Girl Scouts recognized for creating lasting change in their communities

Port St. Lucie residents Autumn Wilson and Michelle Donohue, Palm City resident Ruby Miller and Stuart resident Hannah Stefanovic have each earned the coveted Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest and most prestigious recognition attainable by Girl Scout seniors and ambassadors in grades nine through 12. This award highlights the creative and impactful projects these young changemakers have developed to address real-world challenges in their communities.

Autumn Wilson, Port St. Lucie
For her project, “Safe Aquatics for Everyone,” Autumn Wilson focused on drowning prevention by increasing water safety education and awareness. Wilson hosted a Water Safety Expo, gathering experts including lifeguards, swim instructors and pool safety professionals to provide hands-on information and demonstrations. With sponsorship from the city manager of Fort Pierce, she secured a venue and distributed goody bags packed with resources to families. Her outreach extended to local organizations including Children’s Services Council and Boys and Girls Club, where she shared educational handouts and interactive coloring pages to engage children in learning about water safety. To ensure long-term impact, Wilson partnered with local libraries and nonprofits to host readings of “Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim,” further reinforcing drowning prevention strategies.

Michelle Donohue, Port St. Lucie
Michelle Donohue’s project, “Skills for Success,” tackled the growing gap in life skills education among teens and young adults. With the decline of traditional educational courses such as home economics and financial literacy, Donohue identified a need for accessible, real-world knowledge on topics including home maintenance, automotive care and budgeting. She created a free, comprehensive website to serve as a digital learning hub for essential life skills and included additional resources for users to deepen their knowledge and improve their preparedness for adulthood. The site reached more than 100 users and received positive feedback from young people eager to gain independence and confidence. With ongoing updates, Donohue’s platform remains a relevant resource that empowers the next generation with practical tools for navigating daily life.

Ruby Miller, Palm City
Ruby Miller’s project, “Gardening for Good,” combined sustainability and service to address food insecurity in her community. She transformed a neglected garden space at the Immanuel Lutheran Church soup kitchen into a thriving source of fresh herbs and vegetables. Leading 20 volunteers, Miller rebuilt garden beds, installed irrigation and planted a variety of crops to enhance the nutritional quality of meals served to those in need. The garden also became a hub for education and camaraderie, with Miller organizing tours and sessions to raise awareness about food justice and sustainability. By inviting soup kitchen guests to participate in maintaining the garden, she fostered empowerment and community engagement. The church has committed to continuing the project, ensuring the impact grows along with the garden.

Hannah Stefanovic, Stuart
Hannah Stefanovic sought to raise awareness about how everyday human behaviors affect Florida’s waterways with her project, “Marine Education to Improve Our Florida Waterways.” Concerned by the deterioration of waterways and its impact on marine life including manatees and seagrasses, she launched an educational campaign combining digital resources and physical signage. Working with environmental experts, she developed a website and installed QR-coded signs at the U.S. Sailing Center to offer guidance on sustainable boating, pollution prevention and marine safety. Her outreach helped more than 100 individuals make informed choices to protect waterways, and her project inspired the addition of a new map at the Sailing Center to guide boaters through environmentally sensitive areas. Through her efforts, Stefanovic has sparked a culture of environmental responsibility and left behind a lasting toolset for preserving Florida’s aquatic ecosystems.

“We are so proud of all of our Gold Award Girl Scouts whose projects are insightful, impactful and relevant,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. “With their projects, these young ladies tackle some of today’s most pressing challenges with compassion, innovation, and leadership. They are change agents that are making a true impact in their communities and beyond.”

These Girl Scouts were among 27 young female leaders in the region to earn the Gold Award during the 2025 Annual Gold Award Ceremony, with sponsorship support from Amazon, Fiserv, Florida Power & Light, Great Charity Challenge, HCA Florida Healthcare, and Publix Super Market Charities.

About Girl Scouts
The preeminent leadership development organization for girls, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida provides a safe, supportive environment for girls to learn, lead and thrive, surrounded by a supportive network of peers and caring adult mentors. Through unique, impactful experiences, girls from kindergarten through 12th grade are empowered to become confident, capable and compassionate leaders who engage their communities, inspire lasting change and make a positive difference in the world. They are encouraged to explore their full potential, dream big and act boldly. Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida serves 6,100 girls and engages 3,600 volunteers across Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties. To explore opportunities to volunteer, donate or partner with Girl Scouts, call 561-427-0177 or visit www.gssef.org.

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