Wynantskill Girl Scout earns $5,000 national scholarship
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
August 18, 2026
Wynantskill Girl Scout earned $5,000 national scholarship for recycling project
ALBANY, N.Y. — A
Wynantskill teen helped her school community improve recycling and waste
disposal habits through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, an effort that also
earned her the Girl Scouts of the USA National Gold Award Scholarship, a
competitive $5,000 award presented annually to one Gold Award Girl Scout from
each Girl Scout council.
Carly H. of
Wynantskill identified a lack of clear understanding among students and staff
about how to properly dispose of everyday items such as batteries, plastic
packaging with food residue, bubble wrap and other commonly used materials.
To address the
issue, Carly conducted waste disposal audits within her school community to
assess recycling and disposal practices and identify areas for improvement.
Based on her findings, she worked with school stakeholders to develop and
install supplemental signage and instructional materials designed to improve
accuracy and consistency in waste sorting.
Carly also
created an educational slideshow that was shared with students and staff to
reinforce proper recycling and composting practices and raise awareness about
the environmental impact of improper disposal.
Through her
project, Carly helped increase understanding of sustainable waste practices
while providing practical tools to support long-term behavior change within her
school community.
"Carly
took a hands-on approach to a very real environmental challenge in her school
community," said Brenda Episcopo, CEO of Girl Scouts of Northeastern New
York. "By identifying gaps in understanding and creating clear, accessible
solutions, she helped improve recycling habits and encouraged more responsible
environmental stewardship among students and staff."
Carly completed
the project as part of Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York's Highest Awards
program. Her project was one of just four selected to receive the Gold Award,
the highest honor in Girl Scouting. The Gold Award recognizes Girl Scouts who
identify community needs and develop sustainable solutions through leadership
and service.
After earning her Gold Award, Carly applied for the competitive Girl Scouts of
the USA National Gold Award Scholarship and was selected as Girl Scouts of
Northeastern New York's recipient, earning a $5,000 scholarship to support her
future educational goals. The scholarship is awarded annually to one Gold Award
Girl Scout from each Girl Scout council who is a high school senior or recent
graduate and demonstrates exceptional leadership and community impact through
her Gold Award project.
For more
information about Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York, visit www.girlscoutsneny.org.
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About
Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York (GSNENY): Girl Scouts of
Northeastern New York serves nearly 8,500 members across 15 counties, including
Saratoga County. Through leadership development, outdoor experiences,
entrepreneurship and community service, Girl Scouts builds girls of courage,
confidence and character who make the world a better place. For more
information, visit www.girlscoutsneny.org.