South Kingstown Girl Scout Wins $10,000 Scholarship

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI — A girl scout from South Kingstown has won the Girl Scouts of the USA’s Gold Award Scholarship worth $10,000 towards higher education, the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England (GSSNE) said Wednesday.

Anna Kelly of Wakefield won the award. She graduated from South Kingstown High School this year and will be attending Simmons College in the fall to study nursing.

"I began girl scouts in kindergarten, and even at that young age, I have always imagined myself as a Gold Award girl scout," Kelly said. "I am proud of the person I have become and thankful for what this organization has taught me."

The 10 Gold Award girl scouts from GSSNE were encouraged to apply for this scholarship, and one scout from each of the 111 girl scout councils was selected for this honor. Recipients were selected based on their projects exemplifying the core components of the Gold Award and demonstrating extraordinary leadership that drives lasting change within the community and beyond.

Kelly received the award after completing her project "Peer-to-Peer Program in Middle School," which aimed at destigmatizing mental illness at Curtis Corner Middle School in Wakefield. The program Kelly implemented helps students become advocates to connect their peers to mental health professionals. The program starts with a one-day training at the beginning of the school year that teaches students how to look for signs of mental illness and how to connect students to resources.

"Throughout this project, I have learned how to be a resourceful leader and impact those around me," Kelly said. "In the future, I hope to encourage other young women to also participate in this project."

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