Neighbors, Laura Shope
Laura Shope of Venetia earned the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award. The award, presented by Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, recognizes girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable projects that address important community needs.
Shope, a senior at Peters Township High School, has bees a Girl Scout member for 11 years and is a Girl Scout Ambassador of Troop 54327. She also is a girl advisor for the GSWPA Board of Directors. She was supported in her Gold Award effort by Ray Cygrymus, Sharon Enslen, the principals and staff from McMurray Elementary and Peters Township Middle School, as well as her friends from Thespian Troupe 185.
Shope created afterschool theatre programs for fourth- through eigth-graders. She titled the programs “STARbuilders: Working Together Toward a Brighter Future.” She lead a team of volunteers in teaching children essential skills of theater. She created lesson plans that focused on a new skill and taught the kids through activities, projects, and games.