West Hartford Girl Scout Earns National Recognition with Anti-Bullying Initiative

At the beginning of the summer season, Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT) recognized 45 exceptional Girl Scouts who earned the organization’s highest achievement at the Girl Scout Gold Award Ceremony.

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has taken notice, and acknowledged one of those honorees - Grace Wentland of West Hartford – for her outstanding community-based project.  The national non-profit has awarded Wentland a $10,000 scholarship for her anti-bullying initiative, entitled, “The Starfish Project.”

“To earn the Gold Award, a Girl Scout identifies an issue affecting their community,  drafts a plan to address a root cause, and then leads a team of volunteers to implement it.  When the project is complete, the Gold Award Girl Scout and their team have made a sustainable impact on their community that continues to last beyond their involvement,” said Diana Mahoney, CEO of GSOFCT.  “This alone is a major feat, however, Grace Wentland’s thorough and effective anti-bullying project truly reflects leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.”

Wentland developed “The Starfish Project” to allow elementary school students to address the root causes of bullying within their school community. She collaborated with teachers and students to match small groups of elementary students with teams of high school mentors. Each group worked to create programs that targeted bullying from the unique perspective of elementary students, resulting in substantial and visible changes.

The participating local public schools, which include Webster Hill Elementary School and Conard High School, have agreed to continue this project moving forward.

GSUSA CEO Bonnie Barczykowski wrote in an official letter to Wentland, “We applaud you for your extraordinary leadership, proving that Girl Scouts of courage, confidence, and character truly do make the world a better place. Your accomplishments will endure for generations to come and serve as a powerful example of Girl Scouting in action.”

Wentland was presented with a $10,000 check at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at GSOFCT’s Hartford headquarters with Mahoney, GSOFCT Director of Girl Scout Experience Dr. Karyn Martin and Wentworth’s immediate family members. She will also receive national recognition on the GSUSA 2023 Gold Award Class webpage.

“Being a part of the Gold Award program has had a significant impact on my life because it has allowed me to pursue issues that matter to me and apply skills that I have learned throughout my time in Girl Scouts,”  said Wentworth.  “The immense enthusiasm and engagement of the students who participated in ‘The Starfish Project’ was extraordinarily meaningful; being financially rewarded is extremely gratifying as well.  I truly appreciate this gift, and it will certainly help defray the cost of my tuition at The University of Connecticut this fall.”

“Less than six percent of all Girl Scouts earn the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award,” adds Mahoney. “Above all else, this achievement makes a girl understand what a difference one person can make, and how dreaming big can make positive change in the world.”

To join Girl Scouts of Connecticut, to volunteer, or learn more, visit www.gsofct.org.

Photo, from left: Diana Mahoney, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Grace Wentland, and Karen Martin, Director of Girl Scout Experience at Girl Scouts of Connecticut.