PRESS RELEASE
Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i Recognizes Gold Award Recipients
for Changing Their Communities
Hilo, Hawai‘i
Three Hawai‘i Island Girl Scouts were among 25 statewide who earned their Gold Award on Saturday, April 29, 2014, putting them in the top five percent of Girl Scouts across the nation. The award is the highest achievement that a Girl Scout in grades nine through 12 can earn. To earn it, the scout must complete at least 80 hours in a project that creates measurable and sustainable change for the local, regional, or global communities.
Bethany and Caitlyn Anderson of Hilo each were recognized for their Gold Award projects, “Preventing Inhumane Treatment of Cats and Dogs” and “Limiting the Impact of Invasive Mammals on Hawai‘i’s Fragile Ecosystem.” Bethany Cole of Kurtistown was also acknowledged for her project, “From the Garden to the Table.”
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation sponsored the Gold Award for a second consecutive year with a $5,000 grant. Joanne Arizumi, senior vice president of First Hawaiian Bank and Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i board member, acknowledged the girls’ exceptional projects at Saturday’s ceremony.
“The projects show that girls and young women today can accomplish anything they set their mind to,” said Arizumi. “It is truly a privilege to take part in the opportunities that the Girl Scouts provide.”
Lori Lum, public affairs director at Watanabe Ing LLP and chair of the Girl Scouts Hawai‘i’s board of directors, thanked parents, family and friends for supporting Hawai‘i’s Girl Scouts.
“The Girl Scout Gold Award provides an extraordinary opportunity for young women to make a powerful difference in the lives of so many people, while developing leadership skills that will help the girls succeed in life. Today’s Gold Award recipients are a true testament to the positive impact of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.”
The following young women were also recognized for their Gold Award projects:
Dori Lei-Chee, Honolulu, “Saving a Life Can Make a Difference”
Catherine Coleman, Honolulu, “Native Stories”
Carley Coppin, Kula, “Horses Fostering Youth”
Heather Arielle Dupire-Nelson, Honolulu, “Diagnosing Early Reading Challenges”
Kaylie Eko, Honolulu, “Giving Aloha to Our Furry Friends”
Amra Evers, Honolulu, “The Key to Volunteering”
Emma Green, Kāne‘ohe, “Healing Garden”
Briana Grenert, Kailua, “Rocket Readers”
Jessie Haylor, Makawao, “Health & Wellness Fair for Foster Children”
Hannah Henderson, Honolulu, “Island Sustainability”
Kelsey Kozuma, Kāne‘ohe, “Self Defense for Teens: Anti-Bullying”
Kelly Lam, Honolulu, “Star Spangled Citizenship for Schools”
Rafael Lee, Honolulu, “Bullying Beware”
Jocelyn Louie, Kapolei, “Eat Local, Live Healthy”
Diane Low, Honolulu, “Healthy Snacks”
Marissa Lum, Kāne‘ohe, “Lei of Aloha”
Emma McLeod, Honolulu, “The Other Forgotten Heroes of Pearl Harbor”
Diana Sellner, Honolulu, “Bring Your Own Bag Hawai‘i”
Ariel Todoki, Honolulu, “Shooting for the Stars”
Erin Todoki, Honolulu, “Heart To Heart: Medical Play”
Nicole Wheatman, Honolulu, “Repurpose for Learning: Project Senegal”
Charlynn Yeung, Honolulu, “A Voice for Change: Raising Awareness for the Darfur Conflict”
About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls in kindergarten through 12th-grade. It serves girls in every zip code throughout the United States as well as those attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. As the country’s pre-eminent all-girl organization, Girl Scouts empowers girls to realize its mission of “building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” Introduced to Hawai‘i in 1917 by Queen Lili‘uokalani and Florence Lowe, a Kamehameha School for Girls teacher, Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i has approximately 5,000 members statewide. For more information, visit www.girlscouts-hawaii.org or www.girlscouts.org.
