Goodyear resident and city youth commission leader Emily Shanafelt won a prestigious Girl Scout gold award.

The award recognizes Girl Scouts in grades 9-12 who act in their communities by tackling an issue they are enthusiastic about and developing sustainable solutions to local, national and global problems.

Shanafelt was recognized for her Arizona Go Vote initiative that saw her connect teens to voter resources, education and registration. As part of her outreach, she attended the National League of Cities Conference in Washington, D.C. and connected with teens nationwide on voting projects and initiatives.

Shanafelt also toured the Maricopa County Elections Department and published a series of educational videos to teach community members how to vote.

She designed flyers and coordinated a group of peers to distribute them in 10 high schools, reaching more than 10,000 students. Shanafelt currently serves as the co-chair of the Goodyear Youth Commission and plans to attend Arizona State University and study biomedical engineering. 

 “This year’s Gold Award honorees exemplify fantastic leadership and civic engagement by dedicating themselves to addressing important causes and taking action to make the world a better place,” said Christina Spicer, co-CEO of GSACPC. “As a nationally recognized symbol of leadership, the Gold Award is a truly remarkable achievement.” 

  “The Gold Award allows Girl Scouts to showcase the problem-solving, communication and time management skills they have learned throughout their experience in the organization and prepares young leaders by giving them the confidence to succeed,” said Mary Mitchell, co-CEO of GSACPC. “By earning the Gold Award distinction, the awardees join a legacy of Girl Scouts that have used their passion and persistence to make a lasting positive impact on the community.” 

Awardees like Shanafelt can take advantage of unique scholarship opportunities, are entitled to enlist at a higher pay grade when they join the military, distinguish themselves from the competition in the college admissions process and when entering the workforce.