6 Stellar Girl Scouts Gold Awardees Receive Scholarships Totaling $10,000

Girl Scouts of Connecticut recently recognized 28 exceptional Girl Scouts who earned the organization’s highest achievement – Gold Award - at the Annual Girl Scout Gold Awards Ceremony at Hotel Marcel in New Haven. Now, the non-profit organization is pleased to announce that six exceptional awardees received monetary scholarships totaling $10,000 for their positive community-enhancing projects. They are Sania Prabhughate of South Windsor, Riona McKersie of Cos Cob, Kaitlyn Powers of Ellington, Cassandra Lazzara of Berlin, Gabriella Bourbon of Meriden and Ananya Rajan of South Windsor.

“To earn the Gold Award, a Girl Scout identifies an issue affecting her community, drafts a plan to address a root cause, and then leads a team of volunteers to implement it.When the project is complete, Gold Award Girl Scouts and their teams will have made a sustainable impact on their community that continues to last beyond their involvement,” said Elicia Pegues Spearman, CEO at Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT).

Five Girl Scout Gold Awardees each received a $1,000 scholarship from GSOFCT and one received a $5,000 scholarship from Girl Scouts USA:

·Sania Prabhughate of South Windsor received $1,000 for creating a wellness initiative to help fifth grade students manage stress and anxiety as they prepared to transition to middle school. Through engaging workshops, breathing exercises, mindfulness activities, and take-home resources, students learned practical tools for emotional regulation and confidence-building.

·Riona McKersie of Cos Cob earned $1,000 for addressing the negative impact of social media on teens by creating an educational initiative focused on healthier online habits, self-esteem, and digital wellness. Through workshops, presentations, newsletters, and interactive resources, she helped middle and high school students better understand social media’s influence while building strategies for positive engagement.

·Kaitlyn Powers from Ellington won $1,000 for launching a habitat restoration project focused on supporting declining native bird and plant species in Connecticut. On protected land in Ellington, she planted native flowers, built and installed birdhouses, and created educational materials to teach visitors about local ecosystems.

·Cassandra Lazzara of Berlin was awarded $1,000 for spotlighting the often-overlooked issue of dancer injuries by creating a multi-platform educational campaign focused on prevention and long-term wellness. She developed a website, led in-person demonstrations, and launched social media resources that taught dancers about safe training, stretching, nutrition, recovery, and body awareness.

·Gabriella Bourbon of Meriden also received $1,000 for creating an ADA
compliant courtyard at the Meriden Public Library to address the lack of community spaces for individuals with disabilities and special needs.
Equipped with plants, mosaics, and seating friendly to people with a variety of disabilities, the space serves as a calming area that members from the community can enjoy, regardless of their disabilities.

·Ananya Rajan from South Windsor earned the $5,000 award from Girl Scouts USA for launching the Sustain-A-Stitch Initiative to combat fast fashion and promote more sustainable clothing habits in her community. She created repair kits, educational brochures, a resource website, and hands-on workshops that taught participants how to mend clothing, donate responsibly, and extend the life of garments.

Gold Award honorees received recognition from Governor Lamont and other state officials.

“Only five percent of all Girl Scouts earn the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award,” adds Spearman “Above all else, this achievement helps a girl understand what a difference one person can make, and how dreaming big can make positive change in the world.

About Girl Scouts of Connecticut

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs, 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, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit www.gsofct.org.