Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Nicole L. Laflen from Belleville has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Strides for Strays – Racing to Rescue – Service for Smiles, Nicole wanted to bring awareness that shelter animals could serve as service animals. She wanted to bring more awareness to service animals, so she held a 5K and informational fair. Nicole’s 5K had approximately 225 registered participants who were encouraged to bring their favorite dog to join them on the walk/run. She had approximately 18 vendors at her informational fair to help bring educational awareness and answer questions regarding her cause. In addition, Nicole made PVC beds and fleece blankets to donate to the animals.
Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Nicole gained valuable leadership skills that she’ll be able to use throughout her life. “My Girl Scout Gold Award project taught me that no matter what roadblocks I faced, I knew I could overcome them,” said Nicole.
Nicole is the daughter of Steve and Lisa Laflen. She is currently a sophomore at Belleville West High School. Nicole has been a Girl Scout for 9 years.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.
