35 Colorado Girl Scouts earn Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts

Caira Adair, Autism Awareness Workshop, Fort Collins - Adair’s project aimed to raise awareness about autism by sharing her personal experiences as an autistic individual with a service dog and highlighting the everyday challenges faced by people with disabilities. Through educational workshops for Girl Scouts and volunteers, she encouraged participants to consider how common activities can be overwhelming for autistic individuals, fostering greater empathy, understanding, and inclusion.

Marianne Albright, Teaching Outdoor Skills to Girls, Colorado Springs - With this project, Albright addressed the issue of young girls not feeling confident in outdoor settings. By partnering with the Salvation Army’s Red Shield program, the program taught essential wilderness survival skills such as tent building, knot tying, basic first aid, and food safety, while also fostering communication and teamwork through interactive activities. To ensure lasting impact, the Salvation Army integrated the program into its curriculum.

Isabella Benson, Women in Science Art Installation, Boulder -Benson’s Gold Award project aimed to address the lack of representation of female scientists. She tackled this issue by creating an art installation at her school, featuring a QR code that links to a comprehensive website for further education. The school will continue to display and rotate it, guiding more people to the website and expanding their understanding of women's contributions to science.

Emma Casini, Academic Growth at Sanchez Elementary, Lafayette - Casini’s project tackled the gap in academic support at an underserved elementary school by creating a literacy-focused mentorship program that paired local high school students with younger learners. Through regular reading sessions, the older students inspired a love of reading and learning in the children. The program is sustained through strong partnerships with the high school honors societies.

Simran Chahal, Seeds of Knowledge, Denver - For her Gold Award project, Chahal partnered with Bonverts Farm to help create an outdoor educational space where students can learn about sustainable farming. To support this mission, the project included building two large hybrid hydroponic planters, which allow the farm to grow more crops. The project not only enhanced the farm’s educational reach but also ensured continued community engagement and support.

Hayden Crist, C.A.M.P.H.I.R., Littleton - With this project, Crist enriched the training program among overnight camp staff by creating a comprehensive health fair and training program at Girl Scouts of Colorado camp, Tomahawk Ranch. Partnering with medical professionals, nonprofit organizations, and hospital representatives, the project provided staff with valuable resources and hands-on opportunities to learn about the medical conditions they are most likely to encounter with campers. This initiative will continue annually, equipping future staff with the knowledge and confidence to care for every camper.

Kanshita Dam, Global Garments for Good, Aurora – Dam’s Gold Award project established a sustainable system for donating ethnic clothing from the United States to communities in need in India. By collecting gently used garments to reduce waste and support individuals working to rise out of poverty, the project built strong partnerships with local temples and cultural organizations. A temple in Denver and the Milonee Association committed to hosting regular donation drives, ensuring the program continues beyond the creator’s involvement. With three shipments sent in just six months and a dedicated volunteer team in place, this initiative is set to make a lasting impact through ongoing clothing drives and international support.

Anna Enssle, Drama Camp for All Abilities, Longmont - Enssle’s project addressed a lack of inclusive opportunities for children with differing abilities to participate in theater. By creating a specialized workshop, her program gave kids the chance to build confidence, express themselves, and perform short plays for their families and friends. With support from school principals and a growing interest in the program, this project is set to create lasting opportunities for inclusive artistic expression.

Lindsey Ferrel, Music Mentors, Castle Pines - Ferrel focused on breaking down barriers to music education by creating an accessible, online course for students who lack access to private instruction. Aimed primarily at elementary orchestra students, the course teaches essential music theory and early skills. To reach a wider audience, Ferrel also translated her videos into Spanish, making the content inclusive and multilingual. Hosted on YouTube for long-term accessibility, the project is designed to grow with support from high school music clubs.

Jerilyn Fischer, Putting Waste in the Right Place, Allenspark - Fischer’s project aimed to reduce litter in Estes Park by promoting community-wide environmental awareness and sustainable practices. Recognizing the impact of tourism on local waste, the project launched regular clean-ups, and an educational campaign focused on recycling and respecting wildlife. The initiative sparked lasting change, with the Estes Park High School Environmental Club continuing the work and inspiring other students to lead eco-friendly projects.

Elizabeth Fullerton, The Importance of Safe Driving for Youth, Carbondale – Fullerton’s Gold Award project focused on raising awareness about the importance of safe driving among youth. Aimed at educating young drivers about the serious consequences of unsafe driving, the project included the creation of a powerful mural that serves as a constant reminder of the dangers on the road. In addition, the campaign involved presentations at schools and community groups, providing vital information on the risks and responsibilities of driving.

Mikayla Geeve, The Benefits of Therapeutic Riding, Westminster - Geeve aimed to raise awareness about the benefits of therapeutic riding and its importance in supporting individuals with disabilities. By creating a program for Girl Scouts, the project educated participants on the value of therapeutic riding, how they can support local facilities, and what’s involved in pursuing a career in this field. Through this initiative, the community gained exposure to a valuable, yet underrecognized, service, while also offering a new opportunity for meaningful community service.

Emma Hack, Endangered Plant Rehabilitation, Steamboat Springs - Hack focused on planting and preserving native plants in her community to combat the threat of extinction and the impacts of climate change. By planting native species in local botanic gardens, the project enriched the local environment and helped people reconnect with the outdoors. She also created and published a cookbook online to help inspire the public to appreciate and protect the beauty and importance of native plant preservation. Hack’s project ignited a deeper connection with nature and encouraged lasting environmental stewardship.

Lauren Hacke, The Young Persons Guide to Saving the Oceans, Golden - Hacke set out to educate and inspire youth to act for the health and sustainability of the ocean. To do this she wrote The Young Person’s Guide to Saving the Ocean, simplifying complex issues and offering practical steps for eco-friendly living, while also debunking common myths. Hacke also launched a podcast, The Young Person’s Guide to Saving the Environment, where she interviewed young environmental activists to share their inspiring stories and advice. Her creations continue to empower young people to take the lead in making a positive impact.

Sara Hammes, Community Center Book Walk, Colorado Springs - Hammes’ project brought together the joy of reading and outdoor exploration by creating two vibrant book walks for children to enjoy at their local community center. She also hosted a very successful opening event where they distributed nearly 300 donated books to the community. In collaboration with the Deerfield Hills Community Center, the project ensures lasting impact, with provisions made for ongoing care and maintenance.

Samantha Herstein, Girl Scouts Travel Fair, Highlands Ranch - Herstein created an inspiring and impactful travel fair that opened the doors of possibility for Girl Scouts to explore the world. Through interactive stations, attendees gained firsthand knowledge about travel and the exciting opportunities at their fingertips. The intention of the fair was to spark a lasting interest in global exploration, and it will continue annually through the Global Action Committee, ensuring future generations of Girl Scouts can benefit from this valuable experience.

Darja Jaceva, Warehouse Youth Center Renovation & Mural, Castle Rock - Driven by a desire to create a safe and welcoming space for teens, especially those feeling out of place, this project transformed the Warehouse Youth Center into a vibrant, inclusive environment. As an immigrant teen herself, Jaceva understands the importance of a space where young people can truly be themselves. By leading a team to design and paint three beautiful murals the project infused the center with warmth, kindness, and a peaceful atmosphere.

Kyra Jordan, STEM – Reinventing the World, Golden - Jordan’s project aimed to make STEM more accessible to teenagers by developing a curriculum and creating a website filled with resources and inspiring content. To spread the word, art posters were distributed to multiple schools, encouraging students to explore the various opportunities within science. The project’s impact will continue as the website and posters will serve as ongoing resources for future students. Jordan’s project ensures students are prepared for success in college and their careers, leaving a legacy of inspiration and education.

Maggie Kelts, Raising Awareness of the Deaf Community, Broomfield - Kelts set out to raise awareness of the deaf community and ASL-only speakers by creating an educational experience for Girl Scouts. Through her presentation and video, participants learned basic ASL signs they could use immediately. The program ensures that future generations of Girl Scouts will continue to learn and embrace ASL, fostering greater inclusivity and understanding in their community. This project empowers Girl Scouts to connect with a broader audience and promote communication without barriers.

Thea Kuczynski, Frameshift, Boulder - Inspired by her own journey, Kuczynski created Frameshift, a supportive community for teens with Crohn’s disease. Frameshift hosted bi-monthly online support groups and ran a comprehensive online campaign to raise awareness about invisible illnesses and disabilities, with a special focus on Crohn’s, offering both education and patient outreach. Kuczynski actively participated in the Take Steps Walk in Denver and partnered with Better Together Support Groups to expand her impact. Frameshift has now been officially adopted by Better Together as part of their nonprofit, ensuring lasting support for teens facing similar challenges.

Anna Longenecker, Outreach for the P-Teach Program, Longmont - Longnecker’s project addressed the low participation in the education profession by creating an outreach initiative for the P-Teach program, which offers high school students college credit and classes on child development and teaching. By giving presentations and sharing her personal experiences on a student panel, she raised awareness of the program's value. The P-Teach program will continue to use Longnecker’s outreach strategies for years to come.

Sarah Longenecker, Farm to Family Boxes, Longmont - Longnecker wanted to support families who struggle to access fresh food during long school breaks. By connecting local families with local produce, the initiative provided free food boxes to families, eliminating the time and cost barriers for families in need. With a generous donation from the Mesa Seed Foundation, the boxes included fresh produce along with recipes and food preservation tips. Distributed before school breaks, the boxes helped ease families' worries about food during school closures. The project will continue annually, in partnership with Mesa Seed Foundation and the St. Vrain Valley School District.

Theo Martin, Legislating for Third Spaces, Monument – Martin’s project advocated to create more "third spaces,” public areas where students can gather outside of school, work, or home—to support mental health. By writing a bill to make these spaces free for students, the initiative encouraged connections and positive brain development. Through discussions with Gov. Jared Polis and speaking at the Colorado State Capitol, the project helped continue to drive and protect third spaces and make them more accessible to our Colorado communities.

Nora McCloy, Dream It, Do It!, Longmont - McCloy’s Gold Award project championed lifelong learning and intergenerational connection by offering engaging workshops led by high school volunteers for senior citizens. Her program aimed to shift the mindset that learning is only for the young, encouraging seniors to rediscover joy in curiosity and creativity. Through shared experiences, from educational sessions to holiday concerts featuring student performers, the program builds relationships and strengthens community bonds.

Kahliya Mobley-Young, Harm Reduction in High School, Denver - Mobley-Young created a powerful educational initiative for her Gold Award that equips students with life-saving knowledge about Narcan administration, while creating a safe, judgment-free space for anonymous questions and honest conversation. Her program tackled the stigma surrounding overdose response head-on, transforming fear and uncertainty into empowerment and preparedness. Her work is a bold step toward building a more compassionate, informed, and resilient school community.

Tanja Oostenrijk, Tune Into Knowledge: The School Music Library Initiative, Colorado Springs - For her Gold Award project, Oostenrijk took on the massive challenge of transforming a disorganized band music library into a streamlined, efficient system. With more than 1,000 pieces of music to sort, she led the creation of a new, organized system and a fully searchable digital database, making it easier than ever to find and utilize the band’s resources. Her meticulous work saves time, cuts unnecessary costs to the music program, and allows directors to focus on making music.

Raelynn Pickup, Project Accessibility, Thornton - Project Accessibility boldly tackles the issue of period poverty in Colorado by increasing access to feminine hygiene products and breaking down harmful stigmas. As part of her project, Pickup launched annual donation drives in her community, rallying volunteers from her high school to collect and deliver thousands of essential items to women’s shelters in Denver. She also worked to educate her community through impactful speeches and educational outreach, and raised awareness about menstrual health, accessibility, and the importance of open, stigma-free conversations.

Charlotte Quach, No-Kill Shelter Education for Kids, Denver – Quach’s Gold Award project focused on educating kids about the importance of “no kill” animal shelters. She developed an engaging, age-appropriate curriculum and a creative presentation that included hands-on projects, empowering young people to support shelters even if they’re too young to volunteer directly. Partnering with MaxFund Animal Shelter, Quach ensured her impact would last, and her educational video will continue to be shared with youth groups eager to help.

Madelyn Redmond, Bluebird Nest Box Project: Connecting Kids to Conservation, Parker - Redmond’s project took on the growing issue of nature deficit disorder by reconnecting youth with the outdoors through a hands-on bluebird nest box initiative at Sanborn Western Camps. By engaging campers of all ages in interactive programs about bluebirds and their habitat, she fostered a deeper appreciation for nature and wildlife. At the same time, she addressed habitat loss by installing nesting boxes to support the local bluebird population.

Abigail Reynolds, Gearing 4 Engineering, Castle Rock - Reynolds’ program, Gearing 4 Engineering, set out to break down gender stereotypes that discourage girls from pursuing careers in engineering. To do this, she created an inclusive, hands-on expo where third - eighth grade students tackled real-world engineering challenges and showcased their solutions through creative presentations. By making project submissions anonymous, the program ensures fair evaluation based solely on innovation and effort, fostering a space where all students can thrive. Her project will continue to inspire and empower future generations of young engineers with a commitment from Aspen View Academy.

Aleaha Schauppner, The Magic of Music, Thornton - The Magic of Music program hopes to ignite a love for music in young students by creating meaningful, hands-on opportunities. Through her program, Schauppner organized two impactful events, one for newcomer middle schoolers during a summer camp, and another called The Magic of Music, where high school and middle school musicians introduced fifth graders to the instruments they could learn the following year. Her project promises to continue inspiring future musicians with plans to expand the event district-wide.

Brianne Suarez, Family Promise Playroom & Donation Pipeline, Monument - For her Gold Award project, Suarez created a vibrant, welcoming playroom at Family Promise women’s clinic and shelter to support children and teens who have limited access to activities during their time there. She recognized that families in transition often bring only the essentials, leaving behind toys, crafts, and comforts that make a child feel at home. To meet this need, she not only created a fun, engaging space but also established a sustainable donation pipeline to keep it stocked with games, craft supplies, and more.

Lauren Wong, Saving Lives: Helmet Safety Education, Highlands Ranch - Wong tackled the growing issue of pediatric bike safety and head injury prevention by launching a powerful awareness campaign that included creating an educational pamphlet, writing a children’s book on helmet safety, and participating in Denver Health helmet events. Partnering with the Denver Health Trauma Program and Electric Wheels, she donated helmets to children in need and ensured her materials will continue to educate families for years to come.

Madison Wong, The Right Fit: Dog Collar Safety Education, Highlands Ranch - For her Gold Award project, Wong addressed the often-overlooked issue of improper dog collar use and the injuries it can cause. She created an educational pamphlet, available in both English and Spanish, detailing collar safety, proper fitting, and the benefits of Martingale collars. She distributed these materials to local shelters, donated Martingale collars, and provided training to staff and visitors to promote safer, more humane handling of dogs.

Julia Zettlemoyer, Monument Dog Park, Colorado Springs - Zettlemoyer created the first dog park in the town of Monument for her Gold Award project, providing a safe, designated space for dogs to play and relax. To do this, she designed and built a fully fenced-in area complete with agility equipment to encourage active, healthy play. By partnering with the local park director, who committed to maintaining the space, she ensured the park will continue to benefit the community for years to come.