Several local Girl Scouts could be found on the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade route on Jan. 2 as part of the Tournament Troop. Girl Scouts who have earned their Silver or Gold Award, the organization’s highest honors, were given the opportunity to apply for the honor of participating in the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade.

Kim Chernich, Allison Zadravecz, and Jillian Kauffman were selected to escort the Girl Scouts 100th Year Anniversary Float down the route. Amber Zadravecz carried a banner with other Girl Scouts and Eagle Scouts heralding the winning floats in the parade.

This was the first year that Girl Scouts were selected to escort the float and carry decorated replicas of merit badges. The centennial float presented a floral tribute that celebrated the organization’s beginnings and also looked forward to the future of Girl Scouts and the many experiences and opportunities it affords. The Girl Scout float received the Past Presidents’ Trophy Float Award for the most innovative use of both floral and non floral materials.

Kim and Allison are both freshmen at Crescenta Valley High School and both have earned their Girl Scout Silver Award. Kim’s Silver Award project involved bringing activities to a local convalescent hospital where she helped her troop read and play games with the residents. She was involved with creating fun decorations for the convalescent hospital to bring more cheer to the residents.

Allison’s Silver Award project took place at Twelve Oaks Retirement Lodge in La Crescenta. She helped meet the needs of the residents by helping her troop provide a garden party luncheon. Allison and her troop made holiday gifts for the residents and spent time with the elderly people when the girls visited them monthly.

Jillian Kauffman and Amber Zadravecz, juniors at Crescenta Valley High School, both earned their Gold Award. Jillian’s Gold Award Project took place at College View School in Glendale, which educates young students with moderate to severe physical and cognitive disabilities. She met the needs of the students by creating a learning store, using a money program that involved flash cards to identify the image and value of coins and bills.

Amber earned her Gold Award by creating a summer of activities for the residents of Elms Convalescent Hospital in Glendale and Twelve Oaks Retirement Lodge in La Crescenta. Amber shared her love for life with the elderly by implementing card games, ice cream socials, cooking classes, bingo, and balance games on the Wii.

Contributed by Susie ZADRAVECZ

  Susie ZADRAVECZ