Amrece Rivera, a senior at Oceanside High School, has achieved the Girl Scouts’ highest honor — the prestigious Gold Award — by spreading awareness of American Sign Language and promoting inclusion in her community.
Her project brought ASL education to elementary school students, highlighting the importance of early language acquisition while fostering inclusion and understanding.
Rivera’s project, inspired by her own journey of learning ASL, introduced basic signing skills to students at School Five in Oceanside. She conducted classes as part of the afterschool program, teaching fundamental signs like animals, family terms, and greetings, and tailoring lessons to students’ interests based on surveys she distributed.
“I noticed that ASL wasn’t being taught in elementary schools, even though it’s offered in middle and high schools,” Rivera, a member of Lynbrook’s Girl Scout Troop 2570, said. “I wanted to introduce kids to the language early because it’s easier for them to absorb and retain at a young age.”
The Gold Award is a distinction achieved by less than 5 percent of Girl Scouts nationwide, requiring more than 80 hours of dedication to a sustainable project that addresses a pressing community issue. Rivera’s project focused on bridging communication gaps by educating elementary school students about ASL and its significance in fostering inclusion. Her interactive presentations introduced students to basic ASL signs and helped them understand how small efforts can make a significant impact on individuals who use sign language to communicate.
Rivera’s passion for ASL began when her mother enrolled in an ASL class, sparking her curiosity. The two learned together, and Rivera’s interest deepened when she began taking ASL classes at Oceanside High School. She worked with Melanie Smith, her project advisor who is also deaf and guided her throughout the project. Rivera communicated with Smith primarily via email but also utilized her signing skills to bridge the gap.
Teaching ASL to elementary school students was a first for Rivera, and while she initially found the experience nerve-wracking, the enthusiasm displayed by her young students quickly reassured her. The students embraced the lessons, looking forward to their ASL sessions each week. Rivera noted that they were especially interested in learning signs for animals like dogs and cats.
“It was scary at first,” Rivera said, “but when I saw how excited they were to learn, it became fun.”
Rivera also extended her project’s reach by creating a YouTube channel, where she posted instructional videos to teach basic signs. This allowed her project to gain a broader audience, making ASL education accessible to people beyond her local community.
“Filming the videos was the hardest part,” Rivera said. “I had to make sure my signs were correct, and sometimes I had to re-film to get everything just right.”
Her yearlong project combined classroom teaching, video production and extensive planning, including meetings with the school superintendent Phyllis Harrington and Girl Scout leadership to secure approvals.
Rivera’s involvement with the Girl Scouts dates back to kindergarten. Originally from Queens, she faced hurdles when trying to find a Girl Scout troop after moving to Oceanside. Many troops in the area had long-established groups, but Troop 2570 in Lynbrook welcomed her with open arms, despite being outside her immediate community.
“She joined us as a junior in high school, which is rare because troops usually form when the girls are in kindergarten,” Troop leader Danielle Boccio said. “Her persistence in finding a troop speaks volumes about her character. Many might have given up, but Amrece stuck with it, and we’re so proud to have her as part of our troop.”
Troop 2570, composed of four girls, boasts an impressive track record, with two members — including Rivera — achieving the Gold Award. Boccio emphasized the troop’s commitment to fostering leadership.
“She’s a great role model for the younger kids,” Boccio said. “They see her with all the achievements that they have on the front of their vests. I think they’re huge role models for them because they see that they could accomplish this one day. It’s the highest honor that a Girl Scout can get.”
As Rivera prepares to graduate high school, she is considering attending St. John’s University, where she plans to major in business. While she envisions a future career in real estate, Rivera hopes to continue learning ASL and becoming fluent in the language.
“I’d love to keep learning and maybe even teach again someday,” she said.
