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Media Contacts:
Diane Peasel, Director of Communications
Saint Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church
[email protected]
317-573-2885 x108
Zionsville teenager receives top honors as a Girl Scout for completing
her Gold Award and a service project at a local church
ZIONSVILLE, IND. - Julie Scherer, a recent Zionsville High School graduate, has earned the highest achievement from Girl Scouts of the United States - the Gold Award. As a 12 year member of Girl Scouts, Scherer completed an award process that showcased her leadership ability and necessary skills to manage a community service project from start to finish. Scherer's community project created new landscaping at Saint Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church for an outdoor area used for prayer and meditation - also known as stations of the cross.
"I have always felt a strong tie to my church and faith so I wanted my project to focus on both," said Scherer.
On a Saturday in June, Scherer and a team of volunteers completed an exclusive landscape design after she had presented her proposal and completely raised funds for the supplies and plants needed. Scherer identified four goals the project would achieve:
- To create privacy for prayer
- Keep the area accessible for the grounds crew to work
- Use plants that can be easily maintained
- Educate others about the stations of the cross, a prayer deeply rooted in the Catholic Church.
The new landscaping, of trees and hedges, creates a natural barrier between the area and nearby roads. The layout offers both a private and enjoyable atmosphere for others to utilize. Additional elements will include two memorial benches for individuals to rest upon, an information post with prayer guides and a dedication rock. By the completion of her work, Scherer will have dedicated a total of more than 50 hours of service.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is an honor recognized across the globe. A scout must be of a high school age to begin the award process while fully documenting and presenting her work upon completion. A woman who has earned a Gold Award is also eligible to rise up one rank in the U.S. military.
"The biggest thing I have received from this experience is the ability to lead an entire project and still manage to stay organized. I know that later in life these skills will be important for working with co-workers and leading teams," said Scherer.
Scherer is planning to major in Biology at Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind. She received a scholarship for her commitment to Girl Scouts and earning the Gold Award along with other scholastic accomplishments.
Photos to accompany this story may be found online at: www.zionsvillecatholic.com/media_20110706
All photos are for working media professionals to use for editorial purposes only.###