GSEM Gold Award Project Catalog

College Ready Roadmap

Issue: Many students lack planning and organization when working on their college applications and future careers. Root Cause: Accessibility to college planning materials is rooted in unequal access to information and resources, caused by economic disparities and insufficient public-school funding. Measurability: Surveys, self-assessments, and peer and faculty evaluations served as a way for Olivia to measure her progress. Sustainability: The school district has agreed to continue providing the materials and maintain the website.

Gold Award Girl Scout: Olivia V., Troop 224

Project Details: Driven by a desire to support students facing a lack of accessibility to college planning materials, Olivia created and launched a comprehensive website tailored to middle and high school students. The website includes guides, checklists, and resources to aid students as they navigate the college application process. To help her website reach a wider audience, Olivia established partnerships with local schools and community organizations who shared her information through direct outreach, emails and promotional materials, making it accessible to a broader network of students and educators.

“If You Like This Book, Read This One”

Issue: When children finish a book, they often struggle to pick a book to read next. Root Cause: The kids may struggle if they are at an end of a series, waiting for their new read to come in, their teacher doesn’t have the book in the classroom, or reading is advancing and they don’t know where to go from there.

Gold Award Girl Scout: Haley S., Troop 1751

Project Details: Haley, an avid reader, wanted to provide kids with additional guidance on how to find their next great book or series to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award. She worked with the librarian at Independence Elementary School to develop “If you like this book, read this one” displays at the school. Throughout the school year, she replaced the book selections and added new ones as books came into the library’s collection. She also posted her flyers to social media and shared them with additional libraries throughout the St. Louis metro area that are now implementing her project at their locations as well.

Measurability: Haley used a verbal survey to collect feedback.

Sustainability: The clear page flip book binder that holds the flyers will be on display in the library. There is a QR code that can be scanned with instructions on how to replicate the flyers.