Goodrich – Erika Wallace, 18, has earned more than 100 badges on her way to the Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.
Equivalent to the ‘Eagle Scout? award given in Boy Scouts, last year approximately 5,500 girls received the Girl Scout Gold Award’about 5 percent of the eligible registered Girl Scouts in grades 10-12.
‘I know now that when I set my mind to something, I do it,? said Wallace, a recent GHS graduate. ‘The whole experience was amazing.?
For Erika’s leadership project, she solicited donations from local civic organizations. The money helped to fund the making of blankets and pillows that Erika gave to the Women’s Shelter in Flint. She also collected new and gently used stuffed animals that she also donated to the shelter.
Erika’s mom, Karen, also a Girl Scout throughout her high school years, said without the local sponsors, Erika’s final project would not have been possible. She said the Ortonville Rotary Club, Goodrich Lions and Goodrich Masons believed in her and gave her the funding she needed.
‘Both her dad and I are so proud of her,? Karen said. ‘Erika is an extremely determined girl. Once she sets her sights on something, she doesn’t let anything deter her.?
Erika said one of her most memorable events was earning her ‘mall lock-in? badge.
‘They locked us in the Bay City Mall overnight,? she said. ‘We got to hang out with our friends and go to the movie theater.?
Erika’s next big project will be attending Baker College in Flint to be a veterinarian technician. She said after she starts working in a veterinarian’s office, she hopes to get accepted to Michigan State University, where she will study to be a veterinarian and set up her own practice.
A ‘Gold Award? plaque and a pin will be given to Erika to honor her accomplishments.