Avis Kennedy-Stirling, of Greenville, and Lyndsay Little, of Houlton, have made history as the first young women in the nation to receive college credit for earning their Girl Scout Gold Award, according to a Girl Scouts of Maine (GSME) news release.

This achievement comes through a partnership between GSME and Central Maine Community College, offering a unique early college course designed specifically for Girl Scouts pursuing the prestigious Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouts, celebrating girls who demonstrate remarkable leadership through impactful projects that have a sustainable impact on communities.

“We are proud to partner with Girl Scouts of Maine to recognize the extraordinary leadership and community impact demonstrated through the Gold Award,” said David Lewis, Dean of Academic Affairs at Central Maine Community College, in the news release. “By connecting the Gold Award experience with college credit, we are helping students see the direct connection between leadership, service, and academic achievement.” 

Avis’s Gold Award project, “Living Night – Maine Dark Skies,” addresses light pollution and promotes responsible outdoor lighting education. Drawing inspiration from her love of nature and curiosity for the night, Avis crafted a toolkit that includes a zine, "Youth & Dark Skies," and the board game, "Dazzle's Yard." These resources, available at Living-Night.com, educate youth about light pollution and encourage individuals to adopt practices like using warm, low-intensity lighting. Avis also showcased her project at Girl Scouts of Maine’s Green ME Up in April where attendees were able to learn more about the sky, pollution, and the toolkit she created. 

"Through her collaboration with Dark Sky Maine, Avis's project continues to grow, empowering communities to embrace the natural rhythms of day and night, essential for the environment and living beings," said GSME. 

Lyndsay’s Gold Award project, "Encompassing Compassion," seeks to raise awareness about animal welfare. In response to the challenges faced by overcapacity shelters and the risks stray animals encounter, her project aimed to educate the community on responsible pet ownership and the Five Domains of animal welfare: nutrition, environment, health, behavior, and mental state. Through dedicated volunteer work at the Houlton Humane Society and extensive research, she identified a lack of education as a root cause of poor animal welfare. To address this, she developed an educational curriculum and brochure, available on the Encompassing Compassion Facebook page, ensuring ongoing accessibility. Her initiative also included engaging Treat and Toy Making Events, involving 35 students, to foster a deeper understanding of how they can contribute to animal welfare.

"By reaching young participants and sharing materials broadly, the project has had widespread impact, promoting care and responsible actions towards animals," said GSME.

“We are incredibly proud of Girl Scout Ambassadors, Avis and Lyndsay for this prestigious achievement,” said Girl Scouts of Maine CEO Mara Moorhead. “Their leadership, dedication, and commitment to creating change in their communities embody the core value of Girl Scouts, marking an exciting and historic moment for them, their families, and Girl Scouts of Maine.”

For more information on Gold Award Projects, the Central Maine Community College partnership, and Girl Scouts of Maine please visit www.girlscoutsofmaine.org. 

Girl Scouts of Maine

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs across the state of Maine and beyond, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit www.girlscoutsofmaine.org. For the latest updates, follow us on Facebook @girlscoutsofmaine and Instagram @girlscoutsofmaine.