Girl Scout

Receives Gold Award

By Susan Coney

Sasha Mastro, who has just completed her first year of college at Keene State, was presented with the Gold Award in Scouting at the annual Bridging and Awards Ceremony on Friday, June 3.

“This is the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve and is based on a community service project. It is not very often that we have the pleasure of presenting such an award,” said troop leader Selena Henderson. Sasha also received letters of congratulation from Governor M. Jodi Rell and President and Mrs Bush, as well as several past teachers.

Sasha, a 19-year-old secondary education major, is a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts. “I’ve had amazing opportunities, gone places, met people and made so many friends in other troops. I learned a lot about myself and learned a lot especially doing the leadership patches that will help me be a good teacher. I have so many memories and have had so much fun. Girl Scouting is everything to me,” she said.

Sasha added, “I would urge children to stay in scouting, you’ll get more out of it than you can imagine.”

The community service project that helped Sasha win the Gold Award was based on helping to provide safety materials for runners and bikers. Sasha enjoys both activities and decided to apply her interest to designing a helpful community project. She spent more than 50 hours making more that 200 laminated ID badges for runners and bikers. The badges provide vital information in case of an emergency, including the person’s name, an emergency phone number, blood type, and medical/allergy information. Leaders Karen Kaechele, Adell Mastro, and Janis Schertzer helped in advising Sasha on her project.

While attending college Sasha volunteers with a local Daisy Troop in New Hampshire, where she helps the girls earn their patches. She plans to continue to remain active in the Girl Scouts and may one day even pursue a career working in the organization.