Pair of Old Town Girl Scouts earn Bronze Awards for work

OLD TOWN – Katelynn Ouellette and Melissa Thibodeau, Junior Girl Scouts from Troop 152 in Old Town, received the Junior Girl Scout Bronze Award in a Court of Awards ceremony organized by Troop Leader Jacinta Torsch on June 1.

Ouellette and Thibodeau, who are fifth-graders at Herbert Sargent Elementary School, received their awards from Treasa Wheeler, administrative assistant of Abnaki Girl Scout Council. Chris Avila, principal of Herbert Sargent Elementary School, spoke on the girls’ behalf.

The Bronze Award is the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can earn. It represents a promise to help others, improve the community and world and to become the best that one can be. Requirements help build skills in preparation for the Bronze Award Service Project.

For her Bronze Award, Ouellette volunteered eight hours at the Bangor Humane Society. She cleaned kennels, assisted with adoptions, cared for cats and kittens and collected needed items for the animals. She also collected bottles and cans and used the money to buy supplies for the shelter. Ouellette loves animals, and was inspired to earn her Bronze Award after a troop visit to the Bangor Humane Society.

“Katelynn is a hard worker – not afraid of dirty work – but she also is gentle and kind with the cats and kittens needing socialization during the stay at the humane society,” said Rochelle Black, animal care technician at the humane society. “Her work with us has made a difference to these individual pets and we look forward to working alongside her in the future.”

Ouellette is the daughter of Mark and Candy Ouellette of Old Town.

When her troop leader’s father passed away in March, Thibodeau wanted to “do something nice for her,” so she designed a Junior Sympathy Badge. She developed 10 steps for completing the badge, in addition to drawing the badge design.

When Torsch saw the design and read the steps, she suggested that Thibodeau complete the steps of the Bronze Award and submit her badge to the Abnaki Council. It since has been accepted as a Troop’s Own Badge, and is being revised for submission as a Council’s Own Sponsored Junior Badge in Abnaki Girl Scout Council.

“Melissa has a sensitive and compassionate heart,” Torsch said. “She is concerned and caring about everything and everyone. She has a tender and kind way about her that draws you in. With a little more confidence, I believe that Melissa will accomplish anything in life that she sets her mind to do.”

Thibodeau’s karate instructor, Kathie Gallimore, read a special poem for her. Thibodeau is the daughter of Jennifer Moreau of Old Town and Robert Thibodeau of Brownville Junction.

Old Town Girl Scout Troop 152 comprises Brownie, Junior and Senior Girl Scouts, and is led by Troop Leaders Torsch and Candy Ouellette.

Other awards presented during the event were for leadership, attendance and community service. Badges earned by the girls individually and as a troop were presented. The girls also received patches for activities in which they have participated since Jan. 1, such as Winter Wonderland-Frosty Fun-Big Spring Thaw at Discovery Camp in Howland, ice fishing and Girl Scout sleepovers. Mark Torsch spoke on the troop’s fund-raising efforts.

Thanks were extended to many individuals and businesses for their support.