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04/04/2017 12:00 AMLinares Gets Girl Scout Gold
Juliette Linares, a twelve year member of Girl Scouts of Connecticut earned the Girl Scouts Gold Award, the highest honor awarded to a Girl Scout.
The Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony took place on April 2nd at the Chester Meeting House. The speakers at her ceremony highlighted her extensive commitment to community service projects, charismatic personality, and her capacity as a “positive and encouraging role model of girls and adults.” Speakers who included Chester Selectwoman Lauren Gister, State Representative Bob Siegrist, Senator Art Linares, Girl Scouts of Connecticut CEO Mary Barneby, and New Britain Vance School Principal Sarah Harris showcased Juliette’s Gold Award project which promoted early childhood literacy.
Over one hundred hours were dedicated to planning; organizing, financing, and executing the project Juliette titled Dinner & A Book. Her Gold Award requirements were completed, in March 2016 after hosting a literacy night at Vance School in New Britain. Over 90 kindergarten families were invited to enjoy a pizza dinner, crafts, stories, free books, parent workshop with literacy specialists, and even a visit from Cat in the Hat. Juliette committed to sustain her take-action project for three years until her graduation from Valley Regional High School in June 2018. The second Dinner & A Book night, on March 29, 2017, proved to be even more successful with a greater number of families in attendance.
Chester Selectwomen Lauren Gister, who was a leader for Juliette’s Daisy troop in 2005, spoke of an energetic Juliette who had been the only one, of the original 28 girls in the troop, to earn a Gold Award. Principal Harris said, “Juli demonstrates leadership, flexibility, and initiative which are important skills in life.” “Thank you for creating a lasting impact on the lives of our students!” Senator Art Linares, who is also Juliette’s cousin, spoke of her accomplishments and shared “today is a culmination of all the success you’ve had but it’s just a piece of how far you’ve gone and how far you will go.” Juliette was officially pinned by Mary Barneby, Girl Scouts of CT CEO.
Juliette, who has been selected to represent Girl Scouts of CT at the National Convention in Ohio next October, closed her speech by sharing “This Gold Award project was an intense process which taught me how to properly resolve problems, be persistent, and take charge as a leader.”