Three Barrington Residents Receive Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc. (GSRI) is honored to present April Marion Harff, Carlene Niguidula, and Molly Williams all of Barrington, RI with the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest and most prestigious achievement in Girl Scouting. On Saturday, June 1, April, Carlene and Molly were among the seventeen Girl Scout Gold Award recipients who were honored during a ceremony at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet in Cranston, RI. The second annual Young Women of Distinction Awards were also presented to three Girl Scout Gold Award recipients whose projects were selected based on creativity, sustainability, and impact, and April was honored as a runner-up and received a $500 scholarship.

April, daughter of Todd and Judy Harff, is a senior at Moses Brown School. As a Girl Scout member for thirteen years, April is a Girl Scout Ambassador in Troop #426. During her project, “Project SAAF (Stop Assault Against Females)”, April created an awareness campaign to educate teens about sexual violence and to empower survivors to overcome their victimization. She created a website (www.ProjectSAAF.org) and distributed pamphlets to over thirty school districts, which serve as a resource for victims and raise awareness about sexual violence. April will graduate later this month and plans on attending The Berklee College of Music, majoring in music with a minor in business.

Carlene, daughter of David A. and Reina Q. Niguidula, is a senior at Barrington High School. As a Girl Scout member for ten years, Carlene is a Girl Scout Ambassador in Troop #426. During her project, “The Girl Movement”, Carlene developed a leadership-themed peer-mentoring program for teen girls residing a in a group home at Gateway Healthcare. She led a series of workshops, which included writing seminars and activities that allowed participants to explore, reflect, and become more confident and strong. Carlene will graduate later this month and plans on attending Brown University majoring in American studies and physics.

Molly, daughter of Peter A. and Donna S. Williams, is a senior at Barrington High School.  As a Girl Scout member for thirteen years, Molly is a Girl Scout Ambassador in Troop #426. During her project, “Something to Do”, Molly knew that teens in Barrington are sometimes involved with alcohol and drugs. To help combat this, she created alternative activities for teens to do during the weekends.  Molly worked with the Bay Spring Community Center in Barrington to organize several Teen Nights, including opportunities for teens to showcase their talents and perform in front of their peers. Molly will graduate in June and plans on attending Vanderbilt University, majoring in medicine, health and society, and an interdisciplinary study of biology and sociology.

Only 5% of eligible Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award annually. To be eligible, a girl must demonstrate leadership while spending a minimum of 80 hours assessing a need and designing a solution, finding the resources and the support to make it happen, completing the service project, and inspiring others to sustain it, all leading to making a measurable and sustainable difference in her community.

At this year’s ceremony, GSRI also recognized Girl Scout Silver Award recipients with a special salute and in addition to April, the Young Women of Distinction top recipient Lindsay Michelle Gimple of Pawcatuck, CT, received a $1,000 scholarship and runner-up, Alison Jeffrey of Lincoln, RI also received a $500 scholarship.

About Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc.
Girl Scouts is the world’s preeminent girl leadership organization where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc., in partnership with 2,800 adult volunteers, serves 9,400 girls from Rhode Island, Pawcatuck, CT, and these communities in MA: Bellingham, Blackstone, Attleboro, Fall River, North Attleboro, Plainville, Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Wrentham, Millville, Rehoboth and Seekonk, MA. For more information about Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc., please visit www.gsri.org.