Recipients of the
2015 Gold Award
2015, Volume 5, Issue 1
Celebrating Girl Scouting’s Highest Achievement
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
1
Going for the
Gold
Earning Gold as a Girl Scout demands a high level of
determination and dedication.
Girls who are the recipients of the Girl Scout Gold
Award —the highest and most coveted honor—must
commit a significant amount of time and expertise to
developing a project that will positively impact their
communities. These girls also must demonstrate
their plans for sustainability of the work they’ve begun
without their ongoing involvement.
The ability of our Gold Award recipients to make a
positive and lasting impact on their communities
and become part of an illustrious group of Girl Scout
Alumnae is a tribute to the leadership skills they have
developed during their active Girl Scouting years.
These skills position them well to seek out and secure
college scholarships at world-renowned schools such
as the University of Michigan, Purdue University and
Western Michigan University.
Completion and submission of the Girl Scout Gold
Award Project Proposal asks for the following:
•
Basic personal information.
•
Completion dates for prerequisites such as two
Senior or Ambassador Journeys or one Journey
and the Girl Scout Silver Award.
•
A beginning and ending date for the project.
•
Names of individuals and organizations who also
will work with a girl on her project.
•
•
•
2
Title of the project, target audience and reasons for
selecting it.
A discussion of the strengths, talents and skills that
will be used, as well as skills that will be developed.
A description of the steps involved in putting the
project plan into action.
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
•
Names of people and organizations to be informed
and involved.
•
Estimate of overall project expenses and how
those costs will be met.
•
Methods or tools used to evaluate the project.
•
Description of how the project will be sustained.
•
Description of how others will be informed about
the project.
But wait…there’s more!
•
An interview about the project with Girl Scouts
Heart of Michigan staff and volunteers prior to
starting.
•
Once the project is completed, there is a final
report that must be submitted. Included in this
report is a detailed time log, which lists the number
of hours put in by the girl’s team of volunteers.
•
An expense log is submitted at the end of the
project.
Hopefully, this gives you a better idea of why these
Gold Award recipients are held in such high esteem.
Each of their projects will improve the lives of residents
in their communities by encouraging volunteerism and
highlighting the importance of community service. Our
Gold Award girls are living proof of Girl Scouts Heart of
Michigan’s mission to build girls of courage, confidence
and character who will make the world a better place.
The Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
The Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The young women we celebrate during this year’s Gold Award
ceremony each created projects that will positively benefit
individuals, organizations, and their communities—well into the future.
Their work, which we honor them for, represents the life and
leadership skills they learned as members of Girl Scouts Heart of
Michigan. Many of these girls came to us as young children, and we
have been privileged to watch them grow into strong and confident
women who will lead the charge and work with others to make the
world a better place.
These young leaders have already demonstrated their dedication
to the world around them through the projects they personally
developed and completed. Their projects required them to maintain a
skillful balance between school and individual activities. Many of them
will tell you about nights and weekends spent painting walls, putting
together educational kits, or raising money to cover project costs.
They did it all because they knew their efforts would make someone
else’s life better. This was the mission our founder, Juliette Gordon
“Daisy” Low, had in mind when she assembled 18 girls into the first Girl
Scout troop 103 years ago in Savannah, Georgia.
Our Gold Award recipients are an amazing group of young women
who will continue to lead the work for change, no matter what career
path they choose to pursue. They are now part of an exclusive group
of Girl Scouts who lead on a local, state, national, and global level in all
sectors.
We look upon them with pride and hope for brilliant futures. We look
upon you—family members, friends, and volunteers—with gratitude,
for partnering with us on this extraordinary journey.
Congratulations to you all,
Jan Barker, CEO
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
3
2015 Gold Award
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
Mary Flegal Chair, Board of Trustees
Jan Barker Chief Executive Officer
Matt Bates Chief Information and Property Officer
Jackie Bucsi Chief Membership and Program Officer
Karen Micklatcher Chief Development Officer
Priscilla Smith Chief Administration Officer
Jane Parikh Writer
Catherine Below Graphic Designer
The 39 Gold Award recipients showcased in
this yearbook have developed unique projects
that include a puppet theater and activity kits
for children who attend a camp hosted by the
Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan and classes that
teach teenagers how to defend themselves against
physical attacks. They take their place among a
hugely talented group of Girl Scouts who, since
the founding of the organization in 1912, have also
earned this most distinguished award.
Whether they received precursors to the Gold
Award—First Class, Golden Eaglet or Curved Bar—we
honor them for using their leadership skills to create
powerful and meaningful change, which will stand
the test of time.
For Sponsorship Opportunities*,
email Cynthia McCants, [email protected]
or call 800-49-SCOUT
*Statements made by our sponsors do not reflect the opinion of Girl
Scouts Heart of Michigan. The inclusion of sponsors’ material shall neither
constitute an endorsement by Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, implied or in
fact, of their product or service, nor is the veracity of any claim warranted
or guaranteed by Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan.
2015, Volume 5, Issue 1
by Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, Inc.
Five Locations to Serve You!
Jackson Regional Center
4403 Francis Street, Jackson, MI 49203
Phone: 800-322-1209 Fax: 517-784-9553
Kalamazoo Regional Center
601 West Maple Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Phone: 800-788-4919 Fax: 269-492-1439
Lansing Regional Center
1223 Turner St., Suite 200, Lansing, MI 48906
Phone: 800-968-9421 Fax: 517-699-9405
Saginaw Regional Center
5470 Davis Road, Saginaw, MI 48604
Phone: 800-968-1185 Fax: 989-799-1450
Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor Regional Center
444 James L. Hart Parkway, Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Phone: 800-497-2688 Fax: 734-714-3037
4
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
In this issue Gold Award 2015
2 Going for the Gold
6 2014 - 2015 Gold Award Recipients
18 2015 Graduating Seniors
20 2014 - 2015 Silver Award Recipients
22 2014 - 2015 Bronze Award Recipients
25 Leadership in Action
How do you
make the world
a better place?
The Girl Scout Gold Award
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
5
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan Proudly
Presents Our 2015 Gold Award Girl Scouts
The Girl Scout Gold Award is “what you really want to be remembered for”
in Girl Scouting. It is the highest award that Girl Scout Seniors (high school
freshmen and sophomores) and Girl Scout Ambassadors (high school
juniors and seniors) may earn. The leadership skills, organizational skills,
and sense of community and commitment that come from “going for the
Gold” set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship.
The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into
earning the award. It is something a girl can be passionate about, fulfills
a need within a girl’s community (local, regional or global) and creates
sustainable change. The project is more than a good service project—it
encompasses organizational, leadership and networking skills.
Madeline Adler
Troop 40574, Northville
Bringing It Back
Madeline’s epilepsy diagnosis encouraged her to build a puppet
theater and assemble activity kits for children who attend an annual
summer camp hosted by the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan. She
was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was four years old. Madeline
said children at the camp often use puppets as a form of expression
or entertainment, but they did not have a real puppet theater. She said
a similar problem arose at open houses when kids had nothing to do
while their parents attended meetings and seminars.
Madeline is a sophomore at Northville High School.
Alexis Aulepp
Troop 40737, Northville
Extreme Makeover: Girl Scout Addition
Alexis gave a bedroom and bathroom at Genesis House II at the Detroit Rescue
Mission Ministries the Girl Scout version of an extreme makeover. Alexis said she
chose Genesis House for her project after learning DRMM is one of the nation’s
largest service providers in the fight against homelessness. She said women and
children who are abused and/or homeless are taken in and provided with services
designed to improve their lives such as counseling and housing placement.
Alexis is a junior at Northville High School.
6
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Madeline Blomberg
Troop 40844, Northville
Beautifying Historic Mill Race Village
Madeline Blomberg took proactive steps to clean up Mill Race Historic Village in
downtown Northville. Madeline frequently walks to Mill Race to see the beautiful old
houses and enjoy the peace and nature there. She said she began to notice that there
were no recycling bins or trash bins other than those by the entrance. Toward the back
of the grounds, she said she saw trash and recyclables lying around.
Madeline is a junior at Northville High School .
Brianna Briegel
Troop 41386, Ypsilanti
Out With the Old, In With the New
A personal connection to a victim of domestic violence led to Brianna
Briegel’s work to refurbish a room used for counseling at the Safe House
Center. Brianna said that for many Safe House clients, the rooms used for
private counseling are their first encounter with the organization. She said
she could tell this room hadn’t been refurnished in a while and this is when
she decided she could help.
Brianna is a freshman majoring in Elementary Education at Central Michigan University.
Makayla Brunt
Troop 60131, Gregory
Amphitheater Makeover
Makayla Brunt went back to nature to earn her Gold Award when she remodeled
an amphitheater owned by Grass Lake Community Schools. The existing
amphitheater, located in a nature preserve, was not being maintained because
the space between benches was too narrow to get a lawnmower through.
Makayla’s solution involved repositioning the amphitheater benches and laying
down mulch where the grass had been.
Graduating from Grass Lake high School in 2014, Makayla now attends the University
of Michigan, majoring in Biochemistry.
Alena Buczynski
Troop 89813, Marshall
Marshall Clay Target Club
Identifying a sport that would give students with disabilities an
opportunity to earn a Varsity Athletic Award was Alena’s project.
In a partnership with the local Fudd Dusters Shot Sporting Team,
Alena made a presentation to the Marshall School Board about
the need for a Trap Shooting Club at the high school. School Board
members unanimously approved her request and the Marshall Clay
Target Club formed a short time later.
Alena, a senior at Marshall High School, plans to attend Olivet College,
majoring in Pre-law.
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
7
Samantha Cornell
Troop 30345, Grand Ledge
Teen Reading Enhancement
Teenagers in Grand Ledge have even more reasons to visit their public library thanks to
Samantha Cornell who led a project to organize and stock a dedicated space for teens
at the library. She said it became apparent to her that the library did not have very many
resources for the teen population and teens did not use the library to the extent that
younger children in her community did.
Samantha is a freshman at Central Michigan University.
Katelin Delph
Girl Scout Juliette, Dexter
“Be-attitudes” Tree
Katelin Delph focused on the power of prayer to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award. Katelin
said she wanted to make sure the children who attend St. Joseph Catholic Parish have
an opportunity to learn the Beatitudes prayer - a powerful prayer not often taught to
the congregation’s children. A mural she painted on a wall in the general hallway of the
church’s Religious Education building illustrates the Beatitudes.
Katelin is a freshman at Washtenaw Community College.
Skyler Dempsey
Troop 40457, Saline
Response to Intervention in Numbers
Skyler Dempsey used her own dyslexia diagnosis to develop a program for educators
in the Saline Public Schools district to identify the learning disorder in students at a
younger age. Although she struggled with dyslexia from an early age, Skyler was not
diagnosed with the learning disorder until she was in fourth grade.
Skyler is a freshman at Washtenaw Community College.
Allysen Eads
Troop 40136, Northville
Warm Welcome at the DRMM
Allysen Eads gained some practical life skills on the way to earning a Gold Award. Allysen
turned an ordinary-looking room at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries into a place
residents there can call home. She said she got as much out of the project as the women
who will benefit from it.
Allysen is a senior at Mercy High School.
8
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Katelin Frayer
Troop 30679, DeWitt
Special Opportunities for All Kids
A physical disability makes it necessary for Katelin Frayer to use a wheelchair. It also
gives her a unique perspective, which she used to create an array of programs designed
especially for children with disabilities. She organized programming with the support
of the DeWitt Area Recreation Authority and the expertise of area professionals to give
children with special needs or chronic medical conditions the opportunity to be kids.
Katelin is a senior at DeWitt High School .
Haley Glenn
Troop 80200, Marshall
Brooks Nature Area Songbird Trail
Haley Glenn created a brochure teaching visitors how to identify songbirds at the Brooks
Nature Area. Haley said she hoped to educate the community about local songbirds
because very few people know how to identify songbirds. In an informational brochure
she created, Haley put together a list of birds guests are most likely to see on the trail. She
also built a bench, installed birdhouses, and put in plants. “We had originally talked about
the need for a bridge, but after walking the trail, we found another option,” Haley said.
Haley is a senior at Olivet High School.
Rachel Grimmer
Troop 41556, Northville
Rachel’s Renovation
Rachel Grimmer’s renovation of a room makes a huge difference in the lives of women
and children who find themselves living at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries’ (DRMM)
Genesis House. Rachel transformed a dreary room into a more welcoming living space
for residents of Genesis House. She said she wanted to make the living spaces better for
the women and children who live in these rooms. “The room was made more inviting and
livable,” Rachel said. “By doing this renovation, I addressed the issue of substance abuse
and homelessness by providing a place that feels more like home that, in turn, will help the
family that lives there get back on their feet and make a new life for themselves.”
Rachel is a senior at Northville High School.
Megan Heydlauff
Troop 40507, Grass Lake
Self-Defense for Teens
Teaching teenagers to defend themselves against physical attacks earned Megan
Heydlauff her Gold Award from Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan. Megan said about 30
children in the United States are abducted every hour from parks, schools, malls, and
front lawns. Even though her project was focused on teenage girls, Megan said adults
also showed up for the self-defense class she organized. “By having this class, so many
people have figured out that learning self-defense is fun and it encouraged them to
take more self-defense classes,” Megan said.
Megan is a senior at Chelsea High School.
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
9
Liz Jenness
Troop 30247, Lansing
Ingham Back-to-School Health Fair
Children who attended a Back-to-School Health Fair in Ingham County received some
special surprises from Liz Jenness. Liz gave goody bags and books to each of the 500
children who attended the Health Fair. She said many of these children had never had
proper testing to check their hearing, vision and possible exposure to lead, and she
wanted to give each child a positive experience after they were tested. “I learned how to
work with a diverse group of people and discovered that I really enjoy it,” Liz said.
Liz is a senior at Haslett High School..
Aliera Konett
Troop 30533, East Lansing
Flag Etiquette
Aliera taught students in the East Lansing School District proper flag etiquette.
Students learned how to properly care for the American flag—to raise and lower it with
respect and to properly store it. Aliera also taught them the history of the flag, and
gave presentations on Constitution Day. In addition to this, she replaced all of the old
or missing flags with new ones. Aliera worked with administrators from the East Lansing
Schools to accomplish the majority of her project.“I found the interactions with
other girls and the life skills I learned to be the most rewarding part of my Gold Award
project,” Aliera said. “I found that working with younger girls, especially area Daisy
Scouts, to be especially rewarding.”
Aliera is a junior at East Lansing High School.
Megan Krings
Troop 41368, Northville
Paintings for Penrickton
Paintings to decorate the walls inside a building that houses a center for blind
children may not make a whole lot of sense, but Megan Krings thought otherwise.
Megan plans to attend Michigan State University and major in Nutritional Science/
Dietetics. She spearheaded an effort to create 30 paintings which now grace the
walls of the Penrickton Center for Blind Children located in Taylor. Megan said her
project took her outside of her comfort zone and pushed her to do something
she’d never done before. She said she wanted to help children with disabilities
because she doesn’t get many opportunities to interact with them.
A senior at Northville High School, Megan plans to attend MSU, majoring in Nutritional Science/Dietetics.
Anna Krupka
Troop 30280, East Lansing
Health and Awareness Class
Anna created a health and wellness class for girls attending Haslett High School.
She said her class focused on the importance of nutritious food and easy
workouts that didn’t require much equipment. A nutritionist and a personal
trainer volunteered their time to talk about the importance of good nutrition
and proper exercise.
A senior at Haslett High School, Anna will attend Lansing Community College and then transfer to
Purdue University where she plans to major in Industrial Engineering.
10
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Alicia Laycoe
Troop 40844, Northville
Animation Club
There was nothing animated about Alicia Joan Laycoe’s decision to create an after-school
club for students at Northville High School. Her project was an outgrowth of her own
interest in creating animated cartoons and series. She said the club will make a difference
in the lives of students who participate in after-school activities at the school.
Alicia is a junior at Northville High School.
Jessica Linsday
Troop 60362, Onondaga
Tompkins Center Recreation Improvement
You could say that Jessica Linsday is a trailblazer. Jessica increased awareness of a
system of trails in Tompkins Township by putting up a map at the starting point for the
trails, installing mile markers, and adding benches. She said township residents will
continue upkeep of the trails. They also are planning to add trails, additional benches,
and a picnic area. The walking trails had been there but had been going unused even
though people wanted places to walk,” Jessica said. “The issue needed to be addressed
because people had put work into making trails and they weren’t being used. People
also wanted a place to walk but didn’t know about the trails.”
Jessica is stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas.
Michelle Miller
Troop 80200, Marshall
Tricks and Trails
Michelle Miller created an annual Halloween event for children and their families to attend
at the Brooks Nature Area. Michelle said the project means a lot to her because when she
was younger she participated in Girl Scout activities at the nature area and her parents took
her on trails there. She said she wants other families to share and experience the same
memories that she holds so dear. About 550 people attended the event. “Parents filled out
evaluations at the end of the evening and most said they did not know prior to the event
where the nature area was and said the children had a great time,” Michelle said. “That’s
when I truly knew I’d accomplished my goal.”
Michelle is a senior at Marshall High School.
Brianna Nayh
Troop 40010, Northville
Making a Family Happy
Brianna Nayh redecorated a bedroom to give women staying at the Detroit Rescue
Mission Ministries a greater sense of belonging. Brianna said her work was focused
on giving women struggling with domestic violence a welcoming place to stay. Her
project specifically addressed the needs of women and their children staying at
the DRMM’s Genesis House II, which offers programs and services, in addition to
stable housing, to get these women and their families into a better living situation.
Brianna said she hopes her project will inspire others to get involved and make a
difference in the lives of residents at the DRMM, many of whom are there because
they have no place else to go.
Brianna is a junior at Northville High School.
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
11
Maggie O’Meara
Troop 40844, Northville
Creating a Spark in the Lives of Young Women
The visitor’s room at Alternatives for Girls was given a makeover by Maggie O’Meara.
Maggie said the visitor room is a gathering place for teenage girls and their children living
at Alternatives for Girls to spend time with family members and friends. She said the
room was very uncomfortable and miscellaneous furniture and toys were crowded in
everywhere, making it look very small.“I took out everything in the room and put the new
furniture in,” she said. “On top of that, I bought baskets for the bookcase and wall art.”
In addition, Maggie reorganized a room used for art classes for the girls and collected
donations of books and art supplies.
Maggie is a sophomore at Northville High School.
Caitlin Pellerin
Troop 40457, Saline
Teaching Science One Hand at a Time
Caitlin Pellerin assembled trunks filled with materials and lesson plans designed to give
second-grade students in the Saline Area Schools hands-on learning opportunities. Caitlin
said hands-on learning is proven to increase student retention of material, in addition to
making learning more interesting and fun. She said this makes kids more likely to enjoy
learning and be more engaged in school. “As a scientist, I find it disheartening that so many
young children don’t like science and math,” Caitlin said. “My love of science was started
and fostered by my parents. I spent childhood days outside, creating and experimenting
– something that is less common today.”
Caitlin is a 2014 graduate of Saline High School.
Maddie Rayner
Troop 80200, Marshall
Garvin Park Retention Basin
Garvin Park in the city of Marshall provided the backdrop for Maddie Rayner’s
project, which focused on water quality education. Maddie said people who have
access to fresh, clean water don’t often think about people in other countries who
often have to walk great distances to access sources of water, that aren’t always
clean. She said she wanted to educate others about the underground infrastructure
that provides water suitable for drinking, bathing and cooking.
A senior at Marshall High School, Maddie plans to attend Northern Michigan University.
Amanda Rencsok
Troop 41583, Northville
Lego Cart for Kids
Amanda Rencsok has given special needs children at the Center for Exceptional Families
a fun way to participate in therapy sessions. Amanda created a Lego Cart containing 142
kits that give children the ability to construct 180 different things. Each of the kits include
different numbers of pieces designed for easy, intermediate, and difficult levels. “I also
included a bin full of Legos and Lego people figures for kids who may not want to use a kit,
but still want to practice their fine motor skills.”
Amanda is a senior at Northville High School.
12
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Emma Sadowsky
Troop 60215, Jackson
B.E.S.S. Awareness
Emma Sadowsky designed a website for teenage girls that increases awareness
of issues such as bullying, eating disorders, and suicide. The website is
BESSAWARENESS.WEEBLY.COM. It is an acronym for Bullying, Eating Disorders,
Suicide, and Sexual Preference. Emma said she wanted to bring awareness to issues
that teenage girls deal with on a daily basis. “These issues need attention because they
aren’t talked about nearly enough,” Emma said. “It seems that whenever one of these
topics pops up, people tend to shy away from it. It isn’t a fun conversation, but it is
something that cannot be ignored.”
Emma is a senior at Napoleon High School.
Melissa Schott
Troop 30595, Bath
Bengel Wildlife Center Project
Melissa Schott organized a 5K trail run that took place in August to benefit the Michigan
Wildlife Conservancy. Melissa said she got the idea for the Bengel Wildlife Trail Run
after attending an event that highlighted various businesses in Bath. During the event,
she ran into a representative with the Bengel Wildlife Center who expressed an interest
in getting a trail run in Bath started again.“Many of the runners congratulated me on
how well the run was put together. I felt very accomplished,” Melissa said.
Melissa is a junior at Bath High School.
Laura Schuetz
Troop 41556, Novi
Laura’s Room Improvement
Laura Schuetz renovated a room at Genesis House at the Detroit Rescue Mission
Ministries to provide a safe and comfortable space for women and children living there.
Laura said many of the rooms had already been renovated and looked nice but others
didn’t look like a place someone would want to call home. The rooms were small, and
this made her wonder how a family of three or four could live in one room. “I turned a
boring room into a lively room that will make a homier space for women who will stay
there as they transition to a more stable and rewarding life,” Laura said. “After the
renovations were completed, a child walked in and said she wished she lived there. That
comment made me realize what a wonderful project this was and how amazing the
room looked.”
Laura is a senior at Northville High School.
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
13
Holly Sova
Troop 50231, Bay City
Center Ridge Arms Community Garden
A community garden at a housing complex for disabled people over age 62 became a lot more
accessible to residents because of Holly Sova’s awareness. Holly said she became interested
in working on their community garden when she learned that it wasn’t as successful as they
had anticipated. By making changes to the garden, she said she knew that residents would
finally be able to fully benefit from what a community garden can provide. “Everyone deserves
to have a chance to be a productive member of society, and by doing this, I am giving the
residents of CRA a chance,” Sova said. “Although not everyone has the same thought in mind,
I hope that through educating the residents about self-sufficiency and gardening, they will be
motivated to become the best they can be.”
Holly is a freshman at Delta College.
Alexia Marie Spyrka
Troop 41368, Northville
Ronald McDonald House Landscape Beautification Project
Providing color and comfort to residents of the Ronald McDonald House in Ann Arbor
was a humbling experience for Alexia Spyrka. She chose to landscape the grounds of the
Ronald McDonald House and assemble personal hygiene packages for family members
of hospitalized children who stay there. “One day, I happened to volunteer to serve
dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, and there was a family who needed a toothbrush,”
Alexia said. “The expression on the mom’s face when making this small request was
humbling because she probably felt like she was asking for a lot. “I was able to assemble
200 personal care packages. So this was one less thing for these families to worry about.”
Alexia is a senior at Mercy High School and plans to attend Grand Valley State
University, majoring in either Physical Therapy or Nursing.
Nicole Stanley
Troop 80249, Marshall
Safer Barrier, Safer Racing
Nicole Stanley increased safety for members of the Capitol Quarter Midgets Association
and other drivers who race cars on a track in Lansing. The quarter midgets are small,
open-wheeled race cars driven by children ages 5 through 16. She said the track in
Lansing was still using a steel guardrail on half of the track, and she decided to work on
the installation of a safer guardrail. Nicole has a personal connection to the CQMA. She
raced cars with the group until she turned 17.
Nicole is a senior at Marshall Academy.
Kaitlyn Sumner
Troop 40785, Howell
The Dangers of Heroin and Other Opiates
Educating people about the dangers of heroin and opiates included a brochure and
PowerPoint presentation designed by Kaitlyn Sumner. Kaitlyn said heroin use is a big
problem in Livingston County, and many people believe that there are no solutions
to a drug problem besides just stopping the use of the drug. “But,” says Kaitlyn,
“When people abruptly stop using a drug, they experience withdrawal symptoms
that can be very disturbing and disgusting. The only solution to help prevent drug
abuse is early education on the drug itself.”
Kaitlyn is a freshman at the University of Toledo.
14
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Sloan Talbot
Troop 41702, Ann Arbor
WIHI Media Room Renovation
A coat of paint, a new layout, and a better shelving system created a warm and
inviting atmosphere at the Washtenaw International High School and Middle School
library. Sloan said she plans to attend Duke University for public policy and non-profit
studies. She said she undertook the library renovation because she thought it was
being underutilized because of its appearance. “This redecorating and reorganizing
of the books and the library itself made the library look brand new and inviting to
students and staff,” Sloan said. “This gives students an opportunity to explore all
different types of literature and grow their love of reading books, in addition to
increasing their time spent on studying and academics.”
Sloan is a senior at Washtenaw International High School.
Liza Jane Throne
Troop 40588, Ypsilanti
Beautification of Stony Creek Cemetery
Honoring the deceased began as Liza Jane Throne’s Girl Scout Gold Award project
and ended as a labor of love. Liza focused on clearing overgrown brush from a circular
shaped drive that surrounds Stony Creek Cemetery. She said over the years, as the
woods around the cemetery grew, they slowly overtook the drive and ever so slowly
made the back of the drive unusable. In addition to cleaning up the driveway, Throne
also created a Serenity Garden to honor those who were buried in unmarked graves.
Liza is a freshman at Washtenaw Community College, majoring in Elementary Education.
Brooke Vilminot
Troop 60090, Concord
Caring for the Care Home
Brooke Vilminot created a mural and planted a garden for residents of Senior Moments
Assisted Living to give them a more pleasant experience. Brooke said many people
who enter care facilities aren’t always there by choice. She said for some, the change
is easy, and for others, the change can be scary. She said many people feel useless
because of the number of things they are no longer able to do for themselves. “Even
after my project was finished, I have been invited to visit the care home anytime I want
to because the residents love visitors and having young people around makes them feel
more energized,” Brooke said.
Brooke is a sophomore at Haslett High School.
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
15
Kate Westphal
Troop 41089, Northville
Crocheting for Warmth
Hats and scarves crocheted by Kate Westphal provided much-needed warmth to
homeless girls in Alternatives for Girls, an organization in Detroit that provides stability
for homeless and at-risk girls. With assistance from several Girl Scout troops and a
knitting guild in Royal Oak, more than 160 knitted, crocheted hats and scarves and more
than 20 coats and sweaters were donated to Alternatives for Girls. This was more than
Kate originally planned on.
Kate is a sophomore at Northville High School.
Alexandra Wheaton
Troop 30280, Haslett
Art Curriculum for Underprivileged Kids
The absence of art classes in the Lansing School District was the springboard for the
creation of a week-long session of art classes at a center for financially challenged
children, developed by Alexandra Wheaton. Alexandra said she knows through her
own experiences that art is an amazing way to express emotions in a creative way. She
said cutbacks in the arts most affected children who were never able to gain exposure
to the arts to further their creative development. On the first day of her art class,
Alexandra said many of the kids had no idea what to do, and by the last day, many of
the older kids were helping the younger ones. She said she could see that they were all
enjoying themselves.
Alexandra is a senior at Haslett High School.
Maha Zahid
Troop 40196, Plymouth
Science Leads the Way
Students entering high school in the Plymouth area will be better prepared for
their science classes because of Maha Zahid. She created a science program that
focused on basic biology and chemistry concepts. She also included a career
component to give students an idea of the jobs requiring knowledge of biology
and chemistry. “I introduced many interactive labs and experiments for students
to better engage them and help them relate better to the material being learned,”
Maha said. “As a review in each class, I had students create a replica of a human cell
using Girl Scout Cookies.”
Maha is a junior at Plymouth High School.
16
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Congratulations, Sloan,
on earning the Gold
Award. So proud of you!
Love, Mom
All donations to Hometown Heroes will
be used to purchase Girl Scout Cookies
for local Hometown Heroes, and U.S.
military troops and their families.
Let’s show our appreciation with a tasty treat today! Collect donations to send cookies
to our local Hometown Heroes through June. You can also donate directly on our
website at gshom.org. Look for “Cookies, Treats & Reads.”
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
17
Congratulations to our 2015 high school graduates! We
invite you to help us build girls of courage, confidence and
character by returning to Girl Scouts as an adult volunteer.
Caroline Alchin, East Lansing
Savannah Clough, Cement City
Elisabeth Goetz, Jackson
Amber Alcorn, Bay City
Alexis Cohen, Saline
Abigail Goodnough, Hanover
Ellen Anderson, Mount Pleasant
Megan Connelly, White Pigeon
Sierra Gordon, Concord
Kimberly Anderson, Saginaw
Lindsey Craig, Northville
Alex Grauherr, Standish
Madison Atkins, Howell
Cymone Croft, Ypsilanti
Janell Green, Lansing
BriannaAtzert, Mount Pleasant
Rylee Cunningham, Paw Paw
Elizabeth Greenough, Saginaw
Abigail Averill, Farwell
Sophia Cunningham, Portage
Rachel Grimmer, Northville
Rebekah Averill, Farwell
Amy Dalton, Plymouth
Courtney Guindon, Clinton
Amanda Ayriss, DeWitt
Julie Davis, DeWitt
Danielle Hale, Michigan Center
Brandi Bashor, Omer
Katty Depue, Saint Louis
Kendra Handy, Horton
Hannah Bauman, Clare
Midrena Doster, Saginaw
Kathryn Harger, Mason
Meara Belvin, Bridgeport
Patricia Duerksen, East Lansing
Karleigh Hassenzahl, Addison
Caitlin Bergeon, Mason
Jade DuFort, Midland
Rachel Hastings, Chelsea
Sarah Blissick, Jackson
Allysen Eads, Northville
Emma Herron, Midland
Samantha Bowden, Clinton
Kalia Edwards, Saginaw
Megan Heydlauff, Grass Lake
Melissa Bradley, Mattawan
Sarah Ellis, Canton
Jordan Hite, Michigan Center
Courtney Briegel, Ypsilanti
Elena Essa, Okemos
Jessica Holland, Weidman
Serena Bristol, Schoolcraft
Harleigh Falor, Jackson
Hanna Holshouser, Northville
Haley Broda, Northville
Julia Farah, Saline
Andrea Houck, South Lyon
Brittany Brown, Canton
Emily Fauser, Dexter
Helena Howard, Jackson
De’Asia Brown, Saginaw
Jessica Fehrman, Saginaw
Laila Howard, Ypsilanti
Kristen Brown, Saline
Sara Findsen, Canton
Devyn Howe, Saline
Alena Buczynski, Marshall
Eiley Fong, Canton
Allison Hubbard, Hanover
Shelby Burhans, Midland
Heather Fraczek, Weidman
Sierra Huffman, Jackson
Michelle Burke, Plymouth
Katelin Frayer, DeWitt
Sarah Hur, Pinckney
Paige Burley, Plainwell
Kelsey Fuller, Jackson
Hannah Hyaduck, Mason
Bria Bush, Lansing
Robin Galler, Ypsilanti
Amanda Igl, Mason
Samantha Campbell, Hanover
Amelia Gardner, Concord
Samantha Igl, Mason
Rachel Carnet, Saginaw
Abigail Geisthardt, Mount Pleasant
Kathryn Jacobs, Jones
Timbra Caron, Hale
Haley Glenn, Marshall
Anna James, East Lansing
18
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Elizabeth Jenness, Lansing
Christine Mortensen, Dexter
Marquise Slater, Ypsilanti
Alyssa Jennings, East Lansing
Angelica Johnson, Prudenville
Fallon Mosier, Grass Lake
Julia Slatin, Northville
Jaymi Nelson, Owosso
Lindsay Smith, Chelsea
Kaitlyn Johnson, East Tawas
Jennifer Nielsen, Saginaw
Shyenne Souza, Ann Arbor
Margaret Keedy, Ypsilanti
Paige Nielsen, Plymouth
Alexia Spyrka, Northville
Meghan Kelly, DeWitt
Michelle Nussdorfer, Eaton Rapids
Nicole Stanley, Marshall
Megan Kerr, Northville
Stacy O’Connor, Saginaw
Kaily Stewart, Canton
Skyler Kienutske, Michigan Center
Katherine O’Donnell, East Lansing
Evalyn Stow, Saline
Kahrlee Kozan, Canton
Jensen Pecora, Novi
Sloan Talbot, Ann Arbor
Megan Krings, Northville
Mia Petoskey, Livonia
Hannah Terrell, Belleville
Allyssa Kryst, Jackson
Cassandra Phillips, Mount Pleasant
Janae Thomas, Ypsilanti
Kathryn Kubitskey, Northville
Taylor Piotrowski, Freeland
Elizabeth Thompson, Jackson
Adrian Kuch, Bay City
Elizabeth Pollack, Ann Arbor
Shakyla Thurman, Lansing
Marianna Lazich, Plymouth
Jordyn Preston, Decatur
Gazzaney Todd, Saginaw
Loretta Lee, Lansing
Maddie Rayner, Marshall
Emma Treiber, Northville
Grace Lewis, Midland
Samantha Reed, Olivet
Sava Treloar, Mason
Samantha Longenecker, Portage
Lindsey Remski, Canton
Cheyenne VanNest, Canton
Breanna Lopez, Plymouth
Amanda Rencsok, Northville
Lindsay Villa, Coldwater
Ana Lucena, Dexter
Rachelle Restainer, Standish
Allison Vinson, Clarklake
Angela Luke, Lansing
Hannah Reutter, Mason
Jennifer Walter, Plymouth
Amanda Lyneis, Albion
Michelle Ried, Holt
Brooke Watkins, Horton
Christa Maddick, Grass Lake
Dakota Robb-Spry, Deerfield
Mackenzie Weers, Marshall
Carly Maleki, Canton
Ellen Rombach, Saginaw
Brianna Welch, South Branch
Chaney Manarin, Jackson
Stephanie Roskowski, Northville
Alexandra Wheaton, Haslett
Lauren Marcotte, Northville
Riley Sabins, West Branch
Madelyn Wheelock, Midland
Chloe Masterson, Mount Pleasant
Alexis Sadowsky, Jackson
AlieshaWickline, Blissfield
Caitlin Matthews, Portage
Emma Sadowsky, Jackson
Alexis Wilson, Canton
Rachel Mazzara, Northville
Alexis Salinas, Canton
Naiomi Wilson, Ypsilanti
Margaret McDaniel, Haslett
Arah Samuels, Canton
Sarah Wontorcik, Midland
Megan McHugh, Plymouth
Jillian Santos, Saline
Maureen Wood, Canton
Amanda McKeon, DeWitt
Naomi Sarelis, Kalamazoo
Victoria Zaremba, Northville
Michelle Miller, Marshall
Amanda Satin, Saline
Helen Zhou, Midland
Cara Mitrano, Midland
Lillian Scheske, Ann Arbor
Abigail Zimmer, Ann Arbor
Azya Moore, Ypsilanti
Laura Schuetz, Novi
Katherine Zwick, Mount Pleasant
Tara Morey, Pinckney
Ryleigh Scott, Haslett
Congratulations
Congratulations to the recipients of the
Girl Scout Silver Award
The Girl Scout Silver
Award is the most
prestigious honor a Girl
Scout Cadette receives.
The girls who earn this
award are organized
leaders who develop
projects which highlight
their dedication and
determination to improve their community.
We offer our warmest congratulations to all of
our Silver Award recipients and look forward to
watching them go for the gold.
The requirements to earn the Girl Scout Silver
Award are as follows:
• Girls must be in 6th, 7th or 8th grade and must
complete a Cadette Journey.
• Must identify issues they care about and build
a Silver Award team or work solo.
• Choose a Silver Award project and develop it.
• Make a plan and put it into action.
• Reflect, share and celebrate.
Leah Abdallah
Madeline Adler
Mara Anderson
Emily Arms
Shereya Basu
Karah Bayer
Helena Bazzi
Charlotte Beaudoin
Taylor Benedict
Megan Bliesener
Sarah Mae Boger
Maren Bowers
Teagan Boyd
Lindsay Brown
Madeleine Brown
Megan Brown Nechelle Calderon
Cora Caldwell
Isabelle Case
Lily Chalmers
20
Troop 40790
Troop 40574
Troop 90682
Troop 40588
Troop 40473
Troop 60111
Troop 40574
Troop 40167
Troop 80852
Troop 30447
Troop 40178
Troop 40588
Troop 30072
Troop 30130
Troop 80219
Troop 80218
Troop 80218
Troop 30497
Troop 90682
Troop 40261
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Saline
Northville
Paw Paw
Milan
Northville
Riga
Northville
Northville
Portage
Dimondale
Canton
Milan
Eaton Rapids
Haslett
Battle Creek
Battle Creek
Battle Creek
East Lansing
Paw Paw
Canton
Catherine Christenson
Jessie Christie
Kaitlyn Ciot
Megan Civic
Autumn Clough
Jane Colter
Mikaeyla Connolly
Rebecca Cottrell
Emily Davidson
Katie Dennison
Anabelle Dickerson
Cathryn Dinapoli
Lauren DiPietro
Rachel DiSebastian
Sierra Dooley
Meghan Dula
Gina Engle
Emily Engler
Shelby Falkiewicz
Lindsay Felicijan
Alison Fields
Bayleigh Flemington
Mekayla Ford
Katie Franz
Kanon Furuyama
Kaylee Furge
Sidney Garlitz
Sarah Gentner
Winter Graham
Lexie Gregory
Ally Griffin
Sarah Griffiths
Alexis Goulding
Emily Hanlon
Shelby Harris
Katherine Hewitt
Brianna Hight
Vernae Hillard
Anna Hoover
Riley Huggins
Kathryn Horn
Taylor Idema
Jessica Jacobs
Isha Jaffer
Lucy James
Troop 40900
Troop 50432
Troop 90682
Troop 40167
Troop 40217
Troop 40817
Troop 40167
Troop 80852
Troop 80204
Troop 51227
Troop 30596
Troop 40167
Troop 40473
Troop 40574
Troop 90682
Troop 60123
Troop 40588
Troop 40167
Troop 40900
Troop 80382
Troop 40574
Troop 30130
Troop 30130
Troop 80382
Troop 40473
Troop 41133
Troop 30676
Troop 40574
Troop 40574
Troop 30130
Troop 0382
Troop 40217
Troop 42801
Troop 40167
Troop 90682
Troop 60259
Troop 60111
Troop 60259
Troop 40178
Troop 40574
Troop 40574
Troop 50423
Troop 30222
Troop 30130
Troop 30130
Canton
Beaverton
Paw Paw
Northville
Plymouth
Northville
Royal Oak
Portage
Battle Creek
Ithaca
Lansing
Northville
Northville
Northville
Paw Paw
Jackson
Milan
Northville
Canton
Portage
Northville
Haslett
Okemos
Portage
Northville
Howell
Lansing
Northville
Northville
Haslett
Portage
Plymouth
Chelsea
Northville
Paw Paw
Adrian
Blissfield
Jasper
Plymouth
Northville
Northville
Mt. Pleasant
Dimondale
Haslett
East Lansing
Hannah Jeffress
Isabella Katz
Grace Kendziorski
Elizabeth Kerr
Audrey Knapman
Adinn Kolonich
Claire Kopachik
Victoria Korroch
McKenzee Kositzke Alexis Krumbach
Emily Loebach
Olivia Loftis
Molly Loria
Samantha Marable
Kelly McCracken
Catherine McDevitt
Shannon McKee
Kaitlyn McKinley
Celia McMahon
Alina Miles Lauren Mroczek
Harley Noecker
Helena Notario
Laila Odeh
Shawna Oesterling
Liana Luann Olko
Alexandria Olmstead
Katlynn Parish
Angela Parsons
Sadie Pashak
Brenna Patzkowsky
Alexis Pearce
Courtney Pederson
Samantha Peifer
Sarah Pilto
Andrea Piper
Callista Polasck
Jordan Pollitt
Paige Ponicki
Laiken Probst Leah Purkiss
Hannah Reckner
Julia Rhoades
Amanda Robinson
Madison Rohn
Chelsea Rostoni
Clarisa Russenberger
Skyler (Sky) Rybolt
Troop 40900
Troop 80204
Troop 50228
Troop 80387
Troop 30122
Troop 30676
Troop 30497
Troop 40261
Troop 80218
Troop 30382
Troop 40167
Troop 40574
Troop 30130
Troop 30497
Troop 42801
Troop 80219
Troop 40574
Troop 90618
Troop 40167
Troop 80218
Troop 90618
Troop 30072
Troop 40574
Troop 40167
Troop 30130
Troop 40167
Troop 89809
Troop 30676
Troop 51227
Troop 80121
Troop 90618
Troop 50228
Troop 90682
Troop 40588
Troop 73084
Troop 30447
Troop 40473
Troop 40574
Troop 90682
Troop 80218
Troop 40817
Troop 60259
Troop 80387
Troop 40473
Troop 60259
Troop 30130
Troop 40574
Troop 30072
Canton
Battle Creek
Auburn
Portage
Holt
Lansing
East Lansing
Canton
Battle Creek
Williamston
Northville
Ypsilanti
Haslett
East Lansing
Chelsea
Battle Creek
Northville
Mattawan
Northville
Battle Creek
Mattawan
Eaton Rapids
Northville
Northville
Haslett
Northville
Battle Creek
Eaton Rapids
Alma
Hamilton
Mattawan
Rhodes
Rickland
Milan
Durand
Onondaga
Northville
Novi
Paw Paw
Battle Creek
Northville
Sand Creek
Portage
Birmingham
Adrian
Haslett
Northville
Eaton Rapids
Leah Sargent
Katelyn Scanlon
Audrey Schikora
Laurel Schmidt
Emilie Seibert
Ashley Seibold
Brianna Sharpsteen Brittany Sharpsteen Jessamine Shortridge
Jenna Siegert
Grace Snyder Alexa Christine Speaks
Elizabeth Sprick
Hannah Staubel
Brittney Stephenson
Taylor Stephenson
Hannah Stevens Lindsey Strahan
Katie Sturtz
Lizzie Sturtz
McKenna Sutterlin
Tamika Sutton
Paige Tar
Catie Teugh
Emily Thibodeau
Olivia Thomson
Colby Throne
Shyla Tomsa
Emma Townsend
Erica Trojanowicz
Tori Tupper
Bella Verardi
Brooke Verble
Erin Vimr
Logan Vorce
Natalie Walraven
Natalie Walter
Rose Wangeman
Madeline Warren
Anna Weaver
Alexis Wheeler
Lilly Whipple
Meriah Wilder
Robin Willhite
Megan Wilson
Christy Yue
Hannah Zetterholm
Sarah Zrull
Troop 30130
Troop 80852
Troop 40574
Troop 40790
Troop 50228
Troop 30596
Troop 50432
Troop 50432
Troop 30497
Troop 40167
Troop 80218
Troop 40167
Troop 80204
Troop 80204
Troop 42801
Troop 42801
Troop 50305
Troop 60259
Troop 40574
Troop 40574
Troop 30596
Troop 30072
Troop 40473
Troop 80852
Troop 40429
Troop 40473
Troop 40588
Troop 80121
Troop 40275
Troop 30130
Troop 30072
Troop 42801
Troop 40167
Troop 41133
Troop 30676
Troop 80323
Troop 40217
Troop 40574
Troop 30130
Troop 40178
Troop 60259
Troop 30072
Troop 30130
Troop 80323
Troop 60150
Troop 40574
Troop 40678
Troop 40217
Haslett
Portage
Northville
Saline
Auburn
Dimondale
Gladwin
Gladwin
East Lansing
Northville
Battle Creek
Northville
Battle Creek
Battle Creek
Chelsea
Chelsea
Midland
Adrian
Northville
Northville
Lansing
Springport
Northville Twp.
Portage
Canton
Northville
Ypsilanti
Hamilton
Pinckney
East Lansing
Eaton Rapids
Chelsea
Northville
Howell
Lansing
Scotts
Plymouth
Northville
Lansing
Plymouth
Adrian
Eaton Rapids
Lansing
Scotts
Springport
Northville
Saline
Plymouth
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
21
Congratulations to the recipients of the
Girl Scout Bronze Award
The Bronze Award is the
highest honor bestowed on
a Girl Scout Junior. The girls
who earn this award develop
more confidence, meet new
people, and have the kind of
fun that happens when you
work with other Girl Scouts to make a difference.
We congratulate our Bronze Award recipients
and hope they go for the silver next. To earn the
Bronze Award, girls must be in 4th or 5th grade (or
equivalent), be a registered Girl Scout Junior and
complete a Junior Journey.
Girl Scout Juliette
Hannah Blake
Troop 30009
Annie Derby
Kate Farnum
Abby Jager
Kiley Murray
Jade Naser
Meghan Pearl
Sophie Robinson
Tessa Rollins
Shreya Srinatha
Sarah Tabone
Lauren Tabone
Kaylee Thompson
Haley Towel
Alexandra Wilson
Troop 30049
Audrey Chen
Sofia Cichy
Janie Deppong
Jenna Gutting
Anna Hicks
Sophia Kirby
Sophia Lee
Samantha Phillips
Roya Sabet
Allison Schoen
Jasmine Thompson-Orsua
Laya Tumbalam
Troop 30195
Emily Morris
Abbi Mullaly
Anna Shoemaker
Anna Vansplintern
Hanaa Yoo
22
Manchester
Okemos
Okemos
East Lansing
East Lansing
East Lansing
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
East Lansing
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Okemos
Mason
Mason
Holt
Mason
Lansing
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Troop 30196
Gabbie Hansen
Jayda Harris
Makayla Hodges
Madison Rasico
Sunshine Stiles
Holt
Holt
Lansing
Lansing
Holt
Troop 30453
Allison Doneth
Julia Harns
Amelia Kerschke
Olivia Kinney
Brenna Klaver
Makenna Maher
Cailey Mills
Kennedy Pinks
Kassidi Poe
Emily Rockhold
Leigha Rue
Noelle Simmons
Riana Therrian
Mackenzie Ward
Mason
Holt
Mason
Mason
Holt
Mason
Holt
Mason
Mason
Mason
Mason
Mason
Mason
Mason
Troop 30336
Lisa Allen
Emilie Saint Amour
Abigail Atkinson
Megan Boyle
Kylie Carlson
Allison Frank
Grace Graham
Makayla Hagerty
Emma Heyd
Amelia Hurst
Maylee Jorae
Jordan Langdon
Grace Matthews
Hayleigh Mertens
Kaelyn Meyers
Lily Pino
Sierra Price
Chloe Smith
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Laingsburg
Troop 30692
Aeris Hatt
Paige Lemmon
Gaberielle McIntosh
Mackenzie Rose
Kennedy Rose
Alyssa Sheets
Brianna Sible
Megan E. Smith
Julia Toomey
Emily Taylor VanSteeland
Nadia Weise
Eaton Rapids
Dimondale
Dimondale
Holt
Holt
Dimondale
Holt
Eaton Rapids
Dimondale
Holt
Dimondale
Troop 31626
Hannah Arledge-Teran
Gabrielle Damerow
Randalyn Dowker
Jenna Gill
Celeste Johnston
Falynne Murphy
Krystlina Potchynok
Laela Sirrine
Sofia St. Martin
Anna Toland
Maddy Woods
Fowlerville
Fowlerville
Fowlerville
Gregory
Fowlerville
Howell
Webberville
Fowlerville
Fowlerville
Fowlerville
Howell
Troop 40012
Lauren Bailey
Delaney Bry
Alden Carlstein
Ava Hagar
Rylyn Jostes
Lizzie Kitchen
Jayden Mortimer
Katie Mozak
Brynn Reed
Rylei Roseberry
Meg Simonte
Ramie Sussex
Sophia Tarasi
ShanShan Ye
Novi
Northville
Novi
Novi
Novi
Novi
Novi
Northville
Novi
Novi
Novi
Novi
Novi
Novi
Troop 40244
Sylvia Bohlen
Ella Couture
Katarina Cox
Kate Encelewski
Jennifer Harmon
Madelyn Leiter
Emily Marnocha
Aubrey Marquette
Mela Salah
Meghan Stankovic
Paige Stauffer
Maya Qazi
Ella Blackmore
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Northville
Troop 40374
Brooke Bacyinski
Katie Bharucha
Avery Coykendall
Alina Edmunds
Nicole Freitag
Nala Gallaher
Nia Gallaher
Gina Gryglas
Emily Liedel
Celestia McArthur
Reagan Moran
Olivia Solecki
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Canton
Plymouth
Plymouth
Canton
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Troop 40380
Olivia Arnold
Faith Calleja Sydney Dillon
Allyson Kulczynski
Alison Wall
Taylor Wesley
Ann Arbor
Saline
Saline
Saline
Saline
Saline
Troop 40392
Julia Aquilino
Olivia Blaufuss
Abigail Cassatta
Maggie Clark
Allison Cupp
Elizabeth Hier
Jillian Kelly
Anna Mueller
Riley Park
Rachel van Ruiten
Claire Walter
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth
Troop 40430
Grace Birch
Makayla Brotherton
Samantha Derry
Ani Gerrity
Kelsey Gula
Morgan Harvey
Olivia LaCommare
Carolynn McCracken
Annika Seruga
Leah Sleder
Aubrey Stewart
Lillian Vincent
Katelyn Westmoreland
Hannah Williams
Lena Zielkowski
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Troop 40475
Courtney Arms
Tailee Bevins
Lamaya Gresham
Elizabeth Krol
Briley Laurell
Natalie Miller
Aeryn Mitchell
Elizabeth Paxton
Tabbiatha Tautkus
Milan
Maybee
Milan
Milan
Milan
Milan
Milan
Maybee
Milan
Troop 40578
Kimberly Darish
Jessica DeFrain
Alana Gilbert
Morgan Hull
Leslie Hunter
Makayla Killop Anna Kolnitys
Annika Kreeger
Ella Lucas
Ella Lukosavich
Fenton
Milford
Hartland
Hartland
Fenton
Howell
Hartland
Howell
Howell
Fenton
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
23
Sarah Maldonado
Nora Meadows
April Mills
Autumn Schlotta
Claudia Waske
Troop 40841
Sophia LeMasters
Hannah Martin
Mason Smith
Hailey Taylor
Troop 41057
Anna Blastic
Erika Graham
Madelyn Juday
Genevieve Lafreniere
Christina Wollenhaupt
Hartland
Howell
Hartland
Hartland
Brighton
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Howell
Brighton
Brighton
Howell
Pinckney
Troop 41347
Ana Coker
Abigail Lupescu
Paige Staton
Emma Vacca
Hannah Webb
Canton
Wayne
Canton
Canton
Canton
Troop 41528
Danielle Beaudoin
Lamyah Burhani
Allysann Ciuto
Emily Clayton
Daphne Cothron
Abigail Dunn
Emma Howell
Chiamaka Izuegbunam
Olivia Michalik
Christina Ng
Mojisoye Ojoye
Alexis Wade
Canton
Canton
Romulus
Canton
Canton
Canton
Plymouth
Belleville
Canton
Canton
Canton
Wayne
Troop 41622
Hannah Cyrbok
Jasmine Davillier
Vivian Johnson
Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti
Ypsilanti
Troop 41812
Lydia Bolen
Morgan Bucher
Jade Cipponeri
Nicole Darin
Desiree Ditmore
Audra Halcomb
Hayley Hendricks
Payton Leppek
Marianna Mitchell
Carli Mulvihill
Alexandria Oseland
Mikayla Paliwoda
Rachel Rockett
Pinckney
Pinckney
Whitmore Lake
Pinckney
Pinckney
South Lyon
Howell
Pinckney
Dexter
Pinckney
Brighton
Pinckney
Pinckney
24
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Troop 42058
Alivia Braunscheidel
Carly Bullock
Maddie Chwalibog
Hannah Cortez
Gabby Ditto
Megan Foster
Ashlyn Johnson
Caitlyn Strickler
Kaci Verdonk
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
South Lyon
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
South Lyon
Troop 50240
Brooke Gordon Emma Hyzer
Grace Knoblock
Port Austin
Port Austin
Port Austin
Troop 50684
Rachel Cauchy
Coleman
Troop 50823
Grace Philo
Vassar
Troop 60251
Charlotte Hanson
Katie Hight
Kaitlyn Jacobs
Alex Roberts
Haley Stace
Paige Westfall
Deerfield
Blissfield
Blissfield
Blissfield
Blissfield
Blissfield
Troop 80041
Emily Thomas
Fennville
Troop 80474
Jessica Brady
Isabella Hameed
Rebekah Shank
Kelly Smith
Evelyn Whalen
Parchment
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo
Troop 80574
Raeghen Behnke
Savannah Bursk
Cheyenne Hughes
Carlyn Hughes
Nella Pashak
Megan Poe
Samantha Sanders
Taylor Updyke
Desiree Valenzuela
Hamilton
Hamilton
Holland
Holland
Hamilton
Hamilton
Hamilton
Hamilton
Hamilton
Troop 80709
Sarah Buschlen
Amanacus Lawrence
Katie Mcmillen
Ariana Tanner
Austin Young
Battle Creek
Battle Creek
Battle Creek
Battle Creek
Battle Creek
Quick Thinking Saves Lives
Leadership in Action
Gillian Case and Eleanor Rea saved lives using
quick thinking and good instincts. Gillian saved
a young boy from drowning and Eleanor saved
her brother from choking to death. Their acts of
heroism are being recognized with awards from
Girl Scouts of the USA.
Gillian Case
Eleanor Rea
Gillian Case is the recipient of the Girl Scouts of the
USA Medal of Honor.
Eleanor Rea, a member of Troop 80295, is the recipient
of the Girl Scouts of the USA Medal of Honor. She
received the award for saving her brother, Alec’s, life.
Gillian, a member of Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan
Troop 30142 and a sixth-grader at Herbison Woods
School, earned the award for saving a 3-year-old boy
from drowning in her family’s swimming pool.
Alysia Case, Gillian’s mother, said the little boy came
to their house with his family to enjoy a day of fun and
swimming. She said she and the boy’s mother were
sitting on the deck of the pool when the boy’s father
took him in the house to use the bathroom. The boy
took his floatie off and did not put it back on again
when he came back outside.
“His father was at the side of the pool talking to my
husband and the little boy got out on the deck, walked
down the stairs and got in the pool,” Alysia said. “He’s
used to having his floatie on. He went straight down
instead of floating. We didn’t hear or see him and
because we were watching the other kids.”
Thankfully, Gillian saw him and grabbed him and pulled
him out of the pool.
“Gillian was a hero that day and
we’ll be forever grateful for what
she did,” Alysia said. “I think her
instincts just kicked in.”
Gillian said being involved in Girl Scouts means a lot to
her and she wants to continue on and earn her Gold
Award.
In January, 2014, the siblings were watching a movie
together in the basement of their Pennfield home
when Alec, who is mildly autistic, put a Lego piece in his
mouth to make a whistling sound. Eleanor noticed that
he began motioning to his hands with his throat and
knew her brother was in trouble. Using the Heimlich
maneuver that she learned four years ago, Eleanor
managed to move the Lego piece so her brother could
breath.
Once Alec was stabilized, Eleanor alerted her parents
who took her brother to the emergency room for initial
treatment. A team of healthcare professionals in
Kalamazoo removed the Lego piece from Alec’s right
lung.
Lisa Rea, Eleanor’s mother, notified her daughter’s Girl
Scout leaders to let them know what she had done. In
October, the family received a letter from Ana Maria
Chavez, Chief Executive Officer with the Girl Scouts of
the USA.
“On behalf of the Girl Scouts of the United States
of America, I send you heartfelt congratulations on
earning the Medal of Honor,” the letter said.
“Your extraordinary actions not
only saved a life, but serve as a
shining example for Girl Scouts
everywhere…You have truly
made the world a better place.”
Eleanor, 13, said she was happy and excited to receive
the award.
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
25
It Pays to be a Girl Scout
Membership definitely has its advantages for Girl
Scouts graduating from high school who are members
of Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan.
In addition to entering a college or university with
an established set of leadership skills, our girls are
positioned well to apply and receive scholarships such
as the one created by Kathy Lindahl, a major supporter
of Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan and retired assistant
vice president for Finance and Operations at Michigan
State University.
Any girl who is graduating with plans to attend MSU,
is eligible to apply for the scholarship, which was
endowed in 1998. A committee of Girl Scouts Heart of
Michigan representatives selects one recipient who
receives between $3,000 and $4,000 towards each of
the four years she attends MSU. To date, more than 17
young women have been recipients of the scholarship.
Numerous other scholarships are available to collegbound Girl Scouts, and we encourage each and every
one of our girls to list the accomplishments, awards
and accolades they have received from Girl Scouts
Heart of Michigan on their college applications.
Many thanks to our
Gold Award Committee
for their dedication and guidance.
Donna Aubuchon, Ann Arbor
Jill Beauchamp, Ann Arbor
Ina Germain, Ann Arbor
Renee Graham, Saginaw
Sally Kalso, Lansing
Ana Lesmez, Lansing
Jackie Leudtke, Kalamazoo
Valerie Niemiec, Ann Arbor
Jan Radak, Ann Arbor
Roberta Somerville, Lansing
Kathy Van Buren, Ann Arbor
Cindy Zeitz, Ann Arbor
Girl Scouting Matters!
Summer Opportunities
with Girl Scouts!
You never age out of Girl Scouts, and we’ve got some
amazing opportunities available to keep you involved.
Day Camp program will enable you to draw on the
skills you acquired during your Girl Scout career.
You also will be mentors for the girls who are on the
journey you’ve already completed.
Our Overnight Camp programs provide a more
in-depth opportunity to lead and mentor girls. Who
better to guide our girls than young women who have
already experienced the wonder of camp and the
benefits that come with it?
Please take some time to look through the job
descriptions for our Day and Overnight Camps and
consider sharing your wisdom and skills with girls.
Day Camp Director – various regions
Assistant Day Camp Director – various regions
26
Recipients of the 2015 Gold Award
Day Camp Counselor – various regions
Adventure Coordinator- Linden/Plainwell
Aquatics Coordinator- Plainwell/Linden
Assistant Camp Director- Linden/Plainwell
Camp Counselor- Linden/Plainwell
Cook- Linden/Plainwell
Equestrian Assistant- Linden/Plainwell
Equestrian Coordinator- Linden/Plainwell
Head Cook- Linden/Plainwell
Health Officer- Linden/Plainwell
Kitchen Assistant- Linden/Plainwell
Lead Camp Counselor- Linden/Plainwell
Lifeguard- Linden/Plainwell
Trip Coordinator- Linden/Plainwell
The requirements for application are simple: You
must be 18 years of age (older for some positions);
enjoy working with girls; pass a background check
and be certified in CPR and First Aid (we provide the
training for this); and understand and work with our
mission.
Visit our Careers page on our website, gshom.org,
or call 800-49-SCOUT to make a difference in the
lives of girls.
Graduating?
Your Girl Scout Experience
Doesn’t Stop Here!
Your Girl Scout journey can continue, and we have a
never-ending list of ways to make that possible.
A great starting point is becoming a Lifetime Member.
This will keep you connected no matter where you go.
If you apply before your current annual membership
expires, you will qualify for an almost 50% discount.
Find out more at girlscouts.org.
We also have numerous volunteer opportunities, which
include starting your own Girl Scout troop or forming
a short-term Daisy Troop if time is an issue. If you like
to teach new things to people, think about becoming a
Facilitator. It’s rewarding and also a great place to make
new friends.
If the great outdoors is more to your liking, think about
being a Camp Counselor at one or more of our amazing
camp properties. You can read about available
positions and can download the Seasonal Employment
Application on our website, gshom.org.
cted
e
n
n
y co
a
t
s
o
t
ts
Ways Girl Scou
to
ber
em
M
e
tim
er
d
a
• Life
e
L
ut
o
c
S
l
r
• Gi
or
t
a
t
i
l
i
or
l
e
• Fac
s
n
Cou
p
m
a
• C
We are proud of all of your accomplishments, and we
hope to see you in the future.
800-49-SCOUT • gshom.org
27
Recipients of the
2015 Gold Award
Did you know?
• Girl Scout Gold Award recipients rate their general success in life
significantly higher and report higher success in reaching their goals within
many diverse domains (education, career, and volunteer work).
• Girl Scout Gold Award recipients place significantly higher importance on
being a leader.
• 59 million Girl Scout alumnae are more successful in school, develop a
stronger sense of self, and report greater satisfaction in life than their peers.