These Girls Are Golden

by Jeannine Gage

Most people know what a great accomplishment it is when a Boy Scout becomes an Eagle Scout. He must devote hours upon hours to complete a project that benefits his community. He is honored by the Scouts, his family and friends, and, of course, the community.

What many people don’t know is that the Girl Scouts have their own award comparable to the Eagle Scout. It’s called the Gold Award and is just as aspirational. 

Only 5.4 percent of eligible Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award, so it’s remarkable that three Scouts from the same troop (Oviedo Troop 1276) – Angie Espenscheid, Kirby Ferraro, and Corbin Whitlow – recently attained it.

According to the Girl Scouts of the USA website, to win the Gold Award, a Girl Scout must identify a problem in her community or the world and make a plan to fix it. She must create a project plan and submit it to Girl Scout leadership for approval. Once approved, she executes the plan, working a minimum of 80 hours on the project. She is encouraged to recruit fellow scouts, friends, and family members to help.

“Gold Award Girl Scouts are rock stars, role models, and real-life heroes,” the website states. “They help fix a problem in their community or make a lasting change in their world.”

Lorie Massey is the leader of Oviedo Troop 1276.

“We’re so proud of our girls and their compassion for making this world a better place,” she says. “And our community is amazing. You tell them the girls’ vision and they give their support wholeheartedly to make it a reality.”

Until recently, Lorie’s mother Ruby Massey helped her run the troop. The mother-daughter team first became troop leaders when Lorie’s daughter Destiny joined (Destiny earned her Gold Award in 2017). Once she moved on, the women noticed that many local troops had disbanded, which left some Scouts stranded. Lorie and Ruby reached out and offered them a new troop.

“We truly believe Girl Scouts is a tradition worth passing on,” says Lorie. “What a legacy these girls leave by making the world a better place.”

Let’s meet our three local golden Girl Scouts and learn about their worthwhile projects:

Kirby Ferraro

Kirby, like many people, suffers from food allergies. Ingesting peanuts, tree nuts, or sesame seeds could cause serious or even deadly consequences for her. It’s especially dangerous for kids, who might not be as careful or aware as adults.

“Luckily, I have never suffered anaphylaxis (serious allergic reaction), but I know several people who have,” says Kirby. “I want to help bring awareness.”

Kirby, who has been in Girl Scouts since second grade, also loves musical theater, so the Oviedo High School senior thought she could combine her love of performing with getting the word out about food allergies. For her Gold Award project, she started a YouTube channel called No Allergens Allowed, which includes videos about how to avoid allergens when eating out, how to use an EpiPen, and allergy-friendly recipes. Kirby records, produces, and edits the videos by herself.

“I’m a one-woman show,” says the 17-year-old.

Kirby has also gone out into the community, setting up a table with information about allergens and speaking about the topic at events.

“I’ve learned so much and gotten so much better at public speaking,” she says.

Kirby encourages all young girls to join Girl Scouts.

“It really empowers girls,” she says.  “It lets you see there is so much you can do. It instills in you leadership and the importance of community involvement.” 

Angela Espenscheid 

Like many Girl Scouts, Angela, who goes by Angie, started out as a Brownie in elementary school. The Oviedo resident and Hagerty High School senior loved Scouting right away, so she stuck with it.

“I made so many friends and was learning about all kinds of things,” says Angie, 18.

Since seventh grade, she has been in Oviedo Troop 1276. She has continued to learn, but not just about the things most people think you learn in Scouting.

“A lot of people think it’s just about camping stuff,” she says. “But it’s so much more.”

Girl Scouts can start planning their Gold Award projects once they enter high school and complete Girl Scout certified programs. At first, Angie wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, but then she helped a fellow Scout with their project: a butterfly garden at Boys Town Central Florida, a nonprofit organization in Oviedo that’s dedicated to saving children and healing families.

“They have an intake center, and it was kind of boring,” says Angie, “so they suggested I do something there.”

Angie loves art, so she thought about creating a mural. But that turned out to be just the beginning. By the time she was finished with the project she had painted a mural and filled the room with more than $800 worth of donated electronic games, art supplies, and other items, transforming the room into an inviting space that can serve as a diversion for the young people who come through the doors at Boys Town.

“These are kids who need help, and they’re in a bad situation when they come there,” says Angie. “I wanted the room to be interactive.”

Angie, who will be attending Florida State University in the fall, says she will always appreciate her Girl Scout experience, especially completing the Gold Award project.

“It taught me a lot about management and making hard decisions,” she says, “and about working with other people – being part of a team to help others.” 

Corbin Whitlow 

Corbin, who graduated from Hagerty High School last year, has always loved nature. She especially enjoyed her visits to Girl Scout camps all around the state. The Riverpoint Program Center in Merritt Island was one of her favorites, but she thought the trail there left something to be desired.

“To be honest,” she says, “It was boring.”

Corbin, 19, also believes in conservancy and saving our natural spaces. So, when it came time for her to pursue her Gold Award, she knew exactly what she would do.

“I wanted to enhance that trail,” she says. “I wanted it to be more interesting and safer.”

Her project plan included adding lights and infographics to the trail, so campers can see the surrounding flora and identify them. She also added tiny fairy houses (actually bird houses) that visitors can search for while on the trail. She undertook all the research on the plants and created the infographics herself.

“I wanted it to be fun and educational,” she says.

Corbin is currently attending Seminole State College and is planning to attend the University of Central Florida to study forensic sciences. She wishes more people understood that being a Girl Scout is about more than camping and selling cookies.

“I’m so grateful for my experience,” says Corbin. “I have learned so many life skills.”