Six Centre Hall scouts receive Girl Scouting’s highest award

CENTRE HALL — For one Girl Scout to earn the prestigious Gold Award is alone a special feat. For six girls from the same troop to do it is nothing short of amazing, according to the troop leader.

Six hardworking and dedicated ladies from Centre Hall Girl Scout Troop 4 did just that, earning Girl Schout’s highest award — an award that only 1 percent of all girls involved in Girl Scouts achieve.

Those receiving the award include Ella Smith, Sarah Zubler, Cate Goodwin, Katie Gavek, Alaina McCloskey and Kailen Winkelblech.

“I would just like to say how very proud of this Troop I am,” said troop leader of 12 years Krista Winkelblech.

“It’s been a pleasure seeing you all grow and all of the achievements each of you has made. Hard to believe that Troop 4 will no longer meet, but the friendships and memories will last a lifetime.”

ALAINA MCCLOSKEY

Alaina McCloskey, a senior at Penns Valley High School, completed her Girl Scout Gold Award and titled it “Fix 96.”

She is a member of the local Progress Grange 96 in Centre Hall and chose to do some much-needed painting and beautification of the street side and first floor of the building’s exterior. Doors and windows received a fresh coat of paint, new lighting was added and planters were purchased for seasonal decoration.

She is a member of the Penns Valley marching band, senior high chorus, spring musical, a member of the National Honor Society and works a part-time job. She will be attending Penn State Altoona this fall and study general science.

ELLA SMITH

Ella Smith, a senior at Penns Valley Area High School, completed her Girl Scout Gold Award and titled her project, “The Importance of Music in our Schools.” She has been involved in the marching band, concert band, percussion ensemble, concert choir, chamber choir, district and region band, district choir and the spring musical and has a part-time job.

She gave a much-needed facelift to the music boosters’ concession stand at the football field by building shelving in the windows, which are used to hold snacks sold at each home football game by booster club members.

She painted the signs that holds the list of clothing items for sale and designed a banner for the front of the concession stand that showcases all the types of music played in PV schools. She also designed a brochure that will be available at home football games.

For the educational aspect of her project, she researched and put together a video of the history of the Penns Valley marching band. She was chosen as drum major for her senior year of marching band. Her grandmother was drum major for Penns Valley in 1953.

She will be attend Edinboro University and major in criminal justice and political sciences.

SARAH ZUBLER

Sarah Zubler, a senior at Grace Prep High School focused her Gold Award on building a green house at her house, which will be moved to Stepping Stones Community Church/Grace Prep High School. The food that is grown from the greenhouse will go towards school lunches, any functions that the church has and also to local food banks.

She is involved in her church and youth group, plays soccer and basketball, participates in track and field and works some part-time jobs.

She plans to study architecture at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

KATIE GAVEK

Katie Gavek, a junior at Penns Valley, completed her Gold Award and built a sign for the Tri-Municipal Park in Centre Hall. She used the logo and branding to promote the Tri-Municipal Park and designed a brochure to be distributed around Penns Valley to let residents know what the park has currently to offer and what is planned to be added in the future.

She is involved in fall/winter cheerleading, marching and concert band, concert choir, school musicals, student council, track and field, Varsity Club, National Honor Society and Rams Leadership and works a part-time job.

CATE GOODWIN

Cate Goodwin, a junior at Penns Valley, completed her Gold Award by spreading awareness about COVID-19 and mask-wearing. She sewed and tie-dyed masks to give to the girls’ and boys’ soccer teams and girls’ basketball team, family and the community. Posters were made to explain the importance of mask-wearing and are posted at Penns Valley Area High School. She is involved in soccer, basketball, drama, Varsity Club and student council.

KAILEN WINKELBLECH

Kailen Winkelblech, a junior at Penns Valley, completed her Gold Award by building a bench in memory of William Arnold, a church member of Grace United Methodist Church. She also attached a box on the bench that has inspirational messages and landscaped around the bench.

She is involved in volleyball, basketball, softball, National Honor Society, junior class treasurer, Varsity Club, Key Club, SADD Club, Student of the Month Club, student council, Young Life, horseshoe volleyball, dawgpen softball and works a part-time job.