The Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently recognized Kaitlin Batik, a graduate of Massapequa High School and rising sophomore at Molloy College; Kimberly Haynie, a recent graduate of Massapequa High School and student at the University of Delaware; and Julie Kapuvari, a Massapequa Park native, recent graduate of Massapequa High School and student at Cornell University, 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. 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 nationwide 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.
Batik’s Girl Scout Gold Award Take Action Project, “Memories of Gold,” captured the personal history of past generations by interviewing senior citizens living in an assisted living facility. Aiming to elicit the most powerful memories from the seniors, Batik asked questions families often don’t think to, giving the seniors a chance to share their memories. Batik videotaped the sessions and then distributed the tapes to the seniors’ families and created a blog to ensure the stories are passed on and remembered.
Haynie’s project, “Healthy Eating,” served to promote healthy eating among children. Aiming to encourage children to choose healthy food on their own, Haynie created a cookbook filled with recipes for healthy snacks. Through a series of workshops and cooking demonstrations, she taught children how to recreate healthy recipes and gave them each her recipe book to take home.
Kapuvari’s Take Action Project, “Pollination Project: Don’t Bee Afraid, Bee-lieve,” addressed beekeepers’ problem of major colony losses attributed to Colony Collapse Disorder. Kapuvari conducted presentations for a variety of groups, educating them about the need for bee colonies and pesticide free environments. Kapuvari explained how her own bee colony has a mutualistic relationship with the organic farm in which it resides. While the colony contributes to the farm’s sustainability and productivity, the organic farm creates a safe haven for the bees, which are an endangered species.
To volunteer, reconnect, donate or join The Girl Scouts, visit www.gsnc.org.
