Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) is pleased to award its most prestigious honor, the Gold Award, to 22 local young leaders this year. Demonstrating outstanding leadership skills while discovering sustainable solutions to local, national and global challenges, this distinguished award is earned by Girl Scouts Seniors or Ambassadors, in grades nine through twelve, who are truly making a difference.
“Our 2022 Gold Award honorees are the embodiment of tremendous leadership and true commitment to a cause,” says Mary Mitchell, interim Co-CEO of GSACPC. “These Gold Award Girl Scouts have established themselves as innovative leaders and changemakers.”
This year’s Gold Award winners are tackling prominent issues their communities face today by raising awareness on life-threatening food allergies, educating the public on saguaro cactus health, hosting self-defense classes for all ages, collecting thousands of dollars in unused medical equipment for underprivileged groups, bringing awareness to opioid addiction, teaching proper etiquette for service animals, giving communities access to the clothing to be their authentic selves and much more.
While leaving a lasting impact on the community and the world, Gold Award Girl Scouts improve their problem-solving, communication and time management skills while creating a legacy and making the world a better place.
As a nationally recognized symbol of leadership, the Gold Award can also open doors for unique scholarship opportunities, allow girls to enlist at an advanced rank when joining the United States Armed Forces, stand out among the competition in the college admissions process and more.
At the ceremony the awardees received their Girl Scout Gold Award pin, a Gold Award certificate and letter of congratulations from the Girl Scouts of the USA, a signed certificate from Girl Scouts- Arizona Cactus-Pine Council, and congratulatory letters and certificates from national, state, and local elected officials.
Cave Creek Girl Scouts:
Senya Izzo
Dreamcatcher Healing Ranch is an equine therapy center that helps people heal through educational and positive equine and ranch experiences. After meeting the owner and learning about their mission, Senya knew she wanted to help this community and get involved. The ranch experiences include horseback riding, adaptive riding, group outings, and more. Senya wanted to add to these healing experiences, so she created sensory boards for patients while riding on the horses. They helped with cognitive skills, motor skills, problem-solving, and were intended to be incorporated into the healing process of the therapy sessions. Senya also provided tutorials on how to make them so anyone could make them at home for themselves.
Through her 13 years in Girl Scouting, she shares that she’s learned so many valuable life skills, made invaluable friendships and had many incredible opportunities.
She plans to attend Northern Arizona University to earn her degree in dental hygiene.
Paige Petrine
Formerly serving as president of her middle school’s Green Club, Paige wanted to give future students at Sonoran Trails Middle School the opportunity to have positive outdoor experiences.
She revamped the former garden and turned it into an outdoor learning space. For her Gold Award project, Paige planted over 20 trees and plants, installed multiple garden beds, and installed a watering system. In addition, Paige created lesson plans for science teachers to incorporate into their curriculum.
Despite delays due to Covid, the project came together to provide students with an educational and fun space that will continue to be maintained by the school’s Sustainability Club (SEED Club). A Girl Scout since kindergarten, Paige is set to graduate from Paradise Valley High School and looks to study chemical engineering or biochemistry.
