Jennifer Chen, Loryn Teranishi, and Brianne Yasukochi are recent recipients of the coveted Girl Scout Gold Award as members of the Nishi Girl Scout Troop 12135. The scouts were honored on June 15 at Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple.
The Girl Scout Gold Award represents the highest achievements in Girl Scouting. Open only to girls in high school, this prestigious award requires a completion of two Girl Scout journeys, earning the Silver Award, and planning an individual community service project. This project must provide a sustainable and lasting benefit to the community. A minimum of 80 hours is required to complete the steps to the Gold Award.
• Gold Award Project: “The Magnet Connection”
Loryn Kiyomi Teranishi was born on Aug. 12, 1995 to Paul and Nancy Teranishi. She attended Atwater Elementary School, Eagle Rock Junior/Senior High School, and is currently a senior at John Marshall High School.
For her Gold Award project, Loryn created an enrichment tutoring program for Eagle Rock Elementary Magnet School’s children, grades three through six. She made herself readily available so each student would have an opportunity to be helped individually. Her goal was to assist and guide those who fell behind in subjects such as math, science or English. With the ambition of her friends, who also helped tutor, and the generous magnet school parents, she was able to create a friendly learning environment.
• Gold Award Project: “Read to Succeed”
Jennifer Erika Chen was born on Dec. 3, 1995 to Erica Hayashi and Edward Chen, and is currently a senior at John A Rowland High School. Her project started when she saw that the preschool at her high school was in need of a library. She received donations of used and new books; recycled cans/bottles to pay for the supplies to build the bookshelves; and built two bookshelves in the workshop class. She went to the preschool every day to read to the kids and to show them how much fun reading can be and how important it is for their education.
• Gold Award Project: “Basketball Camp”
Brianne Yasukochi was born on Sept. 15, 1995 to Donal and Norene Yasukochi. Residing in Oceanside, she attended The Rhoades School and Oakcrest Middle School and is currently a senior at La Jolla Country Day School. In the fall, she will be playing basketball and attending UC Davis.
For her Gold Award project, she organized a basketball camp to educate young children of the Oceanside Boys and Girls Club about the importance of making healthy lifestyle choices. For two weeks, she led children from first through fifth grade through various basketball exercises and nutritional workshops, teaching about ways to stay active and providing the tools to better eating habits. Brianne also received donations from Valley Heights Ranch of fruits and vegetables to give the children healthy alternatives when snacking. She also received donations from Judy Huffaker, a nutritionist, of nutrition pamphlets, various children’s cookbooks, and healthy eating handouts. The children thoroughly enjoyed these gifts and learned a lot about basketball and nutrition.