Local Garden City Teens Earn Prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award

GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK (JUNE 2022) — Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently honored Garden City residents Avery Davis, Sofia Gargiulo, Shannon Graham, Samantha LaSalla, Paige Matarazzo and Catherine Rovelli for earning their Gold Awards. The Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award a Girl Scout can achieve, as it recognizes the remarkable dedication she has for improving their community and the world around them. Avery, Sofia, Shannon, Samantha, Paige and Catherine were presented with their Gold Awards at the Girl Scouts of Nassau County's 2022 Gold Awards Ceremony, joining an elite group of 53 young women from throughout Nassau County who earned the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.

“The recipients of this year’s Gold Awards have displayed diligence, compassion and altruism in approaching issues facing their communities,” said Randell Bynum, the chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “Their efforts have not gone unnoticed in their communities and their impacts will leave an imprint for years to come. I applaud them for addressing topics like social justice, mental health, the environment and more, while putting forth solutions to create a better world.”

The Gold Award program is designated for girls in grades 9-12 and is intended to help girls explore civic and social issues they are passionate about pursuing. The process of earning a Gold Award begins with a Girl Scout identifying a civic or social issue, drafting a plan to approach the issue and, lastly, partnering with volunteers or community leaders to implement it. The plan implemented needs to be sustainable and reach beyond the Girl Scout’s personal community.

Through Avery’s project “Full STEM Ahead,” she created a science curriculum for bilingual students at La Fuerza Unida’s after-school program. Her curriculum provided elementary school students the opportunity to become familiar with and engage in STEM activities. She expanded the current after-school homework program by encouraging the children's interests and expanding their knowledge in the science and technology fields. Avery met her goal to give these children the same opportunities and path for success as any other child. Avery’s lessons will be carried on in La Fuerza Unida’s after-school program and in local library programs through the Matinecock Meeting House Sunday School. Avery is a rising sophomore at Friends Academy.

For her Gold Award Project, “Dyslexia Awareness Project,” Sofia Gargiulo addressed the warning signs of dyslexia. Her goal was to educate parents and caregivers how to be aware of these signs, so they can detect dyslexia early in their children, and get them the proper help and tools in order to succeed. She created a social media page where she posted helpful tips and facts about dyslexia.

Sofia hosted Zoom discussions and created an information table at her library with takeaway information. Sofia is a recent graduate of Garden City High School and will attend Fairfield University in the fall.

Through her Gold Award project, Shannon Graham worked to provide children and those with special needs, fun, educational activities during the uncertainty of the pandemic to earn her Gold Award. COVID-19 has caused many limitations and cancellations of activities. In response, Shannon created, “Awesome After-School Adventures,” enriching videos of activities through the Garden City library’s website. She also collaborated with the AHRC to teach cooking to those with special needs during several live Zoom sessions. The videos are still being enjoyed by the Garden City’s virtual library. Shannon is an alumna of Kellenberg Memorial High School and will be a sophomore at the University of Miami in the fall.

Samantha LaSalla’s project, “Middle School 101: Easy Transition Guide and Website for Students,” helped students become more prepared and less anxious for middle school. She created a Middle School 101 Guide that includes tips and strategies for new middle school students. Her presentation and website were developed based on feedback and advice given during interviews conducted with middle school educators located throughout the State of New York. Samantha shared this advice to help students build their confidence and self-esteem during the transition process in public and private schools around Long Island, the metropolitan area, and upstate New York. She also donated school supplies for students in need at various school districts. Students, teachers, and administrators were given access to her website and manual to assist future classes. Samantha will be a senior at Garden City High School this fall.

Paige Matarazzo educated her community on the environmental consequences of improper prescription drug disposal. Her Gold Award Project, “A Cleaner and Healthier America,” included a PowerPoint presented to her peers about prescription drug abuse and the importance of disposing unwanted or expired medication. She also emphasized how improper drug disposals can contaminate our water supply and soil in landfills and provided examples of how to safely get rid of prescription drugs. Matarazzo’s school district is incorporating her resources into their curriculum and other prescription drug related workshops. Paige is a recent graduate of Garden City High School.

Catherine Rovelli did “Poverty Problems on Long Island” to address the problem of poverty on Long Island through educational sessions with kids in her community. Through discussions, presentations, and her YouTube video, she explained how poverty affects kids and demonstrated how everyone can make an impact on this problem on Long Island. In addition to expanding awareness, Catherine worked with Bethany House, a transitional home for homeless women and their children, to renovate a playroom which will be a space for kids to play, read, and unwind. Through her journey to Gold, Catherine has learned that she is capable of making a lasting impact on the community. Catherine will be a senior at Garden City High School in the fall.

According to the Girl Scout Research Institute, girls who have achieved their Gold Award, experience greater life success due to a greater sense of self, satisfaction, leadership, life achievements, community service and civic engagement. Gold Award Girl Scouts who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive a higher pay grade and can receive scholarships or other recognition from most colleges or universities.

To volunteer, reconnect, donate or join, visit www.gsnc.org.

###

We Are Girl Scouts: Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs in Nassau County, across Long Island and 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 alumni, Girl Scouts leads 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 girlscouts.org.