Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois (GSNI) is proud to announce its 2025 class of Gold Award Girl Scouts! Earning the Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.
New for 2025, Girl Scout Anita Werderich of Yorkville was selected by Girl Scouts of the USA as a special Gold Award Scholarship recipient—one of only 110 recipients nationwide. She will receive $5,000 towards furthering her education.
Gold Award Girl Scouts are recognized leaders in their communities. As they partner with local leaders to solve problems in their communities and beyond, they discover the power of bringing together a team to effect measurable, lasting change. GSNI is excited to announce the Gold Award Girl Scouts for 2025:
•Madeline Archer, Roscoe, Curriculum Development on Revitalizing Native Pollinators
•Beatrix Gambardella, Woodstock, Kindness Closet Revamp
•Noel Maina, Poplar Grove, Anxiety Relief for Elementary Students
•Addison Morgan, Island Lake, Pollinator Garden
•Brielle Rach, Rockford, Hands-On & Fun Exposure to STEM for Young Girls
•Rhiannon Reynolds, Oswego, Preschool Nature Program Update
•Lauren Viebrock, Elgin, Project Periodt
•Anita Werderich, Yorkville, Native Tree Restoration at Yorkville River Front Park
Rhiannon Reynolds, Oswego, Preschool Nature Program Update
Rhiannon’s passion for nature-centered preschool curricula inspired her Gold Award Project. Partnering with her local park district, Rhiannon designed a physical play space for a popular nature-based preschool program in her community. Collaborating with a team of preschool educators, she created play stations and developed curriculum aligned with current nature-based education topics. With the goal of accommodating up to five classrooms at once, the space offers ample room for growth and learning. Rhiannon’s project continues to thrive, as the park district sustains the curriculum and opens the play space to the public for ongoing education and exploration.
Lauren Viebrock, Elgin, Project Periodt
Lauren addressed period poverty by providing essential sanitation supplies to her local Girl Scout camp. As a camper herself, Lauren observed the discomfort and self-consciousness her peers felt during unexpected menstrual events, particularly when they were unprepared. Determined to empower other campers, Lauren worked to ensure they could access sanitary products without needing to ask others. She led the Counselors in Training at Camp Dean to build weatherproof supply bins in the camp’s latrines and indoor bathrooms and organized supply drives throughout the summer. Lauren’s project continues to thrive through the support of the GSNI Property and Outdoor Program team, as well as the ongoing contributions from Girl Scout campers who are united in the fight against period poverty.
Anita Werderich, Yorkville, Native Tree Restoration at Yorkville River Front Park
Anita’s Gold Award Project was inspired by the lack of arboreal diversity along the Yorkville riverfront, which was contributing to soil erosion. Witnessing the instability caused by a single tree species along the river, Anita worked with her community to develop a natural, biodiverse solution. Anita and her team researched native trees that would create a healthier environment for the river, while also enhancing local parks and community spaces along the riverfront. Through presentations on the importance of biodiversity, Anita rallied a team to help plant and care for the trees. Once established, the trees now naturally sustain the riverbank. Look for a QR code among the new trees to learn more about Anita’s Gold Award Project!
—Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois