Two local girls earn Girl Scouts' top honor
Bartlett residents Elizabeth Gorski and Diana Lewis were among 27 Girl Scouts in northern Illinois who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award in 2011. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn.
Gorski organized a dog walk-a-thon at the James ‘Pate' Philips Nature Center in Bartlett. Participants brought both their dogs and a donation to be distributed to local organizations, including Anderson Animal Shelter and Hanover Township Food Pantry. Attendees walked their dogs on a 2-mile course and then participated in fun contests and games.
“I chose this as my project, because Bartlett is such a dog-oriented community, yet still there is so much need at local shelters and organizations,” says Gorski. “I needed to raise community awareness!”
Lewis helped with the 2-mile dog walk at James ‘Pate' Philips Park that included donations for a local shelter and food pantry. Booths were set up at the event, so local dog-related businesses could educate and interact with the public. More than 100 donations were collected at the event. Participants played games, received prizes and had fun with their canine friends.
“I am considering veterinary medicine as a career choice,” says Lewis. “I wanted to do something that might give me some background on dogs while helping them out.
Gorski and Lewis were honored for their accomplishments at Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois' recent Young Women of Distinction event.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts, and focuses on a 14- to 18-year-old Girl Scout's interests and personal journey through learning leadership skills, career exploration, self-improvement and service. For many girls, these skills, organizational proficiency, and sense of community and commitment that come from "going for the Gold" set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship.
About Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois serves over 20,000 girls and nearly 6,000 adult volunteers in parts or all of Boone, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago counties.
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls in grades K through 12 are engaged in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place. Girls develop leadership potential by participating in age-appropriate activities that enable them to discover their values, skills, and the world around them. Activities in science and technology, business and economic literacy, and outdoor and environmental awareness provide girls with opportunities for fun and friendship while fostering the development of leadership skills and self-esteem.
To find out how you can become part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, call 800-242-5591, or visit our website at www.girlscoutsni.org.
About Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.4 million girl and adult members nationwide. Through membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), Girl Scouts is part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 45 countries. Girl Scouting is the leading authority on girls' healthy development and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate to Girl Scouts, call 800-GSUSA-4-U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.