Two Wayne County girls earn Girl Scouts' top honor, Gold
By From staff reports
Published in News on February 28, 2018 5:50 AM
Jennifer Renee Potts
Anna Wisniewski
The North Carolina Coastal Pines congratulates Jennifer Renee Potts and Anna Wisniewski of Goldsboro for earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest and most prestigious achievement in Girl Scouting.
Awarded to fewer than 6 percent of Girl Scouts annually, Potts and Wisniewski join generations of young women who have earned their Girl Scout Gold Award while making a difference in their communities both locally and globally.
For Potts' Gold Award project, KWM Learning Center, she visited Bolivia and designed and established a computing and learning center at a local orphanage. Previously, the children had limited educational opportunities and inadequate resources. Potts collected donations and stocked the learning center with computers, tablets, DVDs and educational books for the children to use. She then trained the children in using the learning center and inspired older children to create a cataloging system for their library. Because of her project, the orphans will now be able to supplement their learning activities and prepare themselves for a successful future by exploring the new technology and reading the books.
For Wisniewski's Gold Award project, Y's Men Family Swim Clinic, she held a free swim clinic for the underserved members of her community as a part of the YMCA's Men Program. The clinic had a total of 52 participants, and Wisniewski provided each child with a goodie bag containing a towel, swimsuit, googles, swim cap and pool noodle along with three days of free swim instruction and fun at the YMCA. Wisniewski helped people in her community learn how to be safe around water and improve their skills and confidence.
Potts is the daughter of Glenda and Frank Farrell and Dr. Rick Potts and is a senior at Wayne Country Day School. She has been in Girl Scouts since 2009 and is in Girl Scout Troop No. 823 led by Brenda Killingsworth, Mary Jon Pabst, and Glenda Farrell. In addition to Girl Scouting, she is active in Key Club, Varsity Tennis, Varsity Soccer, Student Government Association, Dance, Junior Leadership of Wayne County, and she volunteers at the Goldsboro Community Soup Kitchen.
Wisniewski is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clay Wisniewski and is in 12th grade at Marion Academy. Wisniewski has been in Girl Scouts since 2006 and is in Girl Scout Troop #3564 led by Coletta Campbell and Angie Thorne
By earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, Potts and Wisniewski have become a community leaders. Their accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.
When compared to non-Girl Scout alumnae, Gold Award Girl Scouts soar when it comes to seeing themselves as a leader, providing service to others through volunteerism, and positive attitudes about themselves and the lives they lead. More generally, over ninety percent of Girl Scouts not only attributed their success in life to Girl Scouts, but they also said they could not have had access to the same experiences anywhere else. Additionally, Gold Award Girl Scouts are more ambitious, placing more emphasis on a successful career, financial security, and being a leader; and are more likely to believe they are achieving their ambitions in life.
It's not only Girl Scouts who understand the value of the Gold Award. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. armed forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements. Additionally, girls are eligible for scholarships provided by Girl Scouts - North Carolina Coastal Pines aimed at providing financial assistance in the pursuit of higher education and leadership opportunities.
Since the council unification in 2007 through 2016, 562 of Girl Scouts have earned their Gold Award as a result of their efforts to transform an idea and vision for change into an actionable plan with measurable, sustainable, and far-reaching impact. Girls and families interested in learning more about the Girl Scout Gold Award can visit www.nccoastalpines.org.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each Gold Award Girl Scouts' dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. They are our future, and it looks bright!
We're Girl Scouts of the USA
We're 2.6 million strong--1.8 million girls and 800,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) ยช to change the world. Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon "Daisy" Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we've honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We're the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. And with programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.girlscouts.org.