HOLYOKE – Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts is celebrating the 2024 class of Gold Award Girl Scouts: 16 teenagers in central and western Massachusetts who invested nearly 1,300 hours creating lasting impact on issues important to them.
The Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn, available to girls in high school who create sustainable change on a community or world issue.
“Earning the Gold Award is a distinguished honor that sets Gold Award Girl Scouts apart from their peers,” said Theresa Lynn, GSCWM CEO. “As they take action to transform their world, they gain tangible, real-world skills and prove they are the leaders that campuses and communities need.”
The teens were honored at the Girl Scout Gold Award and Silver Award Ceremony on June 12 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Westborough and Shrewsbury teens are:
Annabelle Koshy, Westborough – Get Up and Dance
Koshy dedicated her Gold Award to helping children gain confidence in themselves through dance.
Growing up, she was very shy and had little confidence, but that all changed when she started dance classes. Some kids want to dance and are curious about it, but they don’t think they’re good enough, or they don’t feel comfortable. She recruited helpers from her dance class and held a two-day dance program that introduced kids to different dance types. Since there were no dance classes offered for 10- to 12-year-olds, she targeted this group for her free classes that were open to any child, including those who didn’t have any prior dance experience.
“Girl Scouts has helped me get out of my shell socially. Being a Girl Scout has also helped me with my leadership skills and being more comfortable taking risks,” Koshy said.
Koshy will attend Brandeis University to study biochemistry.
Aanya Sachdeva, Shrewsbury – Virtual Activities for Senior Citizens
Observing the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable senior citizens inspired Sachdeva to focus her Gold Award journey on taking action to support the mental well-being of seniors in her community.
Limitations on in-person activities at the Shrewsbury Senior Center due to health risks led her to spearhead the creation of an online video series tailored specifically for seniors. Sachdeva recorded a series of videos with diverse content that provided engaging, therapeutic activities and valuable resources accessible from the safety of their homes.
She encouraged community members to contribute and topics now range from instructional tutorials on crafting “multipurpose rice socks” to painting projects fostering creativity and social connection. The ongoing video series is now available through senior centers across Massachusetts, is broadcast on the Shrewsbury Media Connection local channel SETV 329, and is available online. If you are interested in contributing a video tutorial to the series, please feel free to send it to [email protected].
“Girl Scouting has awakened something within me – a desire to actively make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t just about leading; it’s about empowering others to lead alongside you,” Sachdeva said.
Sachdeva is a freshman at Parsons School of Design, where she is studying fashion design and fashion business. Her goal is to continue growing her ethical fashion brand AanyasBOWtique.
To join, volunteer or donate, visit www.gscwm.org.
