The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida are proud to recognize twelve outstanding young women for earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. The Gold Award recognizes high school Girl Scouts who address issues they are passionate about by planning and implementing a project that produces lasting change in their communities and beyond.

Local Gold Award Girl Scouts and their projects include:

• Abigail Dalesandro, North Fort Myers High School; Art Through Lee: Behind the Scenes and LOTHCAT Draws
• Alexis Morrison, homeschooled in Sarasota; Mental Health Awareness
• Alexis Smith, Lehigh Senior High School; Heart to Heart
• Autumn Pepper Rhodes, Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts; Girls Who Soar
• Faith Chaney, Sarasota High School; Period’s Aren’t Taboo
• Jainley Garcia, Oasis High School; Educating The Youth On Deforestation & Urbanization
• Julia Sammons, Lakewood Ranch High School; Reading and the Mind
• Madison Witherspoon, Riverview High School; L.F.A Program
• Natasha Agarwal, Canterbury School Ft. Myers; PAGETURNER Digital Learning Library
• Olivia Thorstad, Cypress Lake High School; Removing Barriers to Student Success
• Tristan Blankenship, North Port High School; Tristan’s Blankets of Love
• Victoria King, Bonita Springs High School; Volleyball for Confidence

The girls were recognized on April 30 at the 3rd annual Gold Award Luncheon, celebrated at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice.

“Earning the Gold Award is difficult, but the skills a girl learns during the process will help her throughout her life.” said Mary Anne Servian, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO. “The Gold Award is not just another award. The Gold Award is a symbol of your remarkable determination, your spirit of giving back, your unfailing ability to see a project through to completion. Not an easy thing to do when you are so incredibly busy.”

During the luncheon, the girls were presented with their Gold Award pins by Mary Anne Servian, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO, and Richard Cyphers, Board President. Each girl had the opportunity to film their own video about their project, and these clips were debuted at the luncheon. The videos are available for viewing on the GSGCF Youtube channel.

Girls had the opportunity to speak about their projects and thank their family, friends, and project advisors for their ongoing support.

Richard Cyphers, Board President, called on the girls to continue making an impact in their communities even after their graduate from Girl Scouting. “I can’t express enough how proud we are of all of you today,” he said. “But remember, even if you are graduating this year, this is only the beginning! I hope all of you realize what an important difference you are making and carry that with you as you continue your Girl Scouting journey, whether as a girl, adult, or volunteer.”

Two scholarships were presented during the luncheon; the Dr. Elinor Crawford Girl Scout College Scholarship was presented to Gold Award Girl Scouts Faaith Chaney, Autumn Pepper Rhodes, and Alexis Smith; and The Lyndi Cyphers Memorial College Scholarship was presented to Alexis Smith by Richard Cyphers in honor of his late wife, Lyndi.