Girl Scouts at the high school level can earn the Gold Award by organizing a community service project. Scouts must put in at least 80 hours researching issues, assessing community needs and resources and building a team to create a project that makes a sustainable impact on their communities.
For her project, Black wrote a children’s book based on Margaret Feeney, who founded an organization that collects healthy foods for local families in need. Black published 100 copies of the book, which she read and distributed to kids in after-school programs in Bridgeport.
Guzzi’s program was based out of Southport’s Wakeman Boys & Girls Club. There, Guzzi organized a series of classes and arts-and-crafts projects to teach younger kids about recycling and sustainability. Wakeman will continue the program in the future as part of its normal curriculum.
McCurley’s project was a theater program aimed at students from foreign countries. Through the skits and scenes she wrote, those students are encouraged to perform in front of a crowd while learning about American culture and history. Bridgeport’s Caroline House, which specializes in English as a Second Language education for immigrant families, has adopted the program for the children it serves.
The three received their awards at a ceremony in West Hartford on June 2. The girls were among the 70 scouts from across Connecticut to receive the honor, the most ever for one year for Girl Scouts of Connecticut.
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