(Mission Times Courier) -  Girl Scout Troop #3053 has been together since the fall of 1997 when they began as a Daisy Troop.  The troop composition has changed somewhat over the years with the addition of some new girls as others moved on. Troop #3053 went from thirteen members in kindergarten to nine currently.  

Over the past 13 years, the troop participated in many scouting events and encampments, earned Try-It merit badges and volunteered in the community. One particular focus of the troop's activities over the years has been volunteering with homeless organizations. 

For example, they have assisted at the Interfaith Shelter at Temple
Emanu-El for eight years-making and serving dinner to the guests as well as sorting and distributing donated clothing and toiletries.  In addition, all of the troop members earned their Bronze Award by developing and participating in a project to assist the homeless by volunteering at four different homeless organizations throughout San Diego.

Three girls, Sierra Ivy, Carrie Clowney and Cherise Goode earned their Silver Award as Cadette Scouts and Cherise Goode earned her Gold Award as a Senior Girl Scout. The other troop members actively supported and assisted their fellow girl scouts in earning these awards.  The girls have enjoyed and grown from all their experiences in Girl Scouts, however, their most lasting memories are from the community service projects they have done together. They will carry these experiences with them when they enter college in the fall and thereafter.

The co-leaders for the troop are Carol Levy and Barbara Lincoln.
The girls who will finish the Troop's 13th year together include
(in alphabetical order):
Caroline 'Carrie' Clowney- currently attends The Bishop's School, and earned her Silver Award in Girl Scouts by coordinating the activities of younger girls at a weekend encampment.  At Bishop's she is on the honor roll, captain of the Varsity Field Hockey team, Mock Trial Champion and Associate Editor of the school newspaper. Carrie hopes to attend either Georgetown University in Washington, DC or Dartmouth College, in Hanover, NH in the fall of 2010.

Cherise Goode- currently attends Patrick Henry High School, earned both her Silver Award and Gold Award by creating and implementing programs which support the students at Monarch School - a school for homeless children in downtown San Diego. Cherise is currently on the honor roll at Patrick Henry, on the ASB as the Commissioner of Community Service and Race and Human Relations, a member of the Key Club, the Surfrider Club and the Student-to-Student-a program. She also volunteers weekly at Alvarado Hospital. Cherise hopes to attend UCLA in Los Angeles, CA in the fall of 2010.

Haley Gross- currently attends Patrick Henry High School, is on the honor roll, has been a member of the Varsity Field Hockey team for the past three years, and is a member of the Surfrider Club at Patrick Henry.  Haley plans to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA in the fall of 2010.

Sierra Ivy- currently attends Patrick Henry High School, and earned her Silver Award by designing and supplying coloring books to the children who are patients at Children's Hospital. Sierra has maintained above a 4.0 GPA while at Patrick Henry and is currently employed at Jamba Juice.  She hopes to attend University of San Diego in San Diego, CA in the fall of 2010.

Elizabeth 'Bizzy' Lincoln- currently attends Francis Parker School, is on the honor roll, captain of the Varsity Soccer team, and ASB Global Awareness Director at Francis Parker.  Bizzy has played competitive soccer since age 8 and has lettered in soccer all four years at Francis Parker. She is also Coordinator of Mama's Pantry food collection project at Temple Emanu-El. Bizzy plans to attend Tufts University in Boston, MA in the fall of 2010 and hopes to continue playing soccer there.

Carly Lindsay-currently attends West Hills High School, is on the honor roll, and has participated in Gymnastics and Cheer-on club teams for the past five years and at school for the past three years. Carly is a regular volunteer at the Salvation Army and is employed at In N Out Burger. She hopes to attend Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo in San Luis Obisbo, CA in the fall of 2010.

Aliya Levy-currently attends Patrick Henry High School, is on the honor roll and is Captain of the Varsity Soccer Team at Patrick Henry.  She has lettered in soccer all four years at Patrick Henry and has participated in competitive soccer since the age of eight. Aliya volunteers regularly at the San Diego Humane Society. She hopes to attend UC Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, CA in the fall of 2010.

Nicole Philips- currently attends Patrick Henry High School, is on the honor roll and has been a Peer Mediator for the past two years. She is a member of the Surfrider Club and the California Scholastic Federation at Patrick Henry and regularly volunteers at San Diego Youth Services. Nicole hopes to attend Chapman University in Orange County, CA in the fall of 2010.

Hallie Winters- currently attends Valhalla High School, has been on the honor roll and a member of the choir at Valhalla. The choir just returned from a series of concerts in Germany. Hallie played water polo for the past three years at Valhalla and played on a club team for the past 5 years. She also participated on the swim and tennis teams at her high school. Hallie is an active member of Young Actors Theater, where she has appeared in several productions and serves as the Concessions Manager.  Hallie hopes to attend CSU Monterrey Bay in Monterrey Bay, CA in the fall of 2010.

Congratulations and best of luck to these fine young women!