Local Wantagh Teens Earn Prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently celebrated Wantagh residents Reese M., and Lily N., 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."

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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.

Reese's Gold Award, Unleashing Love, focused on improving the emotional well-being of seniors in assisted living facilities by increasing awareness of the benefits of therapy dogs. She organized presentations for Girl Scout troops, senior centers, and local organizations, and most importantly established an ongoing partnership between Amber Court Assisted Living and a certified therapy dog team that now visits residents monthly.

Lily's Gold Award, Growing Your Mind for a Better World, focused on combating food insecurity through sustainable gardening education and community outreach through local food pantries. She partnered with Crossroads Farm and other community organizations to teach children and families how to grow fruits and vegetables using accessible, low-cost methods such as hydroponics and small-space gardening methods, hosted workshops for more than 100 younger Girl Scouts, and distributed gardening pamphlets with attached seed packets to food pantry visitors.

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 www.gsnc.org.