Local Girl Scouts earn Gold Award

Two Missouri City Girl Scouts have received the national organization's highest award after completing projects related to health, exercise and obesity in children.

Girl Scouts Symira Moses and Alexa Pete were awarded the Girl Scout's Gold Award for their projects, a recognition that fewer than 5 percent of girls who join the Scouts receive during their career. To earn the award, recipients must demonstrate outstanding leadership skills, career planning, community involvement and personal development. More than 100 service hours over two to three years of work are required to complete award requirements. Requirements include planning and completing a community service project.

Moses' project focused on an exercise clinic for children, while Pete hosted held a workshop related to teaching children the dangers of obesity.

"I learned that no matter how young or old you may be, everyone deserves to live a long, healthy life," said Moses, a senior at Dulles High School this fall, in a press release. "I chose this project because I wanted to get young kids out of the house, off their cell phones and away from video games and show them other fun and exciting things to do while staying healthy and physically fit."

During her project, Moses led a team of volunteers in planning and hosting the clinic, called Move Ya Body!, which taught children the importance of an exercise schedule and staying active. She also shared with the 35 attending children the dangers of health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and more.

"Symira learned how to eat a healthy and balanced diet," said Pamela Moses, Symira's mother. "She has started the whole family on a balanced diet with lots of exercise. I've lost 45 pounds as a result and her father has lost 20 pounds. We have definitely noticed a change in her attitude towards her health."

Moses has been a member of Girl Scouts for 12 years. At Dulles High School, she is a member of cheerleading, student council and DECA. Following graduation, she plans to attend Louisiana State University to study business management.

"I learned that I should consider other people's advice more," said Pete, a 2012 graduate of Stafford High School, in the press release. "Sometimes I am headstrong in my decisions, and I have learned that I should be more flexible."

For her project, Pete led volunteers in planning and hosting a workshop that included learning about healthy foods through games, hand-on demonstrations of how to make healthy snacks and enjoying exercise through cheering and baseball. Forty-five people attended the workshop.

"I chose this project because over the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate in America has tripled, and if we do not attempt to resolve this, the problems will develop into more serious problems and our young will have to face chronic obesity health problems like heart disease and high blood pressure," said Pete.

"Alexa learned how to work with others," said Wilbert Pete, Alexa's father. "She learned organizational skills and how to serve her community. The changes I have seen in her at home are she works better with her siblings and in doing her school work."

Pete was a member of Girl Scouts for 13 years and also earned her Silver Award and participated in the Girl Scout Leadership Institute planning board for the 52nd National Convention in Houston last November. At Stafford High School, she was a member of softball, FFA, National Honor Society, DECA and student council. This fall, she will attend the University of Texas at Austin to study architecture.

For more information about local Girl Scouts and projects, call 800-392-4340 or visit www.gssjc.org.