Local Girl Scouts and adult volunteers from Wolcott, N.Y., and Sayre, Pa., (part of the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways (GSNYPENN) Council) earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award for volunteer hours in 2020. The award recognizes outstanding volunteers within certifying organizations who have earned distinction through community service, either in a 12-month period or over the course of a lifetime.
This presidential honor was founded in 2003 by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. The award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.
As a certifying organization, GSNYPENN identifies eligible members as potential recipients, verifies their service hours and distributes the award to selected girls and volunteers.
“We congratulate these GSNYPENN Girl Scouts and adult volunteers for earning the President’s Volunteer Service Award,” says GSNYPENN CEO Julie Dale. “Collectively, they recorded more than 966 hours of community service and contributed selflessly to support their communities during 2020. Their volunteerism is a testament to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. We could not be prouder of their dedication and service.”
Troop 40408 from Red Creek School District in Wolcott, N.Y., earned the Gold-level award for group volunteering. All members must volunteer at least 25 hours towards each project, for a total of more than 500 service hours. Troop service projects included helping with the Rescue Mission’s FreezeOut 5K to End Homelessness, holding a beach cleanup, organizing a Pumpkin Walk, donating holiday poinsettias for local senior citizens and more.
Troop leaders:
Jane Ayers of Wolcott
Bonnie Thomas of Wolcott
Troop members:
Madelyn Clark, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Wolcott and 11th grader at Red Creek High School.
Hannah Doll, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Red Creek and 11th grader at Red Creek High School.
Talia Maurizio, a Girl Scout Senior from Martville and 10th grader at Red Creek High School.
Brionna McDonald, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Red Creek and 11th grader at Red Creek High School.
Aleita Mercer, a Girl Scout Senior from Cato and 10th grader at Red Creek High School.
Mackenzie Morrissette, a Girl Scout Senior from Red Creek and 10th grader at Red Creek High School.
Hailey Sherman, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Sterling and 11th grader at Red Creek High School.
Angelie Sperling, a Girl Scout Ambassador from Martville and 11th grader at Red Creek High School.
Addison Webber, a Girl Scout Cadette from Martville and 6th grader at Margaret W. Cuyler Elementary School.
Amy Chilson, an adult Girl Scout volunteer from Sayre, Pa., earned the Silver-level award for 302 service hours. She helped with many local Girl Scout service unit events including ice cream socials, making masks and sewing blankets for foster care children. Amy is a Lifetime Girl Scout and supports the girls and troop leaders in her area in many ways.
Emily Chilson, a Girl Scout Cadette from Sayre, Pa., earned the Bronze-level award for 69 service hours. She ran a dinner at her local YMCA, made masks, sewed blankets and ran a Girl Scout Daisy troop meeting. She is an 8th grader at Sayre Area High School.
Ella Chilson, a Girl Scout Senior from Sayre, Pa., earned the Silver-level award for 95 service hours. She made masks, sewed blankets, ran an ice cream social and ran a Girl Scout Daisy troop meeting. She is a 10th grader at Athens Area High School.
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