours spent on the garden over a 12-month time period, Hally also taught children and teenagers about gardening and dementia. Hally received her award at the GSEP ceremony in April 2017. Hally will be attending West Chester University in the fall, majoring in nursing.

Both girls will be graduating from Downingtown’s STEM Academy on June 6.

Hannah and Hally Everett