Hauppauge Girl Scouts Earn Silver Award

Six Hauppauge Students Receive Girl Scout Silver Award

HAUPPAUGE, NY—Girl Scouting’s highest awards—the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards—are a girl’s chance to make a lasting difference in the world. Girl Scout Troop 2861 and 428 was honored to present Rylee Agosta, Elizabeth Combs, Elizabeth Holdorf, Emely Rodriguez, Alexeus Ruland and Renae Smith with the Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest recognition for achievement in Girl Scouting for girls in grades 6-8.

This award recognizes girls who demonstrate—individually or as a group—extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects that address important community needs.  In attendance were some special guests- Legislator Tom Cilmi, Sal Nicosia, a representative from Senator Croci, Hauppauge BOE Member, Gary Fortmeyer, the Hauppauge Middle School Principle Mrs. Maryann Fletcher, Service Unit 26 Coordinator, Mrs. Rose Vermillion and Girl Scouts of Suffolk County staff.

Elizabeth Combs and Emely Rodriguez joined forces to collect various donations for Long Island Feline Adoption Center, which had recently relocated.  They sat with the volunteers, figured out what their needs were and took action.  They requested donations through a donation box in the library, at Service Unit events and by pamphlets they distributed.

Elizabeth Holdorf created an educational brochure on Cookie Booth Sales and a Set Up and Go Cookie Booth for Girl Scouts in Suffolk County to utilize. Her cookie booth will be used by troops during cookie sales to guide them in proper etiquette and give them a readymade/travel ready cookie booth. She decided to do this because she felt that girls could benefit from a transportable cookie booth and pamphlet with information. “Girls need to know how to sell cookies properly with good cookie selling etiquette in order to get more of a profit,” Elizabeth says. She wanted to help her service unit with hopes that other service units will follow in her footsteps. This way, when Girl Scouts are out selling cookies, they can look and sound their best.

Alexeus Ruland wrote and produced an Autism Awareness Video for Hauppauge Middle School to help fight the stigma of others that are different. She chose to do this project because a close family member has Autism and she would love for everyone to know how Autism works and what it is.  In the video, she gave the science behind Autism and some of the signs and struggles a person with Autism might show. Alexeus hopes this will make people realize that even though someone may act differently, sometimes they cannot change it, and that people can try to be more understanding.

Renae Smith chose to raise money to donate two iPad’s to Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Child Life department.  The Child Life department provides young patients being treated in the pediatric unit a place to socialize, play, learn and hang-out. Renae chose to do this because the Child life Department holds a special place in her heart.  When she was seven years old, she had open-heart surgery due to some complications with a hole in her heart. When she was in the hospital, Renae visited the Child Life department play room and played with other kids and make various crafts, including sewing a pillow case, which she still owns and cherishes. 

Rylee Agosta helped with a Beautification Project at St. Thomas Moore.  She started with a sit down with Father Anthony of St. Thomas Moore Church.  Father Anthony wanted help to stop people from parking on the lawn of the church property.  They agreed on an initial plan to plant Azaleas along the road.  This need changed when the town notified Father Anthony that they were going to put in a sidewalk. So, Father Anthony gave Rylee the St. Francis Garden to work on.  The one side of the sanctuary was beautiful, and the other side was full of weeds, which was a large eyesore.  Rylee’s Silver Award Project turned the area into a beautiful section to sit and enjoy.

“Girl Scouts take a pledge to serve others and help people at all times,” says Yvonne Grant, President & CEO for Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “The inspiring accomplishments of these young women are a testament to this promise.”

The members of Troop 2861 and 428 used their strengths, talents, and skills and put their plan into action to earn the Silver Award while each taking a leadership role.   This would not have been possible without the support of their sister scouts, family, friends and the community.

Girl Scouts of Suffolk County is the largest youth-serving agency on Long Island. It serves more than 40,000 girls between the ages of 5 and 17, with the dedicated support of more than 7,000 volunteers. For more information about Girl Scouts, please call 631.543.6622 or visit www.gssc.us.