GSTOP Gold Award Girl Scouts

School:  Grapevine High School
Graduation Year: 2026
Project Name: Gateway of Knowledge
Project Advisor: Katelynn Morris 

Anya's project focused on enhancing early literacy by designing an interactive 3D alphabet canvas for kindergarten students at Jubilee Park. By engaging teachers, Girl Scouts, and community members, she created an educational resource that improved student engagement, letter recognition, and phonics skills. Teachers reported increased enthusiasm and collaboration among students, demonstrating the project’s success. To ensure long-term impact, Anya integrated the resource into the school’s curriculum and developed a digital version for broader accessibility. She also raised awareness through social media and presentations, advocating for the importance of early educational resources. 

Throughout the project, Anya demonstrated leadership and problem-solving by overcoming challenges such as securing funding, sourcing materials, and coordinating volunteers. She successfully obtained grants, researched best practices in literacy education, and managed logistics to bring her vision to life. These experiences strengthened her skills in financial planning, communication, and project management. By creating a sustainable and impactful literacy tool, Anya’s project not only benefited students at Jubilee Park but also contributed to a broader effort to improve early education accessibility.

School: Trinity High School
Graduation Year: 2025
Project Name: The Clothes Closet
Project Advisor: Sarah Valentino

Elyssa's project was designed to address language barriers and logistical challenges in a local school district’s PTA Clothes Closet. The district faced issues with communication, leading to confusion, frustration, and inefficiencies for families who spoke little to no English. Through detailed research, Elyssa led her team in developing a multilingual, visual clothing sheet that was translated into Spanish, Arabic, French, and English. This sheet allowed families to easily identify and select the clothing items they needed while also providing the Clothes Closet’s volunteers with clear, effective guidelines to assist families without adding to their stress. 

The success of Elyssa’s Gold Award project was measured by the feedback from families and volunteers, who expressed gratitude for the sheet’s clarity and ease of use. Elyssa’s commitment to creating a sustainable solution is evident in the project’s continued impact, as the laminated sheets were given to The Clothes Closet for ongoing use. Furthermore, the project’s reach extended beyond the local community to state and national levels, where it inspired similar initiatives in other school districts and community organizations. Elyssa’s leadership, organization, and dedication to improving communication for under-served families will leave a lasting legacy, ensuring that language is no longer a barrier to the resources they need. 

School: Mansfield Legacy High School
Graduation Year: 2025
Project Name: American Sign Language Patch Program
Project Advisor: Staci Washington

Hannah's project aimed to bridge the gap between Girl Scouts and the Deaf community by introducing American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Culture to Girl Scouts of all levels. Through a series of engaging lessons, she educated 134 Girl Scouts by teaching them the basics of ASL, including the alphabet, common signs, and key Girl Scout phrases. Her project included in-person lessons at Badge Fest, virtual meetings with a North Carolina troop, and ongoing partnerships with local organizations such as Tarrant County College, where 

Girl Scouts can participate in the annual “Deaf World Immersion” experience. This initiative not only introduced Girl Scouts to ASL but also encouraged them to incorporate what they learned into their daily interactions, making a lasting impact on their ability to communicate with Deaf individuals. 

Her work addressed a national and global need, particularly among deaf Girl Scouts in Puerto Rico and Qatar. Her initiative, which has left a lasting legacy through its partnership with Tarrant County College and the continued availability of ASL patches, ensures that the skills and cultural awareness gained by participants will continue to be passed down. Through this project, Hannah not only fostered greater inclusivity but also helped her peers build confidence and empathy toward those with differing communication needs, laying the foundation for a more inclusive future.

School: Saginaw High School
Graduation Year: 2025
Project Name: Music and the Mind
Project Advisor: Cammy Shockey

Ella's project focused on addressing memory loss in elderly residents of assisted living facilities by using music as a therapeutic tool. She organized monthly musical performances at Bristol Park, targeting both residents and music students. The goal was to provide a relaxing environment for the elderly while offering volunteer opportunities for young musicians. In addition to organizing performances, Ella created informative handouts on the benefits of music for memory, educating the student performers and residents about the connection between music and brain health. This project not only improved the lives of the elderly residents but also raised awareness among music students about the positive effects of their art. 

Ella’s project achieved great success, with consistent attendance at the monthly performances and increased engagement from both the residents and the volunteers. She gathered valuable feedback from the staff, incorporating their suggestions to improve the performances over time. Beyond her involvement, Ella ensured the sustainability of the project by organizing a system for future volunteers and providing the Bristol Park staff with all necessary information to keep the performances running. This initiative has left a lasting impact on the community, demonstrating the power of music in enhancing the quality of life for elderly individuals and creating lasting connections between local schools and assisted living facilities. 

School: Carroll Senior High School
Graduation Year: 2024
Project Name: Horses, Helmets, and Safety
Project Advisor: Bernita (Bernie) Chance

Calleigh's project aimed to address the significant risk of head injuries among equestrians by promoting helmet safety and proper helmet fit. Through research, interviews, and collaboration, she developed a comprehensive 30-page pamphlet and a video to educate horse riders, their guardians, and riding programs about the importance of wearing helmets. The pamphlet covered key topics such as the prevalence of head injuries, the different types of helmets, safety certifications, proper sizing, and fitting techniques. In addition to her educational materials, Calleigh donated six ASTM/SEI-certified helmets to New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy in Argyle, Texas, to ensure continued access to proper headgear for riders in their programs. 

Calleigh’s project not only provided valuable resources to riders and instructors but also worked to reduce the barriers to helmet use, including discomfort, fashion concerns, and lack of knowledge about safety standards. She collaborated with various organizations to distribute her materials widely, ensuring that riders of all ages had access to accurate and updated helmet safety information. Calleigh’s dedication to this cause has had a lasting impact on equestrian safety, and her work will continue to benefit riders, instructors, and therapeutic programs for years to come. 

School: Grapevine Faith Christian School
Graduation Year: 2024
Project Name: Veteran’s Dog Park
Project Advisor: David Ciccone

Anacapri's project addressed a significant need within Solstice Senior Living, providing residents and their pets with a dedicated outdoor space for exercise and companionship. Recognizing the benefits of pet ownership for senior citizens, Anacapri designed and led the construction of a safe, enclosed dog park that enhances the well-being of both residents and their furry companions. Through planning, fundraising, and hands-on labor, she overcame challenges such as unexpected site conditions and material logistics, demonstrating resilience, leadership, and problem-solving skills. By working alongside community volunteers, local businesses, and the senior living facility, she successfully created a sustainable and low-maintenance space that fosters socialization and physical activity for residents and their pets. 

Through this initiative, Anacapri not only improved the quality of life for the residents of Solstice Senior Living but also set a precedent for similar projects across other senior communities. Her ability to engage local stakeholders, negotiate resources, and lead a team highlights her strengths in project management and community service. By addressing a gap in pet-friendly amenities within senior living facilities, she created a meaningful, lasting impact that will benefit generations of residents and their pets. 

School: Florida Virtual School
Graduation Year: 2024
Project Name: Access to Opportunity for Latinos in Grapevine and Beyond (Brilla Grapevine)
Project Advisor: Maureen Ramirez

Charlize's project focused on breaking down language barriers and empowering the Latino community by increasing access to self-discovery and personal development resources. By collaborating with the House of Shine, Charlize translated essential self-development materials into Spanish and established a bilingual lending library. This initiative not only provided valuable resources to immigrants seeking opportunities for growth but also helped to foster greater involvement in community events. Her project was pivotal in raising awareness about career advancement, educational opportunities, and self-awareness, which are often out of reach due to language and cultural barriers. Through her efforts, Charlize created an inclusive environment where the Latino community could thrive and pursue their goals. 

Charlize’s project engaged more than 50 participants and empowered 10 teens to explore their strengths and passions. Despite challenges, such as limited initial participation, the project was a success in promoting increased participation from the Latino community. By creating these resources and facilitating community involvement, Charlize made a lasting contribution to the House of Shine’s mission, ensuring that the programs and materials developed during her project will continue to benefit future generations. 

School: Wichita Falls Legacy High School
Graduation Year: 2027
Project Name: Mindful Movements
Project Advisor: Blaire Robinson

Cheran's project addresses the root cause of stress in children by creating an outdoor safe space designed to promote both physical and mental well-being. This space includes exercise equipment, a movement board for physical activities, and calming tools such as guided breathing exercises, all aimed at helping children manage stress and build resilience. These resources empower youth to understand their emotions and stress triggers, offering practical techniques they can use daily to enhance their overall health. The calming area within the space provides a peaceful refuge where children can meditate and reflect, significantly reducing stress levels. 

Cheran’s initiative not only supports physical activity and mental health but also fosters community engagement. The space, designed for youth ages 13-16, serves as a resource for local organizations including schools, Girl Scout troops, and community groups. Its sustainability is ensured through the continued involvement of the All Hands Cultural Center and support from local organizations. By creating this space, Cheran’s project contributes to the long-term well-being of the community by empowering children and their families to develop healthier coping mechanisms. 

School: Aledo High School
Graduation Year: 2025
Project Name: Project BAT (Bringing Aledo Together)
Project Advisor: Beck Gorman

Eleanor's project created a collaborative initiative between the Aledo Public Library and student organizations at Aledo High School. Recognizing that community connection fosters meaningful relationships and lifelong learning, Eleanor brought together high school clubs—including the Artemis Club, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Debate Club, and Baking Club—to design and lead interactive enrichment programs for children in her rapidly growing town. Through monthly Saturday events, children explored new topics such as music, debate, baking, and crafting, while teen presenters practiced leadership and teaching skills. Eleanor’s project not only supported the development of young minds, but also strengthened the library’s role as a hub for learning, creativity, and connection. 

During the pilot phase, Project BAT reached 56 children and engaged 13 student presenters, along with two National Honor Society leaders. Eleanor ensured that each session was interactive and tailored to match both the presenters’ interests and the children’s curiosity. Parents and caregivers participated alongside their children, creating a ripple effect of community engagement. Program feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the project’s success has inspired plans for future implementation and expansion. Eleanor’s vision and leadership demonstrated how partnerships, even on a modest budget, can enrich a community—and how young people, when empowered, can lead meaningful change. 

School: Shelton School
Graduation Year: 2025
Project Name: Feed our Kids Weekend Edition
Project Advisor: Beth Chernik and Deb Eberling

Cat's project addressed the issue of food insecurity by ensuring children in families facing financial hardships had access to healthy meals over the weekend. Partnering with GRACE’s Feed Our Kids program, Cat created take-home meal kits, complete with easy-to-follow recipes, so children could prepare nutritious meals at home. The project not only helped alleviate hunger but also taught valuable life skills such as cooking and meal prep, while fostering a sense of independence and confidence in the children who participated. By incorporating feedback and creating bilingual recipe books, Cat’s initiative reached a wider audience, including families who speak Spanish. 

Cat’s leadership and determination ensured the sustainability of the project, with GRACE continuing to distribute meal kits beyond her involvement. She successfully coordinated with volunteers, local businesses, and churches to gather donations and support. The impact of her project was clear as children gained knowledge about healthy eating, cooking, and how to care for themselves. Through this project, Cat demonstrated strong leadership, problem-solving skills, and a commitment to her community, leaving a lasting legacy of positive change for the families involved. 

School: EA Young Academy
Graduation Year: 2027
Project Name: Launch a Student Talent Center
Project Advisor: Joe Sturgeon

Elise's project aimed to create a sustainable Talent Center at EA Young Academy, providing students with access to career development, internship, mentorship, and volunteer opportunities in their local community. The school lacked resources to connect students with local businesses, organizations, and government offices. As a result, students struggled to find volunteer opportunities or explore career options nearby. To address this, the Talent Center was established as a central resource to engage local businesses, city government offices, and other community partners. This initiative involved reaching out to businesses, establishing communication channels, and creating an online portal to provide students with curated opportunities for career exploration, internships, volunteer work, and mentorship. The Talent Center team also helped raise awareness of the school’s presence in the area and built lasting relationships that will continue to benefit students in the future. 

The Talent Center successfully connected with more than 30 local businesses and government offices, shared 50+ volunteer and internship opportunities, and facilitated virtual tours of career sites such as Facebook and Charles Schwab. The Talent Center’s work also led to the creation of a “Launch” course to help students prepare for college and careers. This project will have a lasting impact on both the school and the surrounding area. 

School: Colleyville Heritage High School
Graduation Year: 2026
Project Name: Created a Community Garden at Safehaven Shelter
Project Advisor: Jean Dodds

Josie's project addressed the trauma faced by women and children escaping abusive situations by creating a peaceful and healing environment at Safehaven Women’s Shelter. Understanding the need for a place where the residents could gather, relax, and feel connected to nature, Josie built a beautiful community garden and outdoor seating area. Situated next to the playground, the garden not only offered a calming space for the residents but also provided them with fresh vegetables and herbs, contributing to their physical and emotional well-being. During the Grand Opening, residents expressed deep gratitude for the garden, sharing how it brought them peace and joy during a challenging time in their lives. 

Josie’s project has had a lasting impact, with 100% of the residents surveyed using and enjoying the garden. The initiative fostered a sense of community, teaching residents valuable skills in gardening and encouraging healthy living. The garden continues to thrive, maintained by an automatic watering system and supported by ongoing donations. By creating a sustainable space that can be enjoyed by future residents, Josie has ensured that her Gold Award project will continue to provide comfort and a sense of stability for women and children in need, offering them a chance to heal and build new, independent lives free from abuse. 

School: Jim Ned High School
Graduation Year: 2024
Project Name: Adaptive Martial Arts
Project Advisor: Tamsey Johnson

Mckenzie's project addressed the lack of accessible and inclusive activities for children with special needs in her community. She created and led adaptive martial arts classes for children with a range of disabilities, including ADHD, autism, Down syndrome, and epilepsy. Through these classes, Mckenzie provided a physically and mentally challenging environment tailored to each child’s abilities, helping them build strength, confidence, and resilience. Her project empowered the children to achieve personal milestones, such as learning martial arts techniques and breaking boards, while fostering an inclusive and supportive atmosphere. 

Mckenzie’s project reached beyond the children directly involved, as it also educated and inspired other teens about how to care for and support individuals with special needs. She established a sustainable program, creating instructional resources and a website to ensure the project can continue even after her involvement. Mckenzie also made significant strides in raising awareness about the importance of offering more opportunities for special needs children and ensuring that these children are given the chance to succeed. Through her leadership and determination, Mckenzie has made a lasting impact on her community, leaving behind a program that builds both physical and emotional strength for children with disabilities. 

School: James M. Steele Early College High School
Graduation Year: 2026
Project Name: The Power of Pink: STEM Kits for Girl Who Dream
Project Advisor: Jana Davis-Doarn 

Aspen's project aimed to inspire young girls in her community to explore science through fun and accessible STEM kits. She created and donated kits to the Haslet Elementary Library and Haslet Public Library, designing them with feminine colors, themes like Barbie and Taylor Swift, and empowering books about women in science. Each kit included lab coats, goggles, and QR codes linking to Aspen’s own instructional YouTube videos, where she demonstrates experiments while proudly embracing her femininity. Her goal was to break down stereotypes and show that girls don’t have to choose between loving science and expressing themselves. 

To measure her impact, Aspen tracked kit checkouts, collected feedback through surveys, and volunteered weekly to connect with users directly. The response was overwhelmingly positive—only girls checked out the kits, and parents praised their educational value. Aspen overcame challenges like funding, time constraints, and self-doubt by creating an Amazon wish list, sticking to a tight schedule, and leaning on her support system. Now fully integrated into the libraries’ circulation systems, the kits will continue to serve the community for years to come. Aspen’s project not only makes science fun and inviting, but also empowers young girls to see themselves as future scientists, leaders, and change makers. 

School: Nimitz High School
Graduation Year: 2025
Project Name: Calming Crochet
Project Advisor: Carrie Rios

Madison's project aimed to address the mental health challenges faced by teens by providing them with a healthy, stress-relieving hobby—crocheting. During her three Calming Crochet Workshops, Madison taught teens how to crochet bookmarks, offering them a calming and useful life skill to combat anxiety and stress. In addition to the workshops, Madison created and distributed over 140 DIY crochet kits, which included QR codes linking to instructional YouTube videos, enabling participants to continue practicing at home. Positive feedback from attendees confirmed the success of her efforts, with many noting the calming nature of the activity and the practical skills gained. 

Madison’s project has proven sustainable, with the YouTube tutorials ensuring that individuals can continue learning and practicing crochet in the future. The workshops and DIY kits have not only provided teens with an effective tool to manage stress but also encouraged community engagement and creative expression. Madison demonstrated strong leadership throughout the process, from coordinating the workshops to managing logistics and guiding her team. Her Gold Award project has made a lasting impact by equipping young people with a valuable coping strategy, fostering mental well-being, and creating a lasting resource that will continue to benefit her community. 

School: Hill School of Fort Worth
Graduation Year: 2024
Project Name: Making Port Shirts for Children with Cancer
Project Advisor: Dr. Meredith Brooks

Avery's project addressed the challenge faced by children undergoing cancer treatment who had to receive medication through a port implanted in their body. This port, although effective, was placed in a visible location, which led to feelings of discomfort and lack of privacy during treatment. To solve this, Avery designed a specialized shirt with snaps that allowed easy access to the port without requiring the child to remove their clothing. The shirts provided both privacy and comfort, making the process of receiving medication less invasive. Avery’s target audience was children supported by Foundation Aitana in Cancun, Mexico.

Avery’s project’s success was measured by creating and delivering 81 shirts, which helped provide a sense of privacy and modesty to children during their medical treatments. She worked with a team of seamstresses, learned to sew, and encountered challenges, such as sewing machine malfunctions and securing funding for the shirts. By working with JOANN’s fabric store and receiving a generous donation from Costco, Avery was able to complete the project. The shirts also served as a long-term resource, as they could be passed on for future treatments. Avery’s community partner will continue producing shirts for the charity, ensuring the project’s sustainability. Through this project, Avery developed skills in project management, problem-solving, and leadership, learning the importance of persistence and seeking help when necessary. 

Join

Volunteer

Donate

close