27 Local Girl Scouts Receive Gold Award for Leading Community Impact Projects

Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) honored 27 local Girl Scouts with the Gold Award for leading impactful service projects that address needs in their communities and beyond. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor in Girl Scouting and recognizes girls who create lasting solutions to real-world challenges.

Each Gold Award project starts with a local or global issue identified by the Girl Scout and reflects a one-to-two-year journey of research, planning and collaboration as she develops a sustainable initiative designed to benefit others long after the project is completed.

“The Gold Award challenges Girl Scouts to think big about how they can improve the world around them and bring their vision to life,” said Mary Mitchell, co-CEO of GSACPC. “Through the experience of leading long-term projects, girls gain valuable skills and the confidence to stand out in college, careers and their communities.”

The 27 Gold Award projects tackled a wide range of meaningful issues across central and northern Arizona, including environmental stewardship, mental health and wellness, youth safety, cultural understanding, animal welfare, arts access and initiatives supporting schools, hospitals and shelters.

“The Gold Award is often the beginning of a lifetime commitment to service and leadership,” said Christina Spicer, co-CEO of GSACPC. “These Girl Scouts showcase diverse passions and perspectives, devoting their time and energy to making a noticeable difference.”

Earning the Gold Award prepares girls to navigate the next chapter of their lives and opens doors to scholarships, networks, academic opportunities and career pathways. This achievement represents a significant milestone for Girl Scouts as they prepare for the future.

The 27 Gold Award recipients and their projects are:

• Abby Schroff — Green Ground
• Abigail Hurst — The Roots of Our Nation: Re-igniting the Girl Scout Journey in Agriculture
• Alexis Gefroh — Understanding POTS: A Guide for Everyday Awareness and Support
• Alyssa Hernandez — Calmly Crocheting
• Amiya Aggarwal — Pages of Hope
• Amy Fleming — Self Defense Go!
• Anna Santiago — Papa’s Extended Wing
• Bella Rao — Feed, Clothe, House, Heal
• Bethany Carlson — Engineering Safety: 3D-Printed Walkie-Talkie Holders for Aquatic Facilities
• Ciera Colburn — For Your Future
• Courtney Hartle — Kids Corner
• Ella Southworth — Note-Worthy Education
• Elsie Chase — Musical Enrichment Through Assisted Living Facilities
• Emma Smith — The Sensory Garden
• Hayden McCauley — Signage for the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary
• Kara Bush — Pixie Patch Garden
• Katie Burkes — The Next Act: An Educational Workshop for Professional Theater Development
• Laney Thompson — Courage to Fly
• Lilly McAnerney — LEGO Lap Tables
• Natalia Franco — Eagle’s Nest Library
• Savannah Luckie — Sensory Sanctuary
• Simone Zurawski — Fur Real Safety: A Guide to Babysitting with Pets
• Sophia Tew — Confidence, Strength, and Empowerment through Taekwondo
• Tara Ghafouri — Embracing Cultural Differences
• Tayeba Tashbiba Waliza — Learn, Plant, Grow
• Taylor MacDonald — Feral Cat Awareness
• Tessa Langbecker — Education on Native Plants in Arizona