Kayla Sica of Southington Earns Highest National Girl Scout Honor

Kayla Sica of Southington, CT has received her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

In order to earn the Gold Award, Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts between grades nine through 12 spend at least 80 hours researching issues, assessing community needs and resources, building a team, and making a sustainable impact in the community. A Gold Award recipient’s accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart as a community leader.

Kayla’s project worked toward improving and raising awareness of her local dog pound. Kayla created new signs, brochures, magnets, a donation box, a YouTube video, and ran an event to help better the lives of animals and those seeking to help them. Because of her efforts, donations to the pound have increased, and her brochures and magnets are still being distributed throughout Southington.

Kayla’s project also inspired a local Girl Scout troop to continue another project for the pound. Kayla plans on pursuing a career in child psychology after graduating from high school.

“On a national level, only four to six percent of Girl Scouts earn this prestigious honor, and I am beyond proud of our girls,” said Mary Barneby, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “By earning the Gold Award, Girl Scouts set themselves apart as top achievers, and are incredible women of confidence, courage, and character, who make the world a better place. Next year, we are excited to celebrate our 100th year of encouraging girls to Go Gold!”

For more information about the Gold Award or how to become a Gold Award volunteer or mentor, visit http://www.gsofct.org/pages/GoldAward.php.