Cheyenne Chalkus: Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient and Heroic Lifesaver

Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world through their Girl Scout Gold Award projects. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. As the Girl Scout Gold Award celebrates 100 years of girls changing the world, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) will highlight some of our shining stars who exemplify the greatness of this award.

Cheyenne Chalkus

A simple newspaper article on a beginner’s class in cemetery cleaning inspired Cheyenne Chalkus of Salem, IL to pursue her Girl Scout Gold Award. Cheyenne knew she wanted to do something unique for her Gold Award project, and this was just the ticket. She cleared overgrowth and restored vandalized headstones at Dickens Cemetery, a historic burial site owned by the City of Salem. After obtaining the proper permits to start her project, Cheyenne went to work – fixing damaged memorials, clearing brush and removing poison ivy from the site. To ensure the cemetery would stay maintained, she held a public presentation and distributed pamphlets about volunteer upkeep of historic cemeteries. To emphasize the importance of treating aging burial grounds with respect, Cheyenne included genealogy of those who were buried at the cemetery during her presentation.

Not long after earning her Girl Scout Gold Award, Cheyenne earned another prestigious Girl Scout award – the Girl Scout Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is a lifesaving award given by Girl Scouts of the USA to girls who have saved or attempted to save a human life under circumstances that indicate heroism. This award is reserved for those Girl Scouts who have performed heroic acts beyond the degree of maturity and training to be expected at their age. At the age of 18, Cheyenne saved the life of her 22 month old nephew when he ended up face down and unconscious in a hot tub. Thanks to her CPR training, Cheyenne was able to revive her nephew by the time paramedics arrived.

Cheyenne will likely positively touch and save many more lives in the future. She currently attends Kaskaskia College where she is enrolled in the school’s nursing and band programs. Once she graduates from Kaskaskia, Cheyenne plans to further her education by pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.

The Girl Scout Gold Award 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. “It’s an accomplished feeling to have completed Girl Scouts ‘all the way’,” says Cheyenne of earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. “If I could give any advice to future Girl Scouts it would be to finish Girl Scouts to the fullest (earn the Gold Award) because you will become a better person from the characteristics instilled throughout the program,” Cheyenne added.

Four Girls Receive Girl Scouts' Medal of Honor at All That Glitters Awards Ceremony

Girl Scouts were shining stars during Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ (GSSI) All That Glitters Award ceremony on March 28, 2015 at Rend Lake Resort in Whittington, Illinois. Each year, the banquet recognizes Girl Scouts from across southern Illinois who achieve significant accomplishments in community service and leadership.

At All That Glitters, Girl Scouts of the USA's Medal of Honor, a national Lifesaving Award, was presented to four GSSI Girl Scouts for their heroic actions. Lifesaving Awards have been a part of the Girl Scout program since the movement started in 1912 and are a form of recognition given to a registered Girl Scout who has saved or attempted to save a human life under circumstances that indicate heroism or risk of her own life. These awards are reserved for Girl Scouts who have performed heroic acts beyond the degree of maturity and training expected at their age. Awardees are:

Cheynne Chalkus of Salem

Cheyenne was 18 years old last August when she saved the life of her 22 month old nephew Skyler after he had an accidental fall into the hot tub. She immediately laid him on the deck and started chest compressions while her mother called 911. After several compressions, Skyler started to faintly cry and breathe on his own. Cheyenne then sat him up and waited for paramedics to arrive. Once there, the paramedics found Skyler fully alert.

“They said it was a good thing I knew CPR,” said Cheyenne. “Today he is a completely healthy and happy boy, and I am so glad I could help him,” she added. Cheyenne is the daughter of Scott and Carole Chalkus.

Kayli Kohn of Fairfield

Kayli was 10 years old when she rescued her two year old brother Hudson in 2013. Kayli was putting Hudson into the van as the family was leaving a local business. Before her father and stepmother got into the car, Hudson accidentally hit the gear shift and the van began to roll backwards into the street, although the keys were not in the van’s ignition. Kayli began to yell to get the attention of the oncoming traffic. Her attempts were successful as the cars came to a stop before colliding with the family vehicle. After crossing two lanes of traffic, the van struck a building and came to a stop. Hudson was unharmed when he was taken out of the vehicle, and it was later determined that the van’s gear shift was defective. 

“My brother was so scared, and he was crying in my arms. Nobody got hurt; we are so lucky. I love my brother so much,” said Kayli. Kayli is the daughter of Jessica and Jeremy Kohn.

Brianna and Brittany McGehee of Mt. Vernon 

Brianna and Brittany, twins from Mt. Vernon, were 11 years old in June 2014 when they came to the aid of their sister Shelia. Brianna and Brittany were going to babysit for Shelia’s three young children when they found their sister face down on the bathroom floor. From their Girl Scout First Aid/CPR training, the girls believed Shelia showed signs of having had a stroke. Brittany and Brianna called the hospital and turned Shelia to her side. With their First Aid training and assistance from the hospital operator, the girls gave their sister aspirin and cool rags and kept her talking. Once stable, Brianna and Brittany helped their sister into their mother’s truck to go to the hospital. 

“We had CPR/First Aid training, but it was really scary when it’s your own sister that you love,” said Brianna. “I’m glad that I was going to babysit that day and that I have my First Aid/CPR certificate,” added Brittany. Brianna and Brittany are the daughters of Gary and Donna McGehee.

Cheynne Chalkus of Salem Earns the Girl Scouts Medal of Honor

Cheyenne Chalkus of Salem was 18 years old last August when she saved the life of her 22 month old nephew Skyler after he had an accidental fall into the hot tub. She immediately laid him on the deck and started chest compressions while her mother called 911. After several compressions, Skyler started to faintly cry and breathe on his own. Cheyenne then sat him up and waited for paramedics to arrive. Once there, the paramedics found Skyler fully alert.

“They said it was a good thing I knew CPR,” said Cheyenne. “Today he is a completely healthy and happy boy, and I am so glad I could help him,” she added. Cheyenne is the daughter of Scott and Carole Chalkus.

Four Girls From Southern Illinois to Receive Girl Scouts Medal of Honor

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that four local Girl Scouts recently received the Girl Scout Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is a lifesaving award given by Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) to girls who have saved or attempted to save a human life under circumstances that indicate heroism. This award is reserved for those Girl Scouts who have performed heroic acts beyond the degree of maturity and training to be expected at their age.

Brianna and Brittany McGehee, twins from Mt. Vernon, were 11 years old in June 2014 when they came to the aid of their sister Shelia. Brianna and Brittany were going to babysit for Shelia’s three young children when they found their sister face down on the bathroom floor. From their Girl Scout First Aid/CPR training, the girls believed Shelia showed signs of having had a stroke. Brittany and Brianna called the hospital and turned Shelia to her side. With their First Aid training and assistance from the hospital operator, the girls gave their sister aspirin and cool rags and kept her talking. Once stable, Brianna and Brittany helped their sister into their mother’s truck to go to the hospital. “We had CPR/First Aid training, but it was really scary when it’s your own sister that you love,” said Brianna. “I’m glad that I was going to babysit that day and that I have my First Aid/CPR certificate,” added Brittany. Brianna and Brittany are the daughters of Gary and Donna McGehee.

 

Cheyenne Chalkus of Salem was 18 years old last August when she saved the life of her 22 month old nephew Skyler after he had an accidental fall into a hot tub.  She immediately laid him on the deck and started chest compressions while her mother called 911. After several compressions Skyler started to faintly cry and breathe on his own. Cheyenne then sat him up and waited for paramedics to arrive. Once there, the paramedics found Skyler fully alert. Cheyenne was told by the paramedics that Skyler appeared to have been in the water for 30 seconds or less. “They said it was a good thing I knew CPR,” said Cheyenne. “Today he is a completely healthy and happy boy, and I am so glad I could help him,” she added. Cheyenne is the daughter of Scott and Carole Chalkus.

 

Kayli Kohn of Fairfield was 10 years old when she rescued her two year old brother Hudson in 2013. Kayli was putting Hudson into the van as the family was leaving a local business. Before her father and stepmother got into the car, Hudson accidentally hit the gear shift and the van began to roll backwards into the street, although the keys were not in the van’s ignition. Kayli began to yell to get the attention of the oncoming traffic. Her attempts were successful as the cars came to a stop before colliding with the family vehicle. After crossing two lanes of traffic, the van struck a building and came to a stop. Hudson was unharmed when he was taken out of the vehicle, and it was later determined that the van’s gear shift was defective. “My brother was so scared, and he was crying in my arms. Nobody got hurt; we are so lucky. I love my brother so much,” said Kayli. Kayli is the daughter of Jessica and Jeremy Kohn.

Cheyenne Chalkus from Salem Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

 

 

Cheyenne Chalkus from Salem has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.

For her project, Cheyenne cleared overgrowth and restored vandalized headstones at Dickens Cemetery, a historic burial site owned by the City of Salem. First, she took a course on cemetery restoration and got the proper permits to start her project. Next, she went to work – fixing damaged memorials, clearing brush and removing poison ivy from the site. To ensure the cemetery would stay maintained, she held a public presentation and distributed pamphlets about volunteer upkeep of historic cemeteries. To emphasize the importance of treating aging burial grounds with respect, Cheyenne included genealogy of those who were buried during her presentation.

“Cemeteries are neglected over the years due to lack of knowledge,” said Cheyenne. “When I started you could only see five headstones,” said Cheyenne. “Now you can see sixteen.”

 Younger Girl Scouts were interested in continuing to maintain Dickens Cemetery and Cheyenne plans to teach them what she learned. She also hopes to take an advanced restoration course. “I want to finish what I’ve started,” she said.

 Along with a sense of accomplishment, Cheyenne also gained positive leadership skills while earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. “I am more assertive and more confident in myself,” she said. “I have set goals and now know how to meet them.”

Cheyenne is currently a senior as Salem Community High School. She is the daughter of Scott and Carole Chalkus.

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 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.