Girl Scouts Presents Scholarships To College-Bound Students - Scholarships Totaling $20,000 Were Awarded To Fort Lauderdale, Weston, Hollywood, Parkland, Greenacres, Port St. Lucie And Port Charlotte Graduates

GSSEF’s scholarship program has grown exponentially since its inception in 2008. Through the council’s ongoing relationships with generous donors, the award amounts have increased 2,500% in just 18 years. That has been translated into scholarship awards for 57 local girls who’ve pursued higher education, careers, parenthood, leadership and community involvement.

“Our organization is a respected authority on the lives of girls – as well as their development and the issues facing their future. Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida is proud to partner with like-minded companies, foundations and individuals who share our belief in the unlimited power of girls to make this world a better place,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. “We work closely with community leaders so our Girl Scouts can have the opportunity to receive the financial boost they often need to turn their dreams of higher education into a reality.”

The scholarships were awarded during the recent 2026 Gold Awards ceremony, which was sponsored by HCA Florida Healthcare, Amazon, Florida Power & Light and Publix Super Markets Charities and table sponsor Tula Hudson-Miller. To learn more about the Gold Award, scholarship opportunities or how to support Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, please visit: www.gssef.org.

The 2026 scholarship recipients are:

Weston resident Anneliese Hsiao received two scholarships, each in the amount of $3,000. The recent American Heritage School Broward Campus graduate will put the $6,000 towards tuition at University of California, Berkeley in the fall. Hsiao is the very first recipient of the I am O.R.A.N.G.E. Scholarship sponsored by Fiserv, Inc. As part of its commitment to the community, the Fortune 500 tech and innovation company selected Anneliese for its inaugural scholarship because she embodies their O.R.A.N.G.E. ideals: Original, Recognized, Accountable, Not Afraid, Growing and Energized. These six attributes harmonize perfectly with the Girl Scout mission.

Anneliese also received the GSSEF Board of Directors Gold Award Scholarship. The aspiring veterinarian earned her Gold Award in 2025 for her project titled South Florida Pet Safety. In its second year, this scholarship recognizes a Gold Award Girl Scout who embodies leadership by displaying qualities such as integrity, clear communication, accountability, vision and self-awareness. The Board of Directors is committed to supporting girls who are prepared to apply the skills attained through their personal Girl Scout leadership journey to meaningful future educational pursuits.

A Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts, Anneliese joined as a Daisy in kindergarten and has remained committed to the organization for more than 13 years. She credits the Girl Scouts for teaching her confidence, communication, courage, leadership, organization, passion, persistence and teambuilding, and for building her character. Over the course of her Girl Scout career, she served as her troop’s President/VP; completed Bronze, Silver and Gold Award projects; and led service unit events such as World Thinking Day and First Aid/CPR/AED certification courses. Beyond the Girl Scouts, Anneliese raised $22,000 for children’s hospitals and held officer positions in her school’s student government, Honor Society and Miracle Network Club. She volunteered at the Humane Society of Broward County’s surgical clinic and is currently working there as a veterinary assistant.

“Looking back on my Gold Award project, it was one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had, and something I’m extremely proud of,” Anneliese said. “It’s the legacy I chose to leave behind, how I decided to ‘make the world a better place’ and that gives me an incredible feeling of accomplishment. The Gold Award process gives Girl Scouts an opportunity to make a real impact, not only on the world, but also on ourselves.”

Anneliese’s Gold Award project addressed the unique dangers facing pets in South Florida including extreme heat, hurricanes, bufo toads and alligators, by creating a comprehensive pet safety book to educate and empower local pet owners. Noting a lack of resources available to pet owners, she conducted extensive research for three years, reviewing more than 50 articles and consulting with such experts as Dr. Cynthia Rodgers from the Humane Society of Broward County to ensure the accuracy and practicality of her guide. Anneliese structured the book into four key chapters, heat, wildlife, plants and natural disasters, offering practical advice on recognizing, preventing and responding to pet safety threats. Through her fundraising efforts, she printed 500 copies, 470 of which were donated to the Humane Society of Broward County to be distributed with pet adoptions. Anneliese also created a digital version to ensure long-term accessibility and partnered with local businesses such as veterinary clinics and pet-friendly hotels. She founded a Pre-Vet Club at her school to inspire future careers in animal care. To date, her project has impacted more than 6,000 individuals, 99% reporting they learned something new. In recognition, Anneliese was also awarded the $1,500 Barbara Ann Turner "Service from the Heart" Scholarship presented to her during the 2025 Gold Awards ceremony, was a 2026 Miami Herald’s Silver Knight Award nominee, and received local and national media attention.

Hollywood, Florida resident Fadya Rauf received The Robin Trapani Memorial Scholarship. The $2,500 scholarship will be used towards her tuition at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami. Established in 2025, The Robin Trapani Memorial Scholarship honors Trapani’s incredible life and love for the Girl Scout community. This scholarship is awarded to local Girl Scouts who intend to pursue careers in vocational trades and skilled jobs that require specialized training and education after high school.

Fadya graduated in May from Sheridan Technical High School in Fort Lauderdale with a 4.9 weighted GPA and where she completed the school’s Legal Administrative Specialists Program. After earning a degree in criminal justice from FIU, Fadya plans to enroll in a state police academy. She eventually hopes to become a specialized investigator with Peace Officer Standards and Training certifications. As a proud Muslim woman, Fadya seeks to change the face of authority in law enforcement and break down barriers of mistrust in minority communities.

Fadya joined GSSEF her freshman year of high school, demonstrating it’s never too late to join a troop. “My participation in Girl Scouts has been the primary catalyst for this ambition,” she said. “Girl Scouting taught me that leadership is an act of service. Whether I was leading a troop project or working toward my higher awards, I was encouraged to step outside my comfort zone and develop the cultural fluency necessary to navigate diverse environments. The program’s emphasis on community service and civic duty transformed my desire to help into a structured discipline. Girl Scouts gave me the confidence to lead in male-dominated spaces and the resilience to pursue a career where I can protect the vulnerable.”

Fadya has volunteered more than 1,550 hours to various causes, is a quiz bowl champion and served as her high school’s class president. As Founder of Muslim Volunteer Opportunities, she matched more than 160 student volunteers with refugee aid organizations.

Parkland resident Emma Solsona received the $3,000 ECHO Scholarship. She plans to attend University of Florida, where she’ll major in health science on the pre-physician assistant track. She hopes to provide accessible health care to underserved communities.

Launched in 2023 and presented by proud parents Zaida Alvarez and Juan Carlos Arias, The ECHO Scholarship is designed to provide a legacy and is dedicated to supporting Girl Scouts who have gone above and beyond their Gold Award requirements. After witnessing what a Gold Award meant for their daughter Angelica, Zaida and Juan Carlos were inspired to give opportunities to other Girl Scouts who echo their daughter’s dedication, passion and determination.

Emma’s Girl Scout journey began in 2017. In her nine years as a Girl Scout, she earned the Bronze Award in 2019, followed by the Silver Award in 2022. Her project Minds Matter, which earned her a Gold Award in 2025, recognized the growing struggle among teens to balance academics, extracurricular activities and their personal lives, often leading to overwhelming stress and anxiety. According to the State of the Florida Girl report, commissioned by the Girl Scouts of Florida Association, 52% of Florida high school girls report feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row and one in four girls seriously considered attempting suicide. This showed a troubling rise of more than 60% in the last 10 years and underscored the urgency of addressing mental well-being in schools. Seeing how school-related stress was affecting her classmates, Emma created the Minds Matter club at Pompano Beach High School to promote mindfulness, encourage open dialogue and teach practical strategies for managing stress. With the motto “Healthy minds = healthy lives,” Minds Matter hosted monthly meetings focused on mental well-being, featuring interactive exercises, peer discussions and coping tools. She also introduced “Brain Bins” into classrooms that were filled with fidget toys to help students stay calm and focused throughout the day. To ensure the club’s longevity, she recruited younger students to carry the initiative forward and launched a website, MindsMatterClubs.wordpress.com, to guide others in starting their own chapters.

“The importance of earning the Gold Award cannot be overstated because its meaning transcends more than just being acknowledged or feeling a sense of personal achievement. It is a testament to one’s dedication towards creating change in the world,” Emma reflected. “The Gold Award instilled in me not only how to recognize a problem in my community, but also how to formulate a solution and motivate others to join in. This process takes perseverance, innovation and teamwork, but all of these things will benefit you in everything you do throughout the rest of your life. My Gold Award journey will be a part of me forever, and I encourage young Girl Scouts to embark on their own journey with the same passion and dedication.”

As a community service ambassador in GSSEF’s Everglades Service Unit, Emma planned and executed programs for fellow Girl Scouts, as well as community service projects. During the 2024 Cookie Rally held at a local park, Emma used crafts and games to educate current and potential Girl Scouts about selling cookies. At the 2025 Girl Scout Ways Day Camp, she helped younger Girl Scouts from Daisies to Juniors earn The Girl Scout Ways badge, which is designed to help girls understand and appreciate the organization’s core values.

Fort Lauderdale resident and 14-year Girl Scouts member Lilly Gonzalez received the $1,500 GSSEF Gold Award Advisors Scholarship, which she’ll use toward tuition at the University of Chicago. In 2024, the dynamic and forward-thinking team of Gold Award Advisors were inspired to launch a scholarship that would honor the trailblazing Girl Scouts they meet every year. Awarded to only 5% of eligible Girl Scouts nationwide, the Gold Award recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate exceptional leadership, dedication and commitment to creating meaningful, sustainable change in their communities. The Advisor is the candidate’s official coach and mentor who provides guidance on project elements and assists in the navigation of unforeseen challenges. These special volunteers maintain a well-rounded understanding of council policies and procedures as well as both national and council standards and criteria for successful completion of the Gold Award process.

In 2025, Lilly earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for her project Garden of Growth, which addressed the critical issue of food waste and its far-reaching environmental, economic and social consequences. She identified several contributing factors, including consumer confusion about expiration dates, the rejection of imperfect produce, and waste generated by restaurants and supermarkets. To address these issues, she built a self-sustaining compost bin at First Presbyterian Church in downtown Fort Lauderdale and led interactive workshops for more than 90 preschoolers, church members and event organizers. Using engaging children’s books, compost-themed activities and hands-on “compost cups,” she helped participants understand how composting can reduce waste and enrich the soil. In addition, Gonzalez trained kitchen volunteers in composting practices and implemented a system for donating excess food to a local soup kitchen. To ensure her project’s lasting impact, she developed an educational composting guide, established a team of trained volunteers and partnered with Feeding South Florida to promote ongoing food redistribution.

“After high school, I know Girl Scouts will continue to positively impact my life because it has given me the confidence to step into new environments and take initiative first. I am not afraid to introduce myself, take on leadership roles or sit with someone I might not have expected to,” Lilly said. “More importantly, I carry with me a mindset of service that will guide how I interact with others in college. The skills I’ve gained, including communication, time management, adaptability and empathy, will be essential in my future academic life. I will continue to draw on these experiences because leadership is about making real impact without regard for recognition.”

About Girl Scouts

We are the preeminent leadership development organization for girls who believe that every girl can be a go-getter, innovator, risk-taker, and leader with the power to change the world. More than any other organization in our community, Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida empowers girls ages 5 to 17 with vision and voice—girls who command their future, engage their communities, and inspire others. We offer every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida serves more than 6,900 girls in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties. To explore opportunities to volunteer or partner with Girl Scouts, call: (561) 427-0177. Or visit: www.gssef.org.