Sarasota resident and Craven College student Samantha Shaughnessy has earned Girl Scouting’s highest honor – the Gold Award – with her project titled The Moo Point.

An active participant in Future Farmers of America and 4-H, Shaughnessy earned money by raising and selling a dairy calf. She used this experience as the starting point for her Gold Award project.

Shaughnessy shared her story of raising a dairy calf with younger Girl Scouts and 4-H members and taught them how they, too, can participate in the dairy industry. She developed and presented a workshop that introduced participants to the reproductive cycle of dairy cows and the resources that go into producing milk.

For students interested in following in her footsteps, Shaughnessy worked directly with them to teach them about the expenses associated with raising a dairy calf. Her goal is to inspire more young people to become involved in livestock projects.

“Because of this project, I am more outspoken than I was before,” Shaughnessy said. “I will take this experience and move on to college knowing I can make a difference in my world one day at a time.”

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 Samantha!