Rocky Hill Girl Earns Highest National Girl Scout Honor

Sasha Yazdzik of Rocky Hill has received her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

In order to earn the Gold Award, Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts between grades nine through 12 spend at least 80 hours researching issues, assessing community needs and resources, building a team, and making a sustainable impact in the community. A Gold Award recipient’s accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart as a community leader.

Sasha’s Gold Award project addressed the need to provide safe and enjoyable environments to campers who attend the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, CT. Sasha lined the path from the campsite to the river with pressure-treated wood and redesigned the fire pit. She provided more seating and decreased the fire pit size to control the possibility of a bonfire.

Sasha’s work will be maintained by a volunteer crew that will work at the beginning of the camp season each year. The fire pit and seating are sustainable because they are made of natural materials. Sasha hopes to pursue a career in outdoor education and business.

“On a national level, only four to six percent of Girl Scouts earn this prestigious honor, and I am beyond proud of our girls,” said Mary Barneby, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “By earning the Gold Award, Girl Scouts set themselves apart as top achievers, and are incredible women of confidence, courage, and character, who make the world a better place. Next year, we are excited to celebrate our 100th year of encouraging girls to Go Gold!”

For more information about the Gold Award or how to become a Gold Award volunteer or mentor, visit http://www.gsofct.org/pages/GoldAward.php.