Three young women from Ursuline Academy of Dallas are proving that big ideas and lasting impact can start well before graduation.
Kate Walsh ’25, Addison Kayanan ’27, and Savannah Moreno ’27 were recently recognized with the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, for projects that tackled pressing community needs across North Texas. Earned by fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts nationwide, the award program challenges participants to create a solution to a real-life issue and lead others in making measurable and sustainable change.
The project involves a seven-step process that includes investigating an issue, building a team alongside mentors, planning and obtaining approval, taking meaningful action, and reflecting on the mission’s viability and long-term effects. Projects require council-specific training, a minimum of 80 hours of work, and a sustainability plan for continued community impact.
Girls Scouts USA recently committed $500,000 in national Gold Award scholarships to elevate the prestige of the award program and support member ambitions, reported leadership in its annual report.
This year’s honorees from Ursuline Academy addressed various issues, including health awareness, inclusive education, and access to youth athletics.
Kate Walsh, an Ursuline alumna, turned her passion for sports into an empowering opportunity for young girls, organizing a free basketball camp in an at-risk community while creating supplemental instructional videos designed to keep girls engaged after completing the camp.
Walsh’s goal was not only focused on building athletic skills in young girls but also emphasized instilling confidence by encouraging sustained participation in athletics, especially in communities where access is limited.
Addison Kayanan, a junior at Ursuline Academy, focused her efforts on ovarian cancer awareness, a disease often overlooked due to vague or undetected early symptoms. Her project educated teachers and students at Ursuline Academy, supported a major local ovarian cancer awareness walk, and produced accessible resources to encourage early detection.
By bringing open conversations about women’s health into school communities and classrooms, Kayanan worked to break stigmas while equipping others with potentially life-saving information.
Through her project, Savannah Moreno sought to provide understanding and support to students with sensory processing differences.
Designing and distributing sensory kits for students who benefit from tactile tools and calming strategies, Moreno partnered with a disability awareness nonprofit and established plans for project continuation beyond her initial work. The kits were implemented into Ursuline Academy’s curriculum as well as other local schools.
The efforts of the high school junior continue to bring awareness and progress to both the practical needs and the emotional well-being of neurodiverse individuals. “I believe the main thing my project accomplished was making those kids feel seen and heard,” she said.