Local Plainview Teens Earn Prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently celebrated Plainview residents Hope F., Gabrielle J., and Anjali P., who were among the 67 young women from across Nassau County to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award this year. The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouts and recognizes young women who identify a real problem in their community, build a team, and create a lasting, sustainable solution. They were honored at the 2026 Gold Award Ceremony at The Inn at New Hyde Park.

"The 2026 Gold Award Girl Scouts are an extraordinary group of young women, and what they have accomplished goes far beyond the projects they completed," said Rande Bynum, CEO of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. "Through this experience, every one of them built real, transferable skills in leadership, problem-solving, public speaking, and project management that will give them an edge in college, in their careers, and in every community they are a part of for the rest of their lives. We are so proud of each of them, and of the lasting impact they have already made right here in Nassau County."

Girls in grades 9-12 begin their Gold Award journeys by identifying a civic or social issue that holds personal significance to them. From there, each girl builds a team, develops a plan, and leads that team to implement a sustainable solution designed to continue creating impact long after her direct involvement ends. Through programs established at local schools, books donated to library collections, community installations, and digital resources with global reach, these young women leave behind something lasting. Along the way, Gold Award recipients develop into innovative problem-solvers, empathetic leaders, confident public speakers, and focused project managers, building resourcefulness, tenacity, and decision-making skills that give them a meaningful edge personally and professionally.

Hope's Gold Award, The Go to Guide to Empowering Our Youth, focused on helping adults build healthier, more supportive relationships with the children in their lives. She wrote and published a guidebook centered on traits such as confidence, empathy, honesty, and leadership, then expanded the project through YouTube webinars and community presentations.

Gabrielle's Gold Award, Gabby's Guide to Invisible Illness, addressed the lack of awareness and support for individuals living with hidden medical conditions. Drawing from her own journey with chronic illness, she authored and published a comprehensive guide now distributed through hospital networks including Cohen Children's Medical Center, remaining permanently available to newly diagnosed patients and their families.

Anjali's Gold Award, Learning Robotics in a Fun Environment, introduced elementary school students to STEM through hands-on robotics classes focused on building, programming, and engineering design. She created and led a six-session robotics program using LEGO robotics kits, partnering with the Bethpage High School Robotics Team and the district's Director of Technology, to continue the program for future students.

According to recent research, Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to fill leadership roles at work and in their personal lives, and are more civically engaged than their non-Girl Scout peers. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Gold Award Girl Scouts agree that earning their Gold Award gave them skills that help them succeed professionally. Seventy-two percent (72%) said earning their Gold Award helped them get a scholarship. And the impact does not stop there. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of Gold Award alums go on to take on leadership roles in their everyday lives.

For more information about Girl Scouts of Nassau County or to learn how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.gsnc.org&source=gmail&ust=1784734195360000&sa=E.

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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. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alum, 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 gsnc.org.