Wahconah Grad Earns Girl Scout Gold Award
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts will honor Colleen Kiely of Pittsfield for her demonstrated leadership ability and dedication to serving her community.
Kiely has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award and will be among the guests of honor at a celebration at Mill One at Open Square in Holyoke on Tuesday, June 14, at 5:30 p.m. Annaka Paradis, current Smith College Student and 2015 Recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award, will give the keynote address.
Kiely just graduated with the Class of 2016 from Wahconah Regional High School in Dalton and plans to attend UMass-Amherst in the fall to study biochemistry and molecular biology.
Her Gold Award project is "Protecting the Piping Plovers."
"My father and I have been members of Mass Audubon for 10 years and enjoy birdwatching and hiking at Pleasant Valley and Canoe Meadows, two beautiful sanctuaries in the Berkshires," Kiely told Mass Audubon. "Our experiences with Mass Audubon have inspired me to become an environmental activist and protect endangered birds and their habitats."
In the letter to Mass Audubon, which was posted on their website, Kiely explained her project.
"I talked to over 500 vacationers this year at the National Seashore about the shorebird’s conditions, how climate change is affecting the birds, and what they can do to help the Piping Plovers," she said. "Prior to my work on the Cape, I researched the Piping Plovers endangered species status as well as made a new Piping Plover bird model, and included a coloring page for kids, for the Shorebird Exhibit. I also continued my research on the birds throughout the summer to stay up to date on how the shorebirds are doing this year.
"My hope is to spread awareness of the Piping Plovers and encourage others to take action in protecting the birds.:
Kiely said the public can help by staying out of all marked off areas of the beach, keeping your pets on a leash and throwing away all trash.
The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable take-action projects and signifies achievement of the highest recognition for girls in Girl Scouting. It is a recognition that indelibly marks them as accomplished members of their community and the world. Nationally, less than 6 percent of the eligible registered Girl Scouts in grades nine through 12 achieve the Girl Scout Gold Award.
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