By Lori BODNAR, intern

Several Girl Scouts within the community recently earned their Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts. The Gold Award requires at least 80 hours of volunteer service be performed and a Gold Award project must be completed that addresses an important issue, be sustainable, be measurable and have an important impact on the community.

Molly Fleischer from Girl Scout Troop 15851 spent 85 hours completing her Gold Award project this past year.

“My Gold Award project was about helping the community by making a video about how to make masks, allowing for everyone to have access to a mask,” Fleischer said. “I also made and donated over 50 masks to the Ronald McDonald House in Pasadena. I chose this project because I wanted to help people when this pandemic started and the need for masks was rising. By donating the masks and making a video, I felt that I was helping out people in need.”

She posted her video of how to make a mask on YouTube to reach as many people as possible that might need to make a homemade mask to protect themselves and others.

Amanda Rush Bova is another Girl Scout from Troop 15851 who recently earned her Gold Award. She spent 127 volunteer hours on her Gold Award project.

“My Gold Award project included painting a mural in the therapy room at Elizabeth House in Pasadena and planting a vegetable garden for the residents,” said Rush Bova. “I painted a wildflower mural and the text ‘It is Well with my Soul. Be Still and Know that I am God.’ I was able to paint the mural during the COVID-19 pandemic because the therapy room was in a separate annex of the residence.

“I sketched the design in my sketchbook, drew it on the wall and then applied three coats of paint. I needed to visit the Elizabeth House multiple times to paint and tend to the garden. The Elizabeth House is a residence for pregnant women who are experiencing domestic violence or homelessness.”

Rush Bova added, “I’m grateful to Kristen Mickelson, my wonderful advisor at Elizabeth House, who was so supportive, kind and encouraging. I’m also appreciative of my mom and my troop leader, Sarah Rush, because she helped me in the garden, bought supplies and paint, and drove me back and forth to Pasadena since I didn’t have my driver’s license. I wouldn’t have earned my Gold Award without her help and encouragement.”

The Gold Award journey can be an impactful experience.

“I am thankful for the opportunity of doing my Gold Award project at Elizabeth House because it’s an organization that is close to my heart,” said Rush Bova. “I am adopted, and I’m so appreciative of the emotional, financial and spiritual support that Elizabeth House provides to pregnant women to safely deliver their babies. It was special meeting the residences in the yard area, and I was encouraged when they shared with me that they really liked my mural that I had created. I had the opportunity to reflect on my own adoption experience because I spent so much time alone painting. I gained more compassion for my birth mother and my adoptive mother, and it also encouraged me in my desire to study counseling and psychology in college to become a therapist for teenagers who have experienced trauma.”

Fleischer and Rush Bova offered advice for Girl Scouts striving to earn their Gold Award.

“Make sure that you choose something you are passionate about for your project,” said Fleischer.

Rush Bova added, “I would suggest that you choose a project that is meaningful to you and corresponds to your interests.” 

Fleischer will be taking fond memories with her of her Girl Scout experience.

“My favorite memories of Girl Scouts were when my whole troop and I would go out on adventures like camping or hiking. Girl Scouts has helped me grow by teaching me life skills that I will use as an adult,” she said.

Rush Bova also shared some of her favorite memories.

“I loved camping in Girl Scouts and working on our Silver Award volunteering for Relay for Life for three years,” she said. “My best friends have come from Girl Scouts and I enjoy remembering our cookie booth sales and all the time we spent growing up together. My mom was my leader, so it was always fun having everyone come over to the house for our annual Girl Scout Thanksgiving and holiday events. Girl Scouting has made me more aware of the value of contributing to my community. I wouldn’t have participated in so many community events if it weren’t for Girl Scout activities, and I’m grateful for those experiences.”