[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E553]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS

                                 ______


                            HON. RAY LaHOOD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 17, 1996

  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to salute a group of 
outstanding young women from my district who have been honored with the 
Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Gold Award by the Kickapoo Council of Girl 
Scouts in Peoria, IL. The seven girls who received this award are the 
following: Jennifer Baker of Troop 47; Jennifer Grafelman of Troop 22; 
Nora Hegwood of Troop 1000; Aria Hoekstra of Troop 581; Lee Ann Kroppel 
of Troop 22; Jordan Maricle of Troop 144; and Jennifer Roth of Troop 
345.
  The Gold Award is the highest achievement award in Girl Scouting. It 
symbolizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of leadership, 
community service, career planning, and personal development. The Girl 
Scout Gold Award can be earned by girls aged 14-17 or in grades 9-12.
  Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., an organization serving over 3.3 million 
girls, has awarded more than 20,000 Girl Scout Gold Awards to Senior 
Girl Scouts since the inception of the program in 1980. To receive the 
award, a Girl Scout must fulfill five requirements: earn four interest 
project patches; earn the Career Exploration Pin; earn the Senior Girl 
Scout Leadership Award; earn the Senior Girl Scout Challenge; and 
design and implement a Girl Scout Gold Award project. A plan for 
fulfilling the requirements of the award is created by the Senior Girl 
Scout and is carried out through close cooperation between the girl and 
an adult Girl Scout volunteer.
  Jennifer Baker began working on the Girl Scout Gold Award in early 
1994. Her project was completed by making presentations to high school 
students regarding the importance of making and keeping family values a 
priority in their life. She worked on this with the guidance and 
supervision of the Fulton County Health and Child Services Department.
  Jennifer Grafelman began working on her Girl Scout Gold Award 
requirements in 1994. She completed her project by presenting a 
Children's Safety Awareness With Strangers Program for a local 
elementary school, grades K-3. This program not only gave valuable 
information to the students, but also provided parents with a photo of 
their child, fingerprints and video tapes of the children. The local 
school board was very supportive of this project.
  Nora Hegwood started work on the Girl Scout Gold Award in 1993. Her 
project involved working with an Early Childhood Education Center to 
assess the abilities of children who do not have minimal playing skills 
and then to work with each of them in play therapy/play intervention to 
improve their level of play with other children. This involved an 
average of 2-hour-long play sessions several times over a 3-month 
period.
  Aria Hoekstra began work on the Gold Award in 1993. She completed her 
project by making and gathering toys, games, and books and making a toy 
box for these items, then donating them to the children's ward of a 
local hospital. In addition, she visited the hospital on several 
occasions and read, played games, and became friends to the children.
  Lee Ann Kroppel started her work on the Girl Scout Gold Award in 
1994. She completed her project by presenting a Children's Safety 
Awareness With Strangers program for a local elementary school, grades 
K-3. Working with the local school board, she provided valuable 
information to students and parents, including a photo and video tape 
of the child, as well as fingerprints.
  Jordan Maricle initiated work on her Gold Award in 1994. Her project 
was completed by teaching French in an elementary school where there 
are no classes in French. The school has cooperated in allowing this to 
be done with interested children. This project helps expand the 
horizons of children to another culture different from their own.
  Jennifer Roth began work on the Gold Award in 1994. She completed her 
project by cleaning, recording, and setting up a database for all of 
the band trophies and awards in her high school. They have received 
over 450 honors. This project will be one that can continue and will be 
of historical value to the school.
  The earning of the Girl Scout Gold Award is a major accomplishment 
for all of these young women, and I believe they should all receive the 
public recognition due to them for their significant service to the 
community and to the country.

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