[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 107 (Wednesday, September 13, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD RECIPIENTS

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                          HON. THOMAS W. EWING

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2000

  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to salute Laura David, 
Erin Wiggins, Jennifer Iversen, Christina Barnes, and Merideth Holmes. 
They are outstanding young women who were honored with the Girl Scout 
Gold Award by Green Meadows Council in Urbana, Illinois. Laura, Erin, 
Jennifer, Christina, and Merideth were honored on May 8, 2000 for 
earning the highest achievement that a young woman aged 14-17 or in 
grades 9-12 can earn in Girl Scouting. The Girl Scout Gold Award 
symbolizes outstanding accomplishments and has five requirements, each 
of which helps girls develop skills in the areas of leadership, career 
exploration, self-discovery, and service. The fifth requirement is a 
Gold Award Project that requires a minimum of 50 hours of 
participation.
  Girl Scouts of the U. S. A., an organization serving over 2.5 million 
girls, has awarded more than 20,000 Girl Scout Awards to Senior Girl 
Scouts since the inception of the program in 1980. To receive this 
award, a Girl Scout must earn four interest project patches, the Career 
Exploration Pin, the Senior Girl Scout Leadership Award, and the Senior 
Girl Scout Challenge, and also design and carry out a Girl Scout Award 
project. A plan for fulfilling these requirements is created by the 
Senior Girl Scout and is carried out through close cooperation between 
the girl, her troop leader, and an adult Girl Scout volunteer mentor.
  Laura and Erin's Gold Award project was ``Communities Helping 
Communities.'' They are members of Girl Scout Troop 299 in Champaign, 
Illinois. The idea for their project came when they participated in a 
school sponsored city clean-up project. They recognized the need to 
help elderly neighbors with yard work and beautification of their 
property. Together they organized and coordinated volunteer workers, 
obtained donations of plant materials and supplies and provided 
gardening services for eight elderly families and three churches. Upon 
completing this project, they evaluated the results. Laura felt that 
one of the benefits of this project was the families were able to 
provide input into the selection of flowers and how their flowerbeds 
were designed. Erin said she gained self-satisfaction from providing 
such a tangible improvement to homes. Benefits of the project were the 
experience of intergenerational and multi-racial neighbors working 
together.
  Jennifer Iversen's Gold Award project involved obtaining computers 
for the residents of Manor Care Health Services. She is also a member 
of Girl Scout Troop 299 in Champaign, Illinois. Jennifer and a friend 
taught residents basic computer skills and how to access the Internet. 
These new skills provided residents the ability to use e-mail to 
correspond with family friends. Jennifer applied for and received a 
grant for continuation of this project next year with volunteer 
assistance from the social advocacy class at University Laboratory High 
School.
  Christina Barnes's Gold Award project titled ``Assistant Softball 
Coach'' provided her the opportunity to share her talents and love of 
softball with young women aged 13-15. Christina is a member of Girl 
Scout Troop 400 in Philo, Illinois. She coached and taught this group 
fast pitch softball skills through the Park District. Her project also 
included developing a First Aid kit for the team and emphasizing 
nutrition in her instruction
  Merideth Holmes is an Independent Girl Scout from Monticello, 
Illinois, and her project, ``Christian Cuddliess'' involved working 
with members of a Junior Girl Scout troop to make teddy bears for 
children admitted to the emergency room of Ganta Memorial Hospital in 
Ganta, Liberia. Merideth enjoyed involving the Junior Girl Scouts in 
her project and being able to make an emergency room more comforting 
and less threatening for children.
  I believe that Laura David, Erin Wiggins, Jennifer Iversen, Christina 
Barnes, and Merideth Holmes should receive public recognition for their 
significant service to their communities and country.

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