The Gold Award requires at least 80 hours researching issues, assessing community needs and resources, building a team, and making a sustainable impact in the community. After completing prerequisites, each girl must plan, implement and lead a unique project that addresses a community issue and improves lives.
Before earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, Caroline and Isabella each earned the Girl Scout Silver Award after completing a take action project to show respect and appreciation for veterans. During their years in Girl Scouts, they have participated in numerous community service activities including raising funds to end childhood cancer, cooking meals for others, raking leaves for local residents, baking cookies for senior citizens, comforting local families in crisis, collecting and donating items for others in need, and leading empowerment workshops for younger girls. For the past seven years, they helped run a water station at the Fairfield Half Marathon.
Caroline Carrano was a Daisy, Brownie and Junior Girl Scout in Troop 2107 at Riverfield Elementary School. She was active in Troop 32054 as a Cadette, Senior and Ambassador Girl Scout in grades 6-12 grade.
While at Fairfield Ludlowe High School (FLHS), Caroline was founder and president of Music Mentors; a member of the Tri M Music Honor Society; a volunteer tutor at the Caroline House; and recipient of scholarships from The Fairfield Music Parents Association, The Connecticut Association of Realtors, and the Riverfield School PTA. Caroline graduated with honors from FLHS in 2015. She has worked as a camp counselor for the Town and volunteered as a sailing instructor at the Fairfield Sailing School at Jennings Beach.
Caroline is a Presidential Scholar at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY where she also received a music merit scholarship. As a freshman, she is very active in several music ensembles on campus including the Wind Symphony, the marching band, the pep band and the Symphonic Band. Although undecided on her major, she plans to minor in music and she endeavors to have a career that helps others.
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Caroline worked on a project during her senior year to encourage middle school students to continue with music in high school. Recognizing the many benefits of music education, Caroline started a club called Music Mentors. High school music students met with the Roger Ludlowe Middle School 8th grade band weekly to increase musicianship, build bonds of friendship, and foster a lifelong love of music. As a result of Caroline’s Gold Award project, FLHS has a record number of 9th grade band students this year. Beginning in kindergarten at Riverfield Elementary School, Isabella Carrano has continuously been an active member of Troop 32074, from kindergarten through her senior year at FLHS.
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Isabella created a relationship between her school and the Caroline House, a nonprofit organization in Bridgeport. Isabella raised awareness of the Achievement Gap, a disparity in the rate of learning among different groups caused by socioeconomic factors. She encouraged high school students to tutor children in reading and math after school at the Caroline House. Classroom teachers in Bridgeport report improved attitudes, increased self-esteem and a greater willingness to learn in their students after their experiences with the high school tutors. First Selectman Tetreau said, “It is so rewarding for our community to recognize these girl scouts-and those before them-for working hard to achieve this high honor. Not only are the recipients of this prestigious award well-rounded individuals, but they have already acquired key skills that set them apart as community leaders. I want to thank the national and local Girl Scouts for all they do.”
Cathy Carrano, Girl Scout Leader for Ambassador Troops 32074 and 32054 and mother to Caroline and Isabella, said, “It is important to increase awareness of the Gold Award and encourage girls to continue in Girl Scouts. Girl scouting builds courage, confidence and character helping girls make the world a better place.”
The photo shows Selectman Chris Tymniak, Selectman Laurie McArdle, Caroline and Isabella Carrano, First Selectman Mike Tetreau and Cathy Carrano, Girl Scout Leader for Ambassador Troops 32074 and 32054.