Local Seaford Teens Earn Prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Nassau County recently celebrated Seaford residents Leah M., Katie P., and Victoria S., who were among the 67 young women from across Nassau County to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award this year. The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouts and recognizes young women who identify a real problem in their community, build a team, and create a lasting, sustainable solution. They were honored at the 2026 Gold Award Ceremony at The Inn at New Hyde Park.

"The 2026 Gold Award Girl Scouts are an extraordinary group of young women, and what they have accomplished goes far beyond the projects they completed," said Rande Bynum, CEO of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. "Through this experience, every one of them built real, transferable skills in leadership, problem-solving, public speaking, and project management that will give them an edge in college, in their careers, and in every community they are a part of for the rest of their lives. We are so proud of each of them, and of the lasting impact they have already made right here in Nassau County."

Girls in grades 9-12 begin their Gold Award journeys by identifying a civic or social issue that holds personal significance to them. From there, each girl builds a team, develops a plan, and leads that team to implement a sustainable solution designed to continue creating impact long after her direct involvement ends. Through programs established at local schools, books donated to library collections, community installations, and digital resources with global reach, these young women leave behind something lasting. Along the way, Gold Award recipients develop into innovative problem-solvers, empathetic leaders, confident public speakers, and focused project managers, building resourcefulness, tenacity, and decision-making skills that give them a meaningful edge personally and professionally.

Leah's Gold Award, Fun in the Kitchen: Ding! It's Done, focused on helping children with developmental disabilities build independence and confidence through cooking and kitchen safety education. She created an adaptable cookbook with step-by-step recipes and visual supports tailored for a variety of learning needs, and donated copies to the local library for continued community use.

Katie's Gold Award, Emotional First Aid Kit, addressed anxiety and emotional stress during medical emergencies by creating sensory-based coping kits for ambulances and emergency response teams. After researching anxiety management strategies and consulting with educators, social workers, and emergency personnel, she assembled kits filled with fidgets, sensory tools, coping cards, and calming activities and led workshops for fire departments and ambulance companies across New York. Her reusable kits now remain in ambulances throughout multiple departments, while her educational materials and online resources continue promoting mental health awareness and support.

Victoria's Gold Award, In a Nutshell!, addressed food allergy awareness by helping teens and young adults feel more confident advocating for themselves during allergic reactions. She created presentations and hands-on workshops educating participants about how to recognize severe reactions and administer epinephrine devices, and connected her recorded presentation to a QR code now displayed in schools, pediatrician offices, libraries, and summer camps across Long Island.

According to recent research, Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to fill leadership roles at work and in their personal lives, and are more civically engaged than their non-Girl Scout peers. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Gold Award Girl Scouts agree that earning their Gold Award gave them skills that help them succeed professionally. Seventy-two percent (72%) said earning their Gold Award helped them get a scholarship. And the impact does not stop there. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of Gold Award alums go on to take on leadership roles in their everyday lives.

For more information about Girl Scouts of Nassau County or to learn how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit www.gsnc.org.