GC Residents Achieve Highest Honor In Girl Scouting

Lauren Giambrone

With the busy schedules of High School students, it's tough to find any spare time for extra activities. However, this year 72 Girl Scouts in Nassau County have fit in a minimum of 65 hours to improve their communities. These young women developed Gold Award community action projects, promoting acts of kindness and goodwill which ultimately made the world a better place. Their efforts earn these Girl Scouts the Gold Award, the highest honor that a young woman can achieve in Girl Scouting. Among the honorees were Lauren Giambrone and Shannon Murphy of Garden City.

Shannon Murphy educated the Girl Scout community about why families attend family court through her Gold Award project, entitled "Books and Bears Go to Court." With help from families in her community, Ms. Murphy was able to bring some joy to the children who pass through the Suffolk County Family Court System. A veteran volunteer, Ms. Murphy is involved in The Miracle Club, which helps raise money for cancer research, and Students Helping Students, a program in which outstanding students mentor and teach other students to create a positive, healthy school environment. Shannon is also involved in many of her high school's music programs and is active in her church as a lector and Eu-charistic Minister. Ms. Murphy is currently a Senior at Garden City High School.

Shannon Murphy

Lauren Giambrone brought some holiday cheer for the teenagers of Madonna Heights, a home for foster children and teens who need shelter. With her Gold Award project, "Helping Others Through Cooking," she cooked a holiday meal for the residents of Madonna Heights, and made a cookbook for the young mothers of Momma's House, a non-profit organization that provides a home for young, single, homeless mothers and their babies. Ms. Giambrone, an upcoming Junior at Garden City High School, is the President of the Heart 2 Heart Club and plays flute in the marching band and pep band.

"We are so truly proud of all our Girl Scouts Gold Award recipients," said Donna Ceravolo, Executive Director of GSNC. Only five percent of the eligible Girl Scouts take the rigorous path towards earning the Gold Award and in doing so, they have changed the lives of others and their own in amazing and significant ways."

On June 3rd, the Girl Scouts of Nassau County honored Senior Girl Scouts between the ages of 16 and 18 at a special ceremony held at SUNY Old Westbury. On June 18th, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi presented the girls, along with their Eagle Scout Award counterparts from Boy Scouts, with certificates for their achievements at the Cradle of Aviation. Girl Scout Gold Award recipients, along with this year's Eagle Scouts, were also recognized by Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray on June 2nd at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve.

"Girl Scouts who achieve the Gold Award demonstrate character and perseverance as well as impeccable time management and organizational skills. They have joined an elite group of American women who are part of the Girl Scouts of the USA's Gold Award Alliance," said Ms Ceravolo.

The Gold Award project helps Senior Girl Scouts develop leadership skills and explore career paths. Overall, the Gold Awards require a commitment of three years on the part of each young woman. It affords the teen the opportunity to learn about arts and humani-ties, cultural and global relations, personal well-being, technology and science, and any one of the innumerable issues facing young women today.