Local Girl Scouts honored with Gold Award

Recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award will be honored at the Celebration of Achievement reception Tuesday in Vernon Hills.

The final step to earning a Gold Award is a project that encourages candidates to identify a community need. It must include at least 50 hours of planning, implementation and execution.

Gold Award recipients from the area include:

• Margaret Chapman, Mount Prospect, Girl Scout Troop 2064. Project helped 45 teen immigrants assimilate into their new community through activities, crafts and experiences that are part of American culture. Attends Columbia College.

• Alexandra Izydorek, Hoffman Estates, Girl Scout Troop 566. Project taught proper dental care to needy children. It included a sewing craft making tooth-shaped travel pillows filled with dental supplies for children in foster care. Attends Fremd High School.

• Colleen Nelson, Mount Prospect, Girl Scout Troop 2016. Project collected needed items for Hurricane Katrina victims in Waveland, Miss. Volunteers collected kitchen supplies, first-aid kits, tools, toys, blankets and other goods. Attends Regina Dominican High School.

• Katie Puszka, Buffalo Grove, Girl Scout Troop 3339. Project made 65 blankets for children staying at WINGS (Women In Need Growing Stronger) shelter. Attends Stevenson High School.

• Christine Valliere, Palatine, Girl Scout Troop 566. Project solicited donations of food and supplies for a local animal shelter. Attends Fremd High School.

• Amanda Weteska, Mount Prospect, Girl Scout Troop 2526. Project raised awareness about teen dating violence through a fashion show. Models wore ten different jackets that were decorated to provide information about violence in teen relationships. Attends Prospect High School.