Girl Scout leads school renovation project to earn Gold Award

Melinda Zanner

Girl Scout Ambassador Melinda Zanner recently earned the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council Gold Award.

To earn the award, Zanner led the Friendswood United Methodist Church in repairing the fourth- and fifth-grade wing of its school. She and about 25 volunteers spent 15 days painting two bathrooms, two classrooms, a major hallway and several doors.

“I have been a part of the church for 13 years, and I care deeply for it,” said Zanner, a senior at Friendswood High School. “I personally attended a Sunday school in the area that required work. By doing this project, I hoped to create a place for other kids to come and learn about God in a fun environment.”

The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can achieve. Fewer than five percent of girls who join Girl Scouts earn this recognition. It takes more than 100 service hours and two to three years of work to complete the award requirements, which include planning and completing a project that is a service to the community.

As an active member of Girl Scouts, Zanner participated in camps and annual cookie sales and was a 2010 Girl Scout delegate. At Friendswood High School, she was involved in National Honor Society, Photography Club, the school newspaper, cheerleading and much more. Following graduation, she plans to attend Baylor University to major in international studies.