With the busy schedules of high school students, it's tough to find any spare time for extra activities. However, this year 51 Girl Scouts in Nassau County, including Floral Park's Kelsey De Hey, fit in a minimum of 65 hours to improve their communities. These young women developed Gold Award community action projects, promoting acts of kindness and goodwill, which ultimately make the world a better place. Their efforts earn these Girl Scouts the Gold Award, the highest honor that a young woman can achieve in Girl Scouting.

De Hey sought to help out wounded and infirm men and women of the military for her Gold Award project. She was determined to provide assistance to these veterans by arranging a holiday party for senior citizens and members of the American Legion Post at the West Hempstead Senior Citizen Club. Using her culinary talents, De Hey and her volunteers shopped, catered and served a delicious holiday meal for these groups. De Hey is the captain of the Color Guard and a member of the Long Island Sounds, Drama Club and Skills U.S.A. She will attend SUNY Delhi in the fall.

"We are extremely pleased with all of our Girl Scout Gold Award recipients," said Donna Ceravolo, executive director of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. "Only 5 percent of eligible Girl Scouts choose to take this rigorous path toward earning the Gold Award. In doing so, they have changed the lives of others in amazing and significant ways!"

She added, "Girl Scouts who achieve the Gold Award demonstrate personality and determination as well as immaculate time management and organizational skills. They have joined an elite group of American women who are part of the Girl Scouts of the USA's Gold Award Alliance."

The Gold Award project helps Senior Girl Scouts develop leadership skills and explore career paths. Overall, the Gold Awards require a commitment of three years on the part of each young woman. It affords the teen the opportunity to learn about arts and humanities, cultural and global relations, personal well-being, technology and science, and any one of the innumerable issues facing young women today.

On June 8, the Girl Scouts of Nassau County honored senior Girl Scouts between the ages of 15-18 at a special ceremony held at Adelphi University. In addition, on June 16, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi presented the girls, along with their Eagle Scout Award counterparts from Boy Scouts, with certificates for their achievements at the Cradle of Aviation. Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray also recognized Girl Scout Gold Award recipients, along with this year's Eagle Scouts during a June 14 ceremony at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County builds girls of courage, confidence and character. Girl Scouting in Nassau County creates an accepting and nurturing environment, which gives girls a chance to build character and receive skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls develop qualities that will serve them throughout their lives, like leadership, strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth. With more than 22,000 girl and 7,000 adult members, Girl Scouts of Nassau County has become the pre-eminent organization and leading authority for girls. The organization, now in its 96th year, continues to make the world a better place one girl at a time. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, contact Donna Rivera Downey at 741-2550, ext. 260 or visit www.gsnc.org.