O’side Scouts receive gold

Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently recognized Ariana Akkaya, a graduate of Oceanside High School and incoming student at the University of Connecticut, and Samantha Kordes, a recent graduate of Kellenberg Memorial High School and incoming student at the University of Scranton, who is from Oceanside, for earning the Gold Award, the highest award within the Girl Scouts Movement. In order to be eligible for a Gold Award, a Girl Scout must have completed two Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador Journeys or have already received the Silver Award and completed one additional Journey. The Gold Award also requires the completion of 80-hours or more of an individual leadership Take Action project that makes a sustainable and measurable impact on an important issue or need in the community and that serves to educate and inspire others in the community.

This award must be completed before or during the Girl Scout’s senior year in high school. To the majority of the girls receiving the Gold Award, it serves as the peak of their Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Ariana’s Girl Scout Gold Award Take Action Project, Making Waves, addressed the issue of water safety. After a frightening childhood experience of nearly drowning in a pool, Ariana, now an outstanding swimmer used her project as an opportunity to prevent future accidents in the water and share her love for swimming. Ariana, partnered with the instructors at Safety Swim, taught children in the community basic life saving techniques. To further spread awareness about water safety, she created a Facebook page for parents and held multiple workshops. Ariana also created a video about drowning prevention that was distributed to Olympic swimmers across the country for them to share.

Samantha’s Girl Scout Gold Award Take Action Project, Dealing with Scoliosis, shed light on the advances in treatments available to individuals with scoliosis. When Samantha was diagnosed with scoliosis, the recommended treatment was to wear a brace for 23 hours each day, though her family chose to research the possibility of other less invasive options. Samantha’s experience inspired her to want to help others in her situation, which led to her project. Samantha created a brochure full of resources, as well as a website with a forum enabling scoliosis patients to interact with one another.

A lifelong value comes with having earned a Gold Award. Recipients of the Gold Award who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank for their achievements. Most universities and colleges offer scholarships or other recognition to Gold Award recipients.