Local Girl Scout creates solar system, earns Gold Award

Girl Scout Courtney Patrick-Maxwell's scaled representation of the solar system has earned her the highest award given by the Girls Scouts, an honor less than 5 percent earn.

"I learned communication truly is the key," Patrick-Maxwell, who will be a senior at Langham Creek High School, said in a press release.

To earn the Gold Award, Scouts must demonstrate outstanding leadership skills, career planning, community involvement and personal development. More than 100 service hours are required, which includes two to three years of intensive work to complete award requirements. Recipients also plan and complete a community service project.

"I chose this project because after attending Lowery Elementary for six years, I wanted to give something back to the school that gave so much to me," Patrick-Maxwell said in the release. "I also wanted students at the school to feel the same interest towards the solar system that I do."

For her project, Patrick-Maxwell led a team of volunteers to create concrete planets scaled to size for students at Lowery Elementary School. Each planet took volunteers three weeks to build and another two to paint.

"I saw Courtney grow and mature through the process of earning her Gold Award," said her mother, Kathy. "In the beginning it seemed like an overwhelming task, and she learned that by chipping away at it, great things are possible."

Patrick-Maxwell has been a girl scout for 12 years and has also earned her Bronze and Silver awards. At Langham Creek she is a member of theater and has served as stage manager and technical director in several productions.

Chartered by GSUSA to provide Girl Scouting locally, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is one of the largest councils in the country, serving more than 70,000 members in 26 counties.

For more information call 1-800-392-4340 or visit www.gssjc.org.