Community Corner

North Canton Girl Scout Receives Esteemed Award for Philanthropy Workshop

A select group of Girl Scouts have been receiving the Gold Award since 1916. Dana Cressman, a Hoover High School graduate, is one of 58 to get the award this year.

Dana Cressman is one of 7 Girl Scouts in the southern region and 58 in Ohio who was recognized at the John S. Knight Center in Akron for receiving a Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. 

“Although the Gold Award is the highest, most prestigious recognition a girl may earn in Girl Scouts, we know it is just the beginning of the amazing things these young ladies will accomplish in their lives,” said Jane Christyson, chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, in a press release.  “Their projects have a lasting impact locally, nationally, and globally in environmental awareness, special needs populations, healthy living, community improvements and more.”

Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer, a Girl Scout alumna, was the keynote speaker Saturday.

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The Gold Award project challenges girls to identify an unmet need or core issue in their community, research and investigate it, recruit volunteers and build a team to create a plan to address the issue or need since 1916. 

The plan, called a Gold Award proposal, is submitted to council for approval by a committee of volunteers.  Only about 5 percent of eligible girls take the rigorous path toward earning this prestigious award, but those who complete the journey change the lives of others and their own in amazing and significant ways. 

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Money, Money, Money

Dana Cressman, a graduate of Hoover High School, has been a Girl Scout since first grade. 

She has earned the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.  

Her Gold Award project focused on providing financial literacy workshops to middle school students. She created and led several workshops teaching participants about the importance of budgeting and saving, while also teaching them about philanthropy and the importance of controlling debt.  

Workshop participants played a game called "Earn It" which Dana created. The games were then donated to local libraries.  Dana hopes that she has impacted local children by providing them with financial skills that they can use to make sound decisions with their money well into adulthood. 

In addition to Girl Scouting, Dana is a member of National Honor Society, high school band, Robotics Club, Venture Crew, and Spanish Club. She also had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica with her school.  She has been honored as a National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar, and The Canton Repository Teen of the Month.  

She plans to study chemical engineering this fall at The University of Akron and then medical school.  

Dana said she was thankful for her family — Dr. Theresa Beyerle, Cheryl Beres and especially her mom (aka troop leader) — for all their support and guidance as she reached the pinnacle of Girl Scouting.

Editor's note: Allison Reed of North Canton also received the Gold Award. Look for her story on Patch this week. 


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