Lee County resident and Bishop Verot High School student Nicole Holdgrafer has earned Girl Scouting’s highest honor – the Gold Award – with her project titled, A Meaningful Visit.

After touring the Family Visitation Room at the Department of Children and Families in Fort Myers, Holdgrafer realized how unwelcoming and dull the visitation room was. Her creative side took over and Holdgrafer gave the room a new, cheery coat of paint and decorated it with her own original artwork. She also collected donated books, toys, art supplies, and board games to fill the room.

What was once a bare room was turned into a cheerful, kid-friendly space where families can read, play, and color while they enjoy their time together.

Holdgrafer’s goal was to facilitate enriched interactions between children and parents to create more relaxing, meaningful family visits.

“This project taught me that I need to continue advocating and leading in things that matter,” Holdgrafer said. “I will educate others and encourage them to do the same.”

The Girl Scout Gold Award, open to high school Girl Scouts, recognizes girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through take-action projects with sustainable impact in their communities. The Gold Award is so prestigious that some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.

Congratulations Nicole!