FOLSOM – Several members of the local Folsom Trails High School Girl Scouts have recently been recognized with some of the highest honors the organization has to offer, thanks to their dedication to making a difference in their communities.
From animal advocacy to environmental projects and leadership in education and health, these young women are leaving a lasting impact through their service, creativity, and compassion.
Shanoli Silva, a Folsom Middle School student, earned the Girl Scout Silver Award this May for raising awareness about pet food shortages at the Placer SPCA.
She collaborated with various community organizations to collect food for pets in need and also earned the Community Service Bar and the Silver Torch Award this year, reflecting her commitment to service and leadership.
Grace Damico, a student at Cottonwood High School, was honored with both the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award and the Rose Award. For her Gold Award project, she partnered with NorCal Freedom for Paws, helping 70 dogs find adoptive homes by addressing training needs and creating educational materials.
Her Rose Award recognized continued leadership and service, including work at food drives, adoption events, and yard cleanups. Grace is following in the footsteps of her grandmother, local author Gaelyn Whitley Keith. She also authored and illustrated her own book last year titled The Life of Hollywood.
Jamie Stephenson, of Pleasant Grove High School, has achieved the rare accomplishment of earning the Girl Scouts’ Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, as well as the Heart of Central California Rose Award. Her journey began with beautifying the Front Street Animal Shelter and moved on to creating a school garden and fence mural at Deterding Elementary in Carmichael.
Her Gold Award project brought her environmental advocacy to Folsom’s Handy Family Park, where she worked with the City of Folsom and the Sacramento Tree Foundation to plant trees. Her efforts earned her the Outstanding Environmental Leadership Award from the Sacramento County Environmental Commission.
Advika Rajesh, a Vista del Lago student, has also earned both the Silver and Gold National Awards. Her Gold Award project explored the positive effects of therapeutic art on neurodiverse individuals. She partnered with WeEmbrace and Will At Work to deliver workshops aimed at increasing understanding and inclusion. Her service has also been recognized through multiple Torch Awards and Community Service Bars.
Prina Gada, a student at Folsom High School, was awarded the Girl Scouts Heart of Central California Rose Award. For her community service project, she organized a blood drive at the Jain Center of Greater Sacramento, contributing to a vital healthcare need.
Prisha Vishnu, of Vista del Lago, earned both the Rose and Gold Awards for her work with WEAVE on a Girl Safety Workshop promoting healthy relationships. She has completed over 150 volunteer hours at the Folsom History Museum, earning multiple Community Service Bars, the Service to Girl Scouting Bar, and the Torch Award. Prisha also serves as the Service Unit Girl Representative in the Folsom Trails Service Unit to the Girl Scouts Heart of Central California Council’s Representative Assembly.
Megan Dyer, a Folsom High School student, received the Rose Award for her two years of volunteer service at All About Equine Animal Rescue, Inc. Her projects included fence repair, horse care, tack store work, and recycling. She has also earned multiple levels of the Torch Award, the Community Service Bar, and the Service to Girl Scouting Bar for her contributions to both the rescue organization and the Folsom Library.
The accomplishments of these Girl Scouts are a testament to the power of youth leadership and community involvement. Each of these young women has demonstrated their unwavering commitment to creating positive change in the local community and beyond.
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