Historical Perspective Gains One NHS Girl Scout Her Gold Award

By Anna Hodge

In the world of a Senior Girl Scout, the highest honor that can be conferred is the Girl Scout Gold Award. By earning this award, the recipient will “join the ranks of generations of young women who have made a difference in their communities both locally and globally,” according to Girlscouts.org. Faith Mangiafico, a rising senior at Newtown High School, has been presented with the honorable award after fulfilling the requirements for her Gold Award project, for which she created a Mayflower/Pilgrim Education Program.

“I created Mayflower/Pilgrim Program boxes that contained books, games, fun facts cards, coloring pages, and a DVD. I did extensive research to be sure the items in the program boxes were historically accurate,” said Faith.

To bring the project to life, Faith researched and created an outfit to resemble an authentic 1620 period Pilgrim attire.

“I visited Plimouth Plantation [in Plymouth, Mass.], researched online and in books clothing from that period,” Faith said. “I purchased patterns which had to be modified, and sewed a jacket [waistcoat], chemise [shift], and skirt [petticoat].”

As for how Faith came about choosing the Mayflower/Pilgrim Education Program for her Girl Scout Gold Award, she says it is ironic she chose a historical topic, because history is one of her more difficult subjects in school.

“My father had always told me to spend your time working on the things you don’t know, and not waste time studying the things you’re already good at. I didn’t know much about the Mayflower, but found myself interested in it because of my ancestors that came here on it,” Faith said.

Curious about the topic and wanting to know more, according to Faith, she took her dad’s advice to heart and began researching the Mayflower and the people who traveled on it.

“I observed how they lived and asked the interpreters [at Plimouth Plantation] questions,” said Faith.

After completing the project and portraying Constance Hopkins, a Mayflower passenger, to classes of third and fourth grade students in Newtown, Faith was recognized by the General Society of the Mayflower Descendants.

“It was an honor being recognized and having the support of the Connecticut and General Society of the Mayflower Descendants,” said Faith, who also wrote about her project to Judith Swan, the governor general of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. According to Faith, Ms Swan wrote back fully supporting the project and even asked Faith to write an article about the project for the Mayflower Quarterly, a magazine containing the latest news about the society. This was published in the December 2009 issue.

In honor of Faith receiving the Girl Scout Gold Award, she was invited to attend a formal ceremony at Saint Joseph College in Hartford on June 6. 

“This ceremony recognized all 49 girls in the state of Connecticut who earned their Girl Scout Gold Award this year,” said Faith, who also had a less formal ceremony at her house with family and friends.

At this ceremony, according to Faith, First Selectman Pat Llodra was in attendance and presented Faith with a recognition certificate. 

“There were also members of the Connecticut Society of Mayflower Descendants, Girl Scout Council Staff, and members of the Girl Scout Gold Award Committee present,” Faith said, who also gave a speech and celebrated with her friends.

In terms of what the award means to her, Faith said, “The Girl Scout Gold Award is a reflection of all the experiences I’ve had in Girl Scouts over the past 12 years. I have been able to not only gain experience in leading younger girls, but also managing a project.”

The project took three years to complete, because, according to Faith, “This project included earning the Girl Scout Gold Leadership Award, the Girl Scout Gold Career Award, the Girl Scout Gold 4Bs Challenge, and then completion of the Mayflower Education Project.”

To learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award, visit Girlscouts.org.

“I have been invited to speak at a Daughters of the American Revolution meeting and will volunteer with the Mayflower Society,” said Faith, who is also looking forward to the not-too-distant future, when she plans on going to college. 

 “I plan to major in economics and finance in college. I’m interested in managing investments,” said Faith this week.

In the meantime, Faith will continue doing work in the community involving her project.