Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians congratulates Logan Jordan, Cydney Kapperman, Alexandra Robison, Victoria Robison and Alaina Washington from Chattanooga for becoming Gold Award Girl Scouts. Their projects focused on foster care support, reducing infant mortality, zoo education, women in leadership, and scoliosis education.
Having personal belongings as a child in foster care establishes a sense of self and thus increases their confidence and resilience. Logan Jordan from troop 40520 provided children in foster care with “Go-Bags” that contained clothing, toys, books, and hygiene products that were donated by local businesses and taken to the Department of Children Services. For sustainability, Logan presented her project and research at her school.
Cydney Kapperman from troop 40573 aimed to reduce the maternal-infant mortality rate of families in rural Culmi, Honduras. By working with a birthing clinic in Honduras, she donated medical equipment which can be used for years to come and created an incentive program to mothers who come to regular checkups with necessary infant supplies. The clinic has delivered triple the number of babies since the start of her project.
Alexandra Robinson from troop 40507 worked with the Chattanooga Zoo to provide educational resources for students attending the zoo on field trips. Instead of teachers having to provide their own lesson plans, she made engaging activities to make learning more meaningful for children at the zoo. She developed communication, professional, and leadership skills, collaborating with the zoo staff.
Victoria Robinson from troop 40507, fueled by her passion to see more female representation in leadership and traditionally male-dominated careers, interviewed influential women in her city to identify characteristics that lead to success. In order to inspire young women on their paths, she created a YouTube channel to post videos of her interviews with female leaders and survey to get feedback from her viewers. Tori said she was excited to come up with a project that was something she could "pass on" to young future female leaders.
Alaina Washington from troop 40276 aimed to educate the community on scoliosis, especially in minority communities, by participating in a health fair, engaging with faith communities, and leading informational sessions. These community members were taught that people who have scoliosis are not limited in their activities and were encouraged to have conversations with their healthcare providers about early detection.
The Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable—earned by a high school Girl Scout who works to address an issue she’s passionate about in a way that produces meaningful and lasting change. Whether it’s on a local, national, or global level, Gold Award Girl Scouts provide innovative solutions to significant challenges.
"Logan, Cydney, and Alaina exemplify leadership in all its forms," said Lynne Fugate, chief executive officer of the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians. "Each saw a need in their communities and took action. Their extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership is making the world a better place. We congratulate them on this momentous accomplishment."