Thursday, October 1, 2026
A Girl Scout from Lynbrook discovered a way to make running less intimidating for teenage girls, seizing the opportunity to help others build confidence far beyond the track.
For her creative and inspiring idea, Elizabeth C. was one of two local Girl Scouts to earn this year’s prestigious Gold Award, the organization’s highest honor recognizing projects that create lasting, sustainable change in a community.
Elizabeth C. and Lyla G., whose last names were withheld at the request of Girl Scouts of Nassau County, were among 67 recipients honored during the 2026 Gold Award Ceremony at The Inn at New Hyde Park on June 17.
For Elizabeth, part of Troop 2253, the inspiration came from her own experience, discovering a love for running as a freshman at Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, Queens, where she recently completed her senior year and graduated.
“I knew it would be hard, but I wanted to make it less about pressure to succeed and more about making friends and enjoying it,” she said. “I found myself running in my free time, which I never thought I’d do.”
As she im-proved, eventually becoming captain and most valuable player of her cross-country team, she realized many girls never had the opportunity to experience running in a supportive, recreational setting.
That realization inspired Coast Club, a free running program she launched in partnership with the Lynbrook Recreation Center and the Girl Scouts. About 15 girls participated in the club, which met every other week at the Lynbrook Recreation Center from June through October 2025. The sessions encouraged girls to run at their own pace while emphasizing mental wellness and a growth mindset.
“The good thing about running is there are so many ways to do it,” Elizabeth said. “And after you do something hard, you feel so much better. It becomes a stress reliever while proving to yourself that you can overcome a challenge.”
The program also extended to Archbishop Molloy High School, where Elizabeth gave a classroom presentation through the school’s mental health club to about 50 students on the connection between physical activity and mental health. Students completed surveys before and after the session to measure changes in their understanding of how exercise can help manage stress and build resilience.
After suffering an ACL injury during her junior year, Elizabeth spent months in rehabilitation relearning proper running form. She said the setback ultimately made her a stronger coach.
“I was able to communicate better and teach better,” she said. “With the growth mindset, it confirmed I can go through something and come back stronger.”
While Elizabeth’s project focused on helping girls discover confidence through movement, Lyla, part of Troop 2168, who recently completed her junior year at Lynbrook High School, turned her attention to families celebrating a very different milestone.
Lyla’s Gold Award project grew from her family’s experiences with the neonatal intensive care unit. Her older brother spent his first week in the NICU, and years later, she watched an aunt navigate the uncertainty of having a premature baby.
As a result, Lyla created Bright Beginnings: Supporting NICU Graduates, an initiative that provides handmade “graduation” boxes for babies leaving the NICU after lengthy hospital stays.
“I saw how stressed she was for her child,” Lyla said about her aunt. “When families look back, they can see that this tiny cap was the size of their baby’s head. It helps recognize those milestones.”
Working with local crochet groups, volunteers, libraries and Northwell Health child life specialists, Lyla assembled graduation boxes containing crocheted NICU caps, stuffed animals for both the baby and siblings, welcome-home banners and graduation certificates. She has donated about 25 boxes so far, with the project continuing through Lynbrook High School’s Fiber Arts Club and hospital partnerships.
“It feels amazing that I’m able to make a difference in the lives of these families,” Lyla said. “It’s an intense time for them, and I’m happy they’ll have these lasting gifts marking what they got through together.”
Both Gold Award projects required months of planning, leadership and collaboration — qualities Girl Scouts seeks to recognize through the award.
Lyla’s parents said they watched their daughter approach every stage of the project with compassion and determination.
“What impressed us most is the amount of care that went into planning this project,” they said. “She interviewed multiple child life specialists and really thought through every detail of the NICU graduation boxes so they would be meaningful and comforting for families.”
When an early hospital partnership unexpectedly fell through, Lyla refused to give up, her parents said.
“We have seen Lyla grow as a leader through her resilience,” they said. “Instead, she brainstormed alternatives and talked ideas through with her advisers and mentors. It was wonderful to see her flexibility in action, and in the end, her project ended up becoming stronger.”
