Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently recognized Mineola resident Janelle Zapiti, a rising senior at Sacred Heart Academy, for earning the Gold Award, the highest and most prestigious award within the Girl Scouts Movement. In order to be eligible for a Gold Award, a Girl Scout must have completed two Girl Scout senior or ambassador journeys or have already received the Silver Award and completed one additional journey.
Zapiti’s Girl Scout Gold Award “Take Action Project,” Preserving Mineola History, modernized how history was being preserved by the Mineola Historical Society. Using her information technology skills, Zapiti spent countless hours teaching members of the society how to use the computer to digitize hundreds of their documents. She also did a presentation on the history of aviation and encouraged intergenerational relationships through her project.
The Gold Award also requires the completion of 80-hours or more of an individual leadership Take Action project that makes a sustainable and measurable impact on an important issue or need in the community and that serves to educate and inspire others in the community.
“Earning the Gold Award is an incredible achievement that only 5 percent of all Girl Scouts na-tionwide obtain,” said Donna Ceravolo, executive director and CEO of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “We are all so proud of the Gold Award recipients. Their hard work and dedication is truly admirable.”
This award recognizes the Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts for their leadership skills and excellence and must be completed before or during the Girl Scout’s senior year in high school. To the majority of the girls receiving the Gold Award, it serves as the peak of their Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
