Thursday, February 21, 2013

Tara Holbrook from Roxana Named February Pearl of the Month

Glen Carbon, Illinois – GSSI is pleased to announce that Tara Holbrook from Roxana has been named the February Pearl of the Month. The Pearl of the Month Award recognizes a Girl Scout volunteer who has delivered service beyond expectations and helped to ensure that the approximately 14,000 Girl Scouts in southern Illinois benefit from a premier Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  Nominees must meet several criteria, including completion of all required training for his or her volunteer position as well as providing outstanding service to his or her Service Unit or the Council.
Tara is the leader of Troop #907 and coaches the GSSI Robotics Team TBot 907, which competed in a FIRST LEGO League (FLL) regional tournament in December 2012. Despite having no prior robotics experience, Tara led her girls to build and program an autonomous robot using a Lego NXT Robotic kit & software. She also helped the girls complete an extensive research project related to the FLL challenge, Senior Solutions, which prompted teams to address a problem faced by the elderly.
 For their project, TBot 907 invented a sliding cell phone cover with hidden illuminated magnifier, which they demonstrated during the tournament.   Although TBot 907 did not advance in the FLL tournament, Tara helped the girls enter their invention in the FIRST Global Innovation contest -- which only a small percentage of FLL teams do. To make the experience even more dynamic, Tara arranged for a patent attorney to educate the girls on how to secure a patent for an invention, and arranged for a graphic artist to help the girls make a promotional video. Because of Tara’s dedication, the girls in TBot 907 were able to gain valuable knowledge and experience in the growing fields science, technology, engineering and math.
 The mission of Girl Scouting states:  Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.   Girl Scouts is the world's pre-eminent organization dedicated solely to girls - all girls - where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.  In partnership with committed adults, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives - like strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth.
Today’s Girl Scouts not only enjoy camping and crafts, but they also explore math and science and learn about diversity, good citizenship, leadership and teamwork.  Girl Scouting is the place where girls experience the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Girl Scouting has inspired more than 50 million girls and women since its founding in 1912.