Local Girl Receives Girl Scout Gold Award

Alyssa Leo Honored with Highest Award in Girl Scouting

Alyssa Leo, in meeting with the Richardson Animal Shelter found there was a need for a video to show at area schools and events addressing animal safety. Having grown up with pets and working during summers as a camp counselor for children, she wanted to know why the highest percentage of animal bites were to children and how she could help prevent it.

While researching, Alyssa found that the majority of bites come from the family pet and for children the bites happen mostly in the facial area. Many children are not taught how to approach animals safely and cautiously.

Alyssa used her filming experience she has acquired through the Richardson High School Communications Magnet, her and a friend’s drawing talents from the West JH Arts Magnet as well as the talents of various volunteers, to produce and direct a film that speaks to children with the hopes that they will spread the word back to their families and friends.

She posted her video for global exposure and designed flyers to pass out at the four events she held for children. Alyssa then wrote, illustrated and designed a brochure with her volunteers that the shelter will be able to reproduce and distribute at their animal safety events for years to come. Alyssa is a Girl Scout Ambassador with Troop 2258 and has been with the troop since her kindergarten year.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout may earn. A national award, with national standards, it represents a Girl Scout’s time, leadership, creativity and effort contributed to making her community better. For many, the leadership skills, organizational skills, and sense of community and commitment that come from "Going for the Gold" set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship.

The Girl Scout Gold Award project is something that fulfills a need within a girl's community, whether local or global, and creates change. The project encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills.

About Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas

Girl Scouts is the premier leadership organization and the largest pipeline for female leadership. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas serves nearly 33,000 girls and 17,000 adults in 32 northeast Texas counties. For information on how to join, volunteer or donate to the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas call (800) 442-2260 or visit www.gsnetx.org.