• Feb. 21, 2019

    USC senior earns Girl Scout Gold Award

    Lexi Feldman Girl Scouting’s highest awards—the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards—are a girl’s chance to make a lasting difference in the world. For Alexis Feldman, an Upper St. Clair High School senior, going gold means earning the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.

    This award, presented to Lexi by Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania, recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects that address important community needs.

    The primary goal of Lexi’s Take Action project, which spanned from January 2018 – January 2019, was to help create a space within the high school that focuses on personal wellness.

    “Stress can be beneficial, almost like a motivating force, but too much of it can quickly become overwhelming,” Lexi said. “By implementing wellness practices early on in life, students can be better equipped to lead healthy lifestyles down the road.”

    Through Lexi’s efforts, two in-school yoga classes were offered and a monthly schedule of yoga classes has been developed. She encourages students to unplug by leaving their phones at the door to focus on themselves.

    “Finding personal time is extremely important for a healthy lifestyle, which is difficult to achieve with the growing presence of social media,” she said.

    While her goal to create a designated wellness space within the high school has not yet come to fruition; a committee of students, parents, community members and district officials is exploring options for moving forward. As an inaugural member of the Student Wellness Steering Committee, Lexi – along with student representatives from each grade – provided valuable input.

    While Lexi’s initial goal was to help others achieve personal wellness, this project also allowed her to recalibrate wellness in her own life. She credits her participation on the Student Wellness Steering Committee with further developing her leadership skills, including being more open to others’ ideas.

    “I think listening to others is truly the sign of great leadership. Listening to others taught me that my way of thinking is not the only or right way of thinking,” she said. “The people I have been able to work with have so many great ideas and different perspectives, and listening to them has truly helped me grow as a leader.”

    As an Upper St. Clair High School senior Lexi serves in several leadership roles within the school including vice president of Student Council, sponsorship executive for the USC Mini-THON, co-president of Multicultural Club, co-president of Tri-M Honors Music Society as well as the treasurer for the Pantheon Choir and Girls Reaching Out Worldwide. In addition, she has a lead role and serves as a dance captain for this year’s high school spring musical, “HELLO, DOLLY!”

    As a Girl Scout member for 13 years, Lexi is a Girl Scout Ambassador. She was supported in her Gold Award effort by Mr. Dan Beck, USCHS assistant principal; Mrs. Brooke Tarcson, USCHS activities coordinator; Mr. Paarth Shankar, USCHS senior; and the USCHS Student Wellness Steering Committee; along with Mrs. Lorie Davis and Mrs. Kate Mayberry.

    Following graduation in June, Lexi plans to pursue a combined major in International Affairs and Cultural Anthropology at Northeastern University in Boston. She will spend her first college semester studying abroad in London.

    The Gold Award is a national award, with national standards, and it represents a Girl Scout’s time, leadership, creativity and effort contributed to making her community better. For more information, visit http://www.gswpa.org/girls/awards/gold-award/.