Local Girl Scouts make improvements at Special Cheers, earn Gold Award

Twin sisters Alexandria and Ashley Dietz have earned national recognition for their Girl Scout project.

The sisters constructed new elements and hosted a volunteer appreciation party at Special Cheers, a gymnastics facility for children with special needs. The project earned them both the Girl Scouts of the USA's Gold Award, an honor less than 5 percent of girls in the Scouts achieve.

"I learned the importance of being involved in the community," said Alexandria, a junior at Jersey Village High School, in a press release. "Being surrounded by so many amazing people truly inspired me."

"I learned about leadership and how to function as an effective group leader," said Ashley, also a junior at Jersey Village High School, in the release.

To earn a Gold Award, Scouts must demonstrate leadership skills, career planning, community involvement and personal development while completing more than 100 service hours. Also required for the award is a community service project.

"I chose this project because it involved a subject that is close to my heart, and I knew I could make a difference," said Alexandria.

"I wanted to do something that involved children," said Ashley. "Special Cheers seemed like a great organization that I wanted to work with."

For their project, the sisters were in charge of a team that constructed a red- white-and-blue outdoor hopscotch area where students can work on motor skills. Scouts and project volunteers also planned an appreciation party for Special Cheers volunteers.

"Alexandria and Ashley demonstrated hard work and commitment during their Gold Award project by pulling off two large projects," said their mother, Susan, in the release.

The girls have been Scouts for 12 years. At Jersey Village High School, both are members of the drill team, have earned a Golden Merit Award and have been named to the All-District Dance Team.

Following graduation they plan on attending the University of Texas at Austin. Alexandria will study journalism or international business, and Ashley will study business.

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.