Two Orange County Girl Scouts Win National Honors

IRVINE, CA — The Girl Scouts of Orange County announced two local Girl Scouts,Megan Loh and Isabella Madrigal,have been named 2019 National Gold Award Girl Scouts.

"Megan and Isabella are two of just 10 teen change-makers selected from across the nation this year for creating innovative and sustainable solutions for today's most pressing issues," a spokesperson said.

A panel of previous National Gold Award Girl Scouts, leaders from a diverse array of fields, GSUSA staff, National Volunteer partners, and representatives from the Kappa Delta Foundation and Arconic Foundation reviewed each entrant.

Each National Gold Award Girl Scout will receive a combined $100,000 in college scholarships from Susan Bulkeley Butler, founder of a women's leadership development organization, and a former member of the Girl Scouts of the USA Board of Directors. The Kappa Delta Foundation and Arconic Foundation each generously contributed $50,000 in college scholarships for the 2019 cohort.

Over the years, almost 3,000 Orange County Girl Scouts have earned the Gold Award. Now, five have earned the highly esteemed distinction of National Gold Award Girl Scout. The Gold Award is awarded to high school-aged girl scouts who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national, and global challenges.

This is the first time in Girl Scouts of Orange County's history that two local girls have been selected in the same year for this prestigious honor. Previous Orange County honorees include Analucía Lopezrevoredo (2004), Liza Villanueva (2015), and Sharleen Loh (2017).

"Fueled by passion, persistence, and a resistance to accept the status quo, the National Gold Award Girl Scouts were selected from an impressive pool of Gold Award Girl Scouts nationwide," they told us.

2019 National Gold Award Girl Scout Megan Loh
Gold Award Project: GEARup4Youth

Megan addressed the underrepresentation of women in technology careers. She formed GEARup4Youth, a nonprofit that supports girls' interests in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) while encouraging them to pursue related career paths. She initiated the first girls-only robotics classes at local Boys & Girls Clubs. Finally, she partnered with over 200 organizations—from national STEM groups and the LA County of Education to children's museums and public libraries—to host presentations, family STEM events, and expos sharing her technology curriculum. Loh also published a book, Easy STEM Activities You Can Do at Home!, which reached a broad audience and stimulated more girls' interests in STEM.

GEARup4Youth has benefited 9,500 girls to date and is continuing to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children.

Loh reflected on her award, saying: "Through my Gold Award project, not only have I gained the friendship of volunteers who share my passion, I've captured the love of the girls I have taught. Teaching these future STEM leaders has taught me that people of all different backgrounds, cultures, and languages can learn and thrive in their shared passion for technology."

2019 National Gold Award Girl Scout Isabella Madrigal
Gold Award Project: Cultural Strengthening Through Native American Storytelling

A member of the Cahuilla tribe, actress, and storyteller, Isabella struggled to find roles on the stage that fit her own experiences. To address the lack of indigenous peoples' representation in the U.S. media and cultural narrative, Isabella wrote, directed, and performed in the play Menil and Her Heart about missing and murdered indigenous women. Her fellow actors included Native American tribal members and community participants, whom she brought together through workshops which not only exposed them to the art of performance, but also to traditional stories and the need for activism that addresses social injustices for indigenous peoples.

Reflecting on her project, Isabella shared, "Girl Scouts has given me the opportunity to find my own voice and to speak on behalf of marginalized and overlooked missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. Leadership entails bringing to light complex, emotional, and intense issues because if no one does anything, nothing will change."

"This year's National Gold Award Girl Scouts have truly distinguished themselves as visionary leaders," said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. "In a time when an increasing number of young people are using their voices to come together and take action, these girls stand out. They have made an incredible impact on the worlds of STEM, education, agriculture, the environment, civil rights, and beyond. While they are making the world a better place, they are also investing in themselves; Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to earn college scholarships and achieve higher education and career outcomes, and they can enlist in the military at a higher pay grade.
We're proud to support Girl Scouts across the country as they drive meaningful and lasting change in their communities and beyond."

Girl Scouts of Orange County's CEO Vikki Shepp added, "Megan and Isabella are community problem-solvers, whose projects have local and national impact and have changed our world for the better. These incredible young women are poised to continue to create groundbreaking solutions and we are proud to see them recognized as National Gold Award Girl Scouts."

"Girl Scouts—like these young women—make the world a better place every day and will continue to defy expectations and act as bold advocates for a brighter future," Shepp said.
To see how you can get involved and make a difference as a member, volunteer, or supporter, visit girlscouts.org/join.