Cypress Girl Scout earns Gold Award

For her work in renovating the sports and music rooms at Reach Unlimited, Girl Scout Lindsey Hardin was presented with the Gold Award by the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn and is given to less than 5 percent of girls who join the scouts. To earn the award, the scout must demonstrate outstanding leadership skills, career planning, community involvement and personal development. More than 100 service hours and two to three years of intensive work are required.

"I learned that I need patience in everything I do," said Hardin, a senior at Cy-Fair High School. "I thought the project would have been completed sooner, but we could only paint on the weekends. I have learned to be patient because if you want things to look great, you might have to spend more time on it."

Reach Unlimited is a nonprofit providing services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For her project, Hardin led a group of volunteers in repainting walls in the sports and music rooms, along with making instruments for the music room.

"I chose this project because I have been involved in sports and I thought this project would be a great fit for me," said Hardin. "I also loved being around the clients."

Following the completion of the project, she held a field day for Reach Unlimited clients.

"Lindsey grew so much in her responsibility, organizational skills and leadership by completing this project," said Barbara Hardin, Lindsey's mother. "She walked away with a rewarding and satisfying experience because she gave back and helped others."

Lindsey has been a Girl Scout for 13 years. She is a member of the varsity girls' golf team at Cy-Fair High School and plans to study business in college after graduation.