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On June 2, 2024, the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles (GSGLA) hosted the Gold Award Ceremony at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Molly Huang and Allison Chieh from Buddha’s Light Hsi Lai Girl Scout Troop 18894 received the prestigious Gold Award for their projects "Project No Distance" and "Better Environment, Better Tomorrow," respectively. Venerable Zhi San, the Guiding Venerable of Hsi Lai Girl Scouts, along with 15 family members and friends, attended the event. Nearly a thousand attendees celebrated the achievements of 207 awardees.
The Gold Award projects addressed themes such as humanitarian care, environmental protection, healthcare, and conservation of animals and insects. The recipients, who are students in grades 9 to 12, choose their topics, plan the details, and contribute over 80 hours of community service. Only 6% of Girl Scouts nationwide receive this honor each year.
GSGLA CEO Theresa Edy Kiene praised the awardees for demonstrating care, independence, perseverance, confidence, innovation, and community service through their projects. She affirmed that every Girl Scout is a future leader.
Amid continuous applause and cheers from their families and friends, the awardees went on stage individually to receive their medals. The ceremony also featured videos showcasing the project names and gratitude messages from the Girl Scouts.
Molly Huang noticed that many clubs at her high school required membership to participate in activities, which discouraged student engagement, especially after the pandemic. To address this, she initiated "Project No Distance," encouraging student interaction and fostering a sense of community and belonging. Her project advisor, Mr. Shay Lohman, remarked on her leadership qualities and the positive impact of her project.
Allison Chieh's Gold Award project, "Better Environment, Better Tomorrow," focuses on environmental sustainability. She designed courses, videos, websites, and activities for middle school students to raise awareness about environmental issues. Her project advisor, Mr. Arnel Redoblado, who also guided her Silver Award project, expressed pride in witnessing Allison's growth and dedication to community service.
Venerable Zhi San highlighted the perseverance required to achieve the Gold Award. He encouraged the Girl Scouts to continue striving for the welfare of others and to help improve lives.
(Photos Provided by Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple)
