Two Oxford students were recognized this week for earning the highest award in girl scouting.
The Board of Selectmen this week recognized Nicole Arrato, 17, and Kim Adamski, 18, both students at Oxford High School, for earning the Gold Award.
The girls received a standing ovation from Selectmen and the audience at the board meeting Wednesday, as First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers presented the girls with their gold pins.
“This does show two young people who lead the way in our community,” Drayton-Rogers told the audience.
The awards involved planning and leadership in community projects. Adamski taught children’s programs in world cultures at Oxford Library. Arrato organized and led a chorus of girls who performed at local retirement homes.
“They were called ‘The Traveling Sunshine Chorus,’ and that’s what they did, bring sunshine,” said Karen Harper, the troop leader from Oxford.
The girls also received certificates of recognition from the Board of Selectmen for their service to the community.
This year 45 girl scouts in Connecticut won the top award, Harper said. It has been about eight years since an Oxford girl won the Gold Award, she said.
“I’ve been in girl scouting a long time and I can only recall three girls that got it since I’ve been a leader, since 1995,” Harper said.
A lot of community service has gone into the making of those winning projects, she said.
“The project is a culmination of a lot of steps they do. They first had to earn three badges with community services,” Harper said.
Now that they’ve reached the pinnacle of girl scouting, what’s next?
“I’m off to college, and I can continue to be a counselor but otherwise until I have kids of my own, one day I’ll be a troop leader,” said Arrato, who was reached on the telephone Friday during a break from her numerous activities.
