Chelsea Welch Earns Girl Scout Gold Award

Hillsboro-based Girl Scout Chelsea Welch, 18, recently earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by serving as event coordinator for the Mastodon Art & Science Regional Fair earlier this year.

The fair is a regional art and science event that helps children learn about prehistoric and environmental issues by having them create art projects. The projects help children learn about physical, biological, chemical and energy concepts, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri said in a news release. 

Welch, who attends St. Pius X High School, took a position with Mastodon that was eliminated due to lack of funds. Her duties were to promote the fair, create a red carpet event for sponsors and awardees, decorate the Jefferson College Field House, organize the registration and sign-in of participants and determine visitor activities. 

Welch promoted the event by placing an article in the paper, announced the event at church and talked to people about the benefit for children. She also wanted children participating in the event to feel a sense of accomplishment and appreciation.

Her work helped attract more than 3,500 visitors, the most who have attended the event in a single year.

Welch said the experience helped her learn about time management and event coordination. She also learned to be more outgoing and assertive. 

Jill Macom, the executive director of the Mastodon Fair, said that Welch organized one of the best fairs and laid a foundation to be used by future Mastodon fair organizers.

Welch, and 10 other young women, attended the final Girl Scout Award interview in November to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award. The award is the highest national achievement for Girl Scouts in grades 9-12. Only 5.4 percent of eligible Girl Scouts complete their project to earn the award.

Girl Scouts must work at least 80 hours on a large-scale project that shows leadership, is innovative, engages others and has a lasting impact on the community with an emphasis on sustainability.

Girl Scouts will continue to work toward their Gold Award projects through the end of this year and into the first months of the 2012.

All Girl Scouts who have earned the Gold Award will receive their award at a June 2012 ceremony.