The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Girl Scouts earn Gold Awards
HARTFORD — Two area youth recently achieved Girl Scout Gold Award status, the highest honor bestowed upon young women members of the leadership development and community service organization.
Emily Rovillo of East Hampton and Erin Prendergast of Essex were among Girl Scouts in grades nine through 12 who have spend at least 80 hours researching issues, assessing community needs and resources, building a team, and making a sustainable impact in the community, according to a news release.
A Gold Award Girl Scout’s accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart as a community leader, the release continued. Girl Scouts of Connecticut honored the 70 Gold Awardees June 3.
Prendergast created a music club at her local high school to help her fellow classmates get recognized for their leadership actions in band. Because of this, students were missing out on earning credit toward acceptance in larger organizations, like various honor societies and scholarship committees, according to Girl Scouts.
The club also participated in a community service can drive and held a benefit recital. Because of Prendergast’s initiative, her school and community were able to appreciate the leadership opportunities that membership in band offers students. She mentored a younger student in her club who will take over the club after she graduates.
Prendergast attends the University of Connecticut as a flute performance major and accounting minor.
Rovillo addressed the lack of awareness her community had about what the Connecticut Humane Society does for sheltered animals. She also wanted to help new adopters feel comfortable in their new role, according to Girl Scouts. She filmed, directed and edited training and craft videos that educated the public on what the Connecticut Humane Society does to help sheltered animals and how to take care of newly-adopted pets.
The videos were a success, and the Connecticut Humane Society is changing the design of its website to make the videos more easily accessible to the public, according to the release.
Rovillo plans on pursuing a career in film and design.
“I am so proud of all of our Gold Award Girl Scouts for taking the lead and spending over 80+ hours solving real problems in their communities,” Mary Barneby, CEO, Girl Scouts of Connecticut, said in a prepared statement.
“Nationally, less than 6 percent of girls earn the highest award in Girl Scouting. By earning this award, Girl Scouts set themselves apart as leaders in their community and true examples of go-getters, innovators, risk-takers and leaders,” Barneby added.
For information, visit gsofct.org.