Thursday, October 1, 2026
Two Wantagh teenagers were recognized with Girl Scouts' highest honor after completing community service projects designed to create lasting benefits for local residents.
Reese McCarthy and Lily Nicoletti were among 67 young women across Nassau County to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, the organization's highest achievement, during a ceremony held at The Inn at New Hyde Park on July 22.
The Gold Award recognizes Girl Scouts in grades 9 through 12 who identify a community need, develop a sustainable solution and lead a team to bring their project to life.
"The 2026 Gold Award Girl Scouts are an extraordinary group of young women, and what they have accomplished goes far beyond the projects they completed," Rande Bynum, chief executive of Girl Scouts of Nassau County, said in a news release. "Through this experience, every one of them built real, transferable skills in leadership, problem-solving, public speaking, and project management that will give them an edge in college, in their careers, and in every community they are a part of for the rest of their lives."
Reese's project, Unleashing Love, focused on improving the emotional well-being of seniors living in assisted living facilities by promoting the benefits of therapy dogs. As part of the initiative, she organized presentations for Girl Scout troops, senior centers and community organizations about therapy animals. She also established an ongoing partnership between Amber Court Assisted Living and a certified therapy dog team that now visits residents each month.
Lily's project, Growing Your Mind for a Better World, addressed food insecurity through gardening education and community outreach. Partnering with Crossroads Farm and other local organizations, she taught children and families how to grow fruits and vegetables using affordable methods such as hydroponics and small-space gardening. She also hosted workshops for more than 100 younger Girl Scouts and distributed gardening pamphlets with seed packets to visitors at local food pantries.
According to Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Gold Award projects are designed to continue benefiting communities long after the Girl Scout who created them has completed the work. Past projects have included educational programs, community installations, library donations and digital resources aimed at addressing local needs.
The organization said Gold Award recipients often develop leadership, project management and public speaking skills while completing their projects, preparing them for future academic and professional opportunities.
