Receiving the Gold Award is the highest honor in Girl Scouts; it requires significant effort and commitment.  For Pascack Hills senior Angela Rossi, Girl Scouts has been an important part of her life since she was a young girl and she has always made it a priority. Angela chose a Gold Award project that was both important to her personally and would benefit those in the community.

Here is a look into Angela’s experience in Girl Scouts and her Gold Award project:

When did you first start Girl Scouts?  What do you think you gained from being a Girl Scout for so many years?

I became a Girl Scout in kindergarten and have been an active participant ever since. I gained a lot of friends through the years. Most of my closest friends were in the troop with me from the start. I was also lucky enough to have strong bonds with my troop leaders Nancy Michaels and Vickie Mangino. The two of them began to feel like a second and third mother to me. They were so supportive and great to work with.

Can you explain the process of earning your Gold Award?

The first step in earning your Gold Award is attending a mandatory information meeting at the Girl Scout council. There they explained the process and all the time and effort into having a successful “Take Action” project. After that it was up to me to become inspired to create a project to help my community.  After the technicalities were handled, I had to fill out preliminary paper work to get my idea approved by the Girl Scout Council.   I had to go before the council and explain my project and the impact I hoped to have.  After approval I could officially begin my 80 hours and my project. Upon completion of my project I had to fill out final report forms concluding and analyzing the results.

How long did you have to complete your Gold Award? How much time in total did you devote to working on the project?

To be eligible for the Gold Award, the Girl Scout must have at least 80 hours of service dedicated to the project.  Girl Scouts have from the time they complete their Silver Award, usually around sophomore year, to the time they graduate. I spent well over 80 hours of planning, meetings, and working with the 8^th graders. I would go to the middle school with the art mentors once a week for a few hours from my Sophomore year to the end of my Junior year.

Can you explain the project you chose, and why you chose it?  Why was it important to you to pursue the Gold Award?

I created an Art Mentoring Program at Woodcliff Middle School where I brought high school artists to help 8^th graders with their independent art projects after school.  I chose it because it was the only way I could combine my two passions and incorporate art into a Take Action Project.  I also wanted to shine light on the importance of art in a child’s development.  It’s an amazing positive outlet for kids, especially when they are going through a transition like one from middle school to high school. It was important for me to pursue the Gold Award because of how far I had already come in my Girl Scout career. I didn’t see the point in being involved for years only to stop because I was in high school. I also did it out of respect for my troop leaders. I knew how much time and effort they put into all the meetings and events throughout the years and this was sort of my way of saying thank you. As much as the Girl Scout Council insists that the award is independent and focused solely on the girl, it’s less individual in my eyes. I see it shared between my troop leaders and myself.  When I accepted the award at the Town Hall, I made sure my troop leaders got as much recognition as I did because they were the reason I could make it that far in the first place.

When you complete the project what happens?  Do you attend a ceremony?

I completed my project last June and received my award in early November. As of right now, sophomore Olivia Bulzomi is continuing my program. I received many congratulatory letters in the mail. I was invited to some celebratory dinners and award ceremonies. I was recognized for my award and received a plaque from the Board of Education at one of their meetings. The mayor and council of Woodcliff at a Town Hall Meeting also recognized me. I spoke at the meeting and was presented with an award and flowers.  The mayor also sent me a letter in the mail congratulating me.

Angela demonstrated dedication and perseverance throughout the process of completing her Gold Award.  The task was long and challenging, but it was important to her to reach the final goal.  Congratulations to Angela on achieving this significant accomplishment!