New Haven Girl Scouts Go For the Gold to Earn Highest Award

Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT) recognized exceptional Girl Scouts who earned the organization’s highest award at the Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony on June 5, 2022. The annual celebration at the Courtyard by Marriott in Waterbury honored the dreamers and the doers who take the organization’s mission “make the world a better place” to the next level. The day-long event included a public Gold Award Expo that showcased the 2022 Gold Award Girl Scout projects, along with the official award and scholarship presentation.

Gold Award achievers from New Haven included Valli Pendyala of South Windsor for changing the entirety of her school’s 10th grade US History curriculum to make it more inclusive and Paola Frunzio of North Haven for teaming up with the Hamden Land Conservation Trust to create a pollinator garden.

To earn the Gold Award, a high school Girl Scout identifies an issue affecting their community, investigates solutions, formulates a plan of action, then builds a team to ensure sustainable impact that lasts beyond their involvement.
“A Gold Award Girl Scout’s accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart as a community leader,” explained Diana Mahoney, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “The Gold Award is a major milestone in a girl’s life and a culmination of all she has learned through her Girl Scout experience.”
Each recipient was presented with an official Gold Award Certificate, Letter, and Proclamation. Mahoney notes that the accomplishment positively impacts the Girl Scout’s future education and career plans, as a growing number of colleges and universities recognize the national Gold Award through admission and scholarships. A Gold Award Girl Scout is also entitled to enlist in the armed forces at a higher pay grade than an individual who has not earned the award.
Additionally, GSOFCT awarded $1,000 scholarships to seven of the Gold Award recipients. To be eligible, the Girl Scout must be a current high school senior or college freshman and have earned the Gold Award. This year’s winners were Rachael Amatruda of Guilford, Alexia Anglade of Ridgefield, Erin Dalton of Colchester, Neya Kidambi of Trumbull, Libby Riggs of Haddam, MJ Taylor of Sandy Hook and Maeve Tucker of Burlington. The Connecticut Elks Association selected Francesca Foster of Mystic for its 2022 Connecticut Elks Girl Scout Award Scholarship.
“Less than six percent of all Girl Scouts earn the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Mahoney. “Above all else, this achievement makes a girl understand what a difference one person can make, what one girl in a leadership role can do, and how one person’s vision can inspire positive change.”

About Girl Scouts of Connecticut
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit www.gsofct.org.
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PHOTO: from left to right: Valli Pendyala of South Windsor and Paola Frunzio from North Haven were among the 58 Gold Award honorees at the Annual Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony on June 5, 2022 in Waterbury. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest leadership award a Girl Scout can earn.