Wantagh Girl Scout awarded highest honor

Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently recognized Kelly Saronka, a senior at Wantagh High School, for earning the Gold Award, the highest and most prestigious award within the Girl Scouts organization. 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.

Kelly’s Girl Scout Gold Award Take Action Project, Spring Into Math, alleviates the pressure that students in Wantagh Elementary Schools face while dealing with mathematics. Her project gave students the opportunity to attend “Math Night” where Saronka and volunteers tutored math students with a fun and exciting twist. Saronka’s project allowed her to teach children math in a less stressful and more enjoyable manner. Saronka also learned that she has the ability to tackle any problem in her community and propose a viable solution with the help of others.

“We are so proud of all the Gold Award recipients. Earning the Gold Award is a huge accomplishment and takes a great amount of dedication,” said Donna Ceravolo Executive Director and CEO of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “Fewer than 5 percent of all Girl Scouts throughout the nation obtain this award.”

This award recognizes the Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts for their leadership skills and excellence. It must be completed before or during the Scout’s senior year in high school. To the majority of the girls winning the Gold Award, it is the peak of recognition and achievement.

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 and yearly.  Notable Gold Award recipients include Jan Hopkins, CNN financial news anchor, and Betsy Boze, Senior Fellow at American Association of State Colleges and Universities and President at Kent State University Stark.