This award recognizes girls who demons

trate — individually or as a group — extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects that address important community needs.

Each girl is required to commit 50 hours to the project.

After attending elementary school at Altoona Central Catholic School, all girls of Troop 42043 wanted to make a sincere contribution in an effort to combat bullies.

The girls, deeply grateful for their elementary experience in the parochial system, were interested in doing something for the current students.

Courtesy photo Above is a Buddy Bench created by Girl Scout Cadette Troop 42043. The Scouts include (from left): Olivia Butler, Julia Cacciotti, Abbey Anderson and Emily Kasun. Below, Girl Scouts preparing their Buddy Bench for painting are (from left): Kasey Schultz, Jocelyn Robertson, Angelyn Adams and Sierra Rosamilia.

Cadette Troop 42043 decided to make a Buddy Bench for their Silver Award Project.

A Buddy Bench is simply a bench that will go in school playgrounds to serve as a safe space for a child who is feeling lonely or doesn’t have any friends.

The goal of the bench is to create an opportunity to make new friends and foster friendships.

The troop used strength, talent and skills to put their plan into action to earn the Silver Award, while enabling each girl to take a leadership role.

The troop was split into two groups and built two separate benches for the elementary campuses of Holy Trinity Catholic School.

A small monetary donation also was made in hope to restore the benches, if needed. Besides monetary help, the troop purchased playground toys for both elementary sites.

Buddy Baskets were also made. The purpose of the baskets corresponded with the purpose of the bench — being a buddy. If a teacher or staff member sees a student “being a buddy,” they can enter that student for a chance to win the buddy basket. The drawing for the baskets was held at the end of the first marking period.

The girls also made videos about using the Buddy Benches. Videos can be found on youtube.com.

Troop members include:

n Abbey Anderson, daughter of Terry and Deanna Anderson. She has been a Girl Scout for eight years.

n Olivia Butler, daughter of Matt and Jen Butler. She has been a Girl Scout for eight years.

n Julia Cacciotti, daughter of Mike and Becky Cacciotti. She has been a Girl Scout for eight years.

n Emily Kasun, daughter of Bob and Joann Kasun. She has been a Girl Scout for five years.

n Angelyn Adams, daughter of Anne and Duke Adams. She has been a Girl Scout for eight years.

n Jocelyn Robertson, daughter of Scott and Jaime Robertson. She has been a Girl Scout for eight years.

n Sierra Rosamilia, daughter of Heather Rosamilia. She has been a Girl Scout for eight years.

n Kasey Schultz, daughter of Kerry and Anita Schultz. She has been a Girl Scout for eight years.

The girls were supported in their Silver Award efforts by numerous area businesses and family and friends.

They started their Silver Award Project in October 2015 and finished in August 2016.