Leadership

Citrus Stories: Gina Rivera

 

Meet Gina, a recent graduate from the University of Central Florida who found confidence, initiative, and a role model through her experience as a Girl Scout.

Gina recently graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She was also recognized with one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on a college graduate; graduating Summa Cum Laude.

Graduating Summa Cum Laude was not an easy feat. Gina dual enrolled in college courses while in high school to obtain her Associates degree, graduating with a 4.2 GPA.

How did she do it? Gina credits much of her success to her experience in Girl Scouts.

Gina began her Girl Scout experience in the 6th grade through the Get Real! mentoring program. As she became more confident and outgoing, Gina became more involved in school activities. In the face of adversity, Gina often drew from this experience and support to take action.

“My Girl Scout experience showed me that anything I dreamt of doing, I could accomplish… how to believe in myself and reach my full potential. Girl Scouts helped me take more of an initiative… to take action and lead when needed.”

Throughout her time at Girl Scouts, Gina mentioned a role model that continuously believed in her and supported her throughout middle school and high school, Cecilia Scott, the Director of Grant Programs at Girl Scouts of Citrus.

To Gina and her troop, they just know her as Miss Cece.

“Miss Cece has had such a positive impact on my life, that I probably wouldn’t be who I am and where I am, if I hadn’t met her. She has taught me to love myself for who I am and that I can become someone in life.”

When Gina graduated high school, Miss Cece gave her a book of quotes that to this day, she keeps at her desk. “I read it when I need encouragement, because it is as if [Miss Cece] is saying it. She is selfless and has the ability to overcome obstacles… and has inspired me to do the same.”

Gina plans to continue her education and obtain a Masters in criminal justice from UCF. Afterwards, she seeks to go further and obtain her PhD.

“I want to continue graduating with high honors and serve as a model for my siblings, and for other girls around the world.”

Leadership

Should She Be On Social Media? [Video]

Facebook. Instagram. Twitter. Musical.ly. Snapchat. Chances are at least one of these is a big part of your life—and of your daughter’s.

Despite the age restrictions on many social media platforms, a study from 2014 showed that roughly three out of every five kids had their own social accounts before age 10. And although these digital communities can help teens and tweens develop their social skills and form positive relationships, the digital world can still be a tricky place to navigate.

That’s why Girl Scouts’ Developmental Psychologist, Dr. Andrea Bastiani Archibald and Senior Digital Media Director, Kayla Santalla teamed up to tackle some major issues around kids and social media. Here are a few of their top do’s and don’ts:

* DO let your daughter know from the very beginning that you will be doing spot-checks on her social media—not because you don’t trust her, but because you want to make sure she’s staying safe and that nothing inappropriate or potentially dangerous is happening on her accounts.

* DON’T make a big deal about every little thing you see on her social accounts, though. If she posts something silly but harmless, let it go—save your lectures for bigger issues that could compromise her safety or that of others.

* DO set up social media and technology rules as a family. Discuss what areas of your home should be screen-free, and during what hours social media and phones in general should be off-limits. When your kids are involved in creating the guidelines, they’ll be a lot more likely to follow them.

* DON’T forget that the social media and technology rules apply to the whole family—adults included. You might not even realize how much time you spend attached to your phone, but your children certainly do! Besides, you’re your child’s first social media role model. If you’re attached to your screens 24/7, she’ll want to be, too.

* DO talk to your kids about what is and isn’t appropriate to post online. If it’s not something they’d feel comfortable with their grandmother or a college recruiter seeing, it’s probably not worth putting online. Remember, even “temporary” or “private” posts can be captured, saved, and shared.

* DON’T post sensitive content about your daughter on your social media account. Being a tween or teen is hard enough without mom or dad posting cute-to-you but mortifying-to-her baby bath time pictures or toilet training moments. Some special memories are meant to be kept in the family—notshared with the world.

Watch the whole conversation in the video for more on navigating social media with your daughter.

Badges and Patches

Cadettes: Are you looking toward the Silver Award?

It’s that time in your Girl Scout career to look toward earning the Silver Award. But what is it? What do you have to do? When are trainings?

Great questions. Let’s start with the basics:

What is the Silver Award?

The Silver Award is the highest award that a Cadette can earn. Through about 50 hours of service to the community, you define a Take Action Project that will have a positive impact on the world around you. These hours are just a guideline, though. Read the Silver Award Guidelines for all the must-knows.

What do I need to do?

In general, this is how it breaks down:

  1. Go on a Cadette Journey.
  2. Identify issues you care about.
  3. Build your Girl Scout Silver Award team or decide to go solo.
  4. Explore your community.
  5. Pick your Take Action project.
  6. Develop your project.
  7. Make a plan and put it into motion.
  8. Reflect, share your story, and celebrate.

But first, it really starts with training. That’s the key right now:

When are trainings?

We schedule these often. Here are the two upcoming trainings scheduled at this time.

Lake County
May 22, 2017
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Orange County
May 23, 2017
6:45 PM – 8:15 PM

Leadership

Co-Leader Self-Evaluation!

We are eager to hear more details about your Girl Scout troop experience! The following survey will assist all of Citrus Council in creating a helpful and fulfilling co-leader experience for volunteers.

Please take our 2017 Co-Leader Self Evaluation to offer insights into your troop experience and offer suggestions to Council staff on better serving you.

This Self-Evaluation should not be confused with the Girl Scout Voices Count surveys, which were sent from Girl Scouts of the USA on April 3. Check your email to provide valuable feedback to the national and local Girl Scout offices on your entire Girl Scout experience!

Take the Co-Leader Self Evaluation now!

Leadership

Strong Leadership, Strong Girls: GSUSA Interim CEO Interview

Last week, interim CEO Sylvia Acevedo and Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council were invited to attend and speak at the Columbus Metropolitan Club located in Columbus, Ohio (the same city we’ll be hosting the G.I.R.L. 2017 Convention!) to discuss the state of girls’ leadership and how Girl Scouts are making a difference everyday.

Last week, interim CEO Sylvia Acevedo and Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council were invited to attend and speak at the Columbus Metropolitan Club located in Columbus, Ohio (the same city we’ll be hosting the G.I.R.L. 2017 Convention!) to discuss the state of girls’ leadership and how Girl Scouts are making a difference everyday.

This article originally appears on blog.girlscouts.org.

Leadership

Girl Scout PSA Challenges Us To Lead Like a…

Girl Scouts has been around for a long time. Although the organization is always evolving, the symbols that have come to represent it have not. People still associate Girl Scouts with cookies, badges, and friendship bracelets.

The truth is, Girl Scouts are groundbreakers. They program robots, start garage bands, and change their communities. A Girl Scout is a G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)TM—and yes, these G.I.R.L.s are still selling the best cookies known to (wo)man.

Girl Scouts are prepared to take on challenges big and small in their lives—whether they’re breaking out of their comfort zone to try something new or making their dreams a reality. Girl Scouts lead through practicing grit, problem solving, risk taking, and leading with empathy.

Ready to lead like a Girl Scout?

Badges and Patches

Exclusive Girl Scout-Only Events for Older Girls

Have you ever been behind-the-scenes at the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye? No, you haven’t, because nobody is allowed! Until now…

This spring, it is a great time to be a Girl Scout – especially for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors. A lineup of events just for you are truly exclusive experiences not available anywhere else. Take a look:

Ambassadors: Earn the Water Badge!

Nearly a dozen women working in the STEM field are lining up to talk to Ambassador Girl Scouts about their interests in STEM careers. Girls will visit Shingle Creek to see how a wastewater facility can impact the Everglades and beyond in a one-of-a-kind experience through the City of Orlando.

Saturday, March 11 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Registration ends March 1 or when event is full
City of Orlando Water Reclamation Facility
$5 per person
Ambassadors

Behind the Scenes at the Coca-Cola Orlando Eye

Not only will you ride the iconic 400-foot observation wheel, but Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts (as well as tagalongs of the same age) will have an exclusive, Girl Scout-only behind the scenes tour. Learn the physics, engineering, and technology behind one of Orlando’s newest attractions.

Saturday, April 8 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Registeration ends March 20 or when event is full
I-Drive 360 Entertainment Complex
$25 per person
Seniors and Ambassadors

Not Your Mother’s Career Fair & Overnight at Holiday Inn Waterpark

Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors. Let’s get a handle on #adulting in a way that works for us. This is not your mother’s career fair. This is college + career + party. Meet with companies to discuss career. Talk to professionals from universities to discuss college. Then party all night with your friends with a laser maze, arcade games, 4D theater, and much more.

Saturday, April 22 from 10:30 a.m. to Sunday, April 23 at 6:00 a.m.
Registration ends April 14 or when event is full
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites and Waterpark
$15 – $70 per person
Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors

Academics

Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Essay Contest

Honor the Past. Create the Future.

Throughout history, African-Americans have been instrumental to the progress we’ve made together as a nation. In honor of their extraordinary achievements – and Black History Month – we’re proud to offer the Regions Riding Forward® Scholarship Essay Contest. High School and College students can enter for an opportunity to win a $5,000 or $3,500 scholarship.

Who inspires you?

Is there a particular African-American who inspires you because of the significant achievements in our society that he or she has been responsible for?

Write about an African-American who has inspired and motivated you, and you could win a $5,000 or $3,500 scholarship. Your essay should, in 500 words or less:

  1. Address how an African-American has been an inspiration in your life
  2. Discuss the contributions of the African-American individual who has served to inspire and motivate you

Eligibility

To be eligible to enter this contest and to win an award, you must be either a high school senior or a college freshman, sophomore or junior and meet all of the following criteria.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS:

  • Be a legal U.S. resident of either Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas
  • Be age 13 or older
  • Be enrolled in 12th grade in a public or private school (or home school) located in one of the states listed above
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • Plan to attend an accredited college in the U.S. during the 2017-2018 academic school year

COLLEGE STUDENTS:

  • Either be a legal U.S. resident of one of the following states or a legal U.S. resident (of one of the 50 United States or D.C.) currently attending an accredited college located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee or Texas
  • Be age 16 or older
  • Be currently enrolled as a full-time college undergraduate freshman, sophomore or junior at an accredited college in the U.S. and have least one year (or 18 credit hours) remaining before graduation
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
  • Plan to attend an accredited college in the U.S. during the 2017-2018 academic school year

How to Enter

1. COMPLETE AN ONLINE APPLICATION
Click here to enter the Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Essay Contest between January 16, 2017, and February 28, 2017. Complete and save all requested information.

2. WRITE YOUR ESSAY
Choose the African-American you want to write about. It could be someone famous, a relative or a person you know. Just make sure the individual inspires and motivates you. For guidance, review the “How to Enter” instructions and the “Contest Judging Criteria” in sections 4 and 5 of the Official Rules, and be sure your essay is 500 words or less. You can write your essay directly in the application or you can copy and paste it into the appropriate area in the application form.

3. REVIEW AND SUBMIT
Review your information, check your essay for spelling and submit your entry by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on February 28, 2017.

4. AWAIT NOTIFICATION
Winning essays are selected by an independent panel of judges who are not affiliated with Regions. Students with winning essays will be notified by International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS) in April or May 2017. If your essay is selected, you will need to respond to ISTS with the required information. Scholarship checks will be awarded by July 31, 2017.

Academics

NASA Recognizes Girl Scout Gold Award

NASA will congratulate Girl Scouts earning the Gold Award with a certificate of recognition!

Girl Scouts who have earned the prestigious Gold Award have the opportunity to receive personal recognition from NASA.

To request a certificate of recognition, one of her many Girl Scout Champions (Troop Leader, mentor, parent/guardian) can apply online or via mail, providing:

  • Full name of the award recipient
  • Full name and mailing address of the requester

Mail your request to:
Public Communications Office
Suite 5K39
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546-0001

For more information, visit NASA’s website.

Academics

KPMG Future Leaders Scholarship

Girl Scout Ambassadors! A scholarship program just for you.

The KPMG Future Leaders Program selects top female high school seniors from around the country to participate in the program and receive a KPMG Future Leaders Scholarship of $10,000 per year through four years of college.

Selected students attend a three-day retreat at Stanford University the summer before their freshman year of college; in 2017, the retreat will be held July 17–19. Students also participate in a yearlong mentoring program, paired with a female leader participating in the KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit.

Learn more about the program and share the application, which is due to the Office of Condoleezza Rice by January 30, with graduating Ambassadors who may be interested.