Gold Award Girl Scout: Evelyn Toler
Evelyn Toler has been a Girl Scout with Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama for 13 years. She says that she has learned many things through Girl Scouting, but her Gold Award Project taught her the most important lesson that every community service project matters, no matter how big or small it might seem. Evelyn created Saluting Sacred Grounds, a group dedicated to maintaining Oaklawn Memorial Cemetery, a veteran cemetary in Mobile.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the pinnacle of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and it is available exclusively to Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors (9-12 grade). Through the Gold Award, girls engage in a rigorous leadership process, tackle issues they are passionate about in order to create long-term, sustainable change. To earn the Gold Award, girls typically spend one to two years exploring the root cause of a local or global issue and partner with the community to create lasting solutions.
Evelyn gave insights on her life-changing Gold Award Project below.
How did you come up with your idea?
"I came up with my idea after first volunteering at this cemetery the year before for a service project I lead with one of my classmates through my high school. I recognized the need that this community required to bring this cemetery to the state it deserves and decided that I wanted to be the one to do it."
Why did you choose this project?
"I chose this project because I wanted to make an impact in my community with people and areas that I hadn't gotten the chance to before. My grandfather was a veteran and therefore I understand the sacrifices they have made for their country and the respect that they deserve both as they are living and after they have passed away."
Who are you hoping to help with this project?
"Through this project I am hoping to help the community which surrounds this cemetery, the Mobile Veterans Council and neighboring church who look after this cemetery, the families who would like to be able to visit their loved ones, other veterans who deserve to be shown respect for their service, and the people themselves who are buried there."
What did you learn along the way?
"As I worked on this project I connected with many new people and learned new ways that my community functions. I hadn't understood the impact of volunteer and nonprofit organizations or the way that they serve areas of the community such as cemeteries."
How did you feel after you finished?
"Once I completed this project I felt fulfilled because I helped to support organizations and groups within my community as well as supporting a cemetery which honors a group of people that has held an impact within my life."
How did your Gold Award Project change you?
"My Gold Award Project changed my understanding of how people can come together to support a common cause or to help someone that they care about. Seeing so many people come to my workdays and helping me with my project helped me to realize the community that I have to back me up and how much they care about me. I hope that I can pour this same care with others and help to be part of creating a community that can support them."
Congratulations on earning your Girl Scout Gold Award, Evelyn!
