Education
Brunswick School Senior Hailey Toll Earns Girl Scout Gold Award for Mental Health Awareness Walk
Brunswick High School senior Hailey Toll has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the organization’s highest honor, for her community-focused mental health initiative. A Girl Scout since kindergarten, Toll was inspired to create a project that addressed a deeply personal issue, drawing from her own experiences with mental health struggles and her observations of peers facing similar challenges. Her goal was to bring the community together for open dialogue and education on a topic she believes is often stigmatized but critically important.
The path to the Gold Award is demanding, requiring candidates to complete seven training modules before even proposing a project. Toll invested 25 hours in brainstorming and planning, then presented her idea to the Gold Award Council for approval. Once approved, she dedicated another 60 hours to execution, bringing her total effort to approximately 105 hours—well above the minimum 80-hour requirement. Her hard work culminated in a mental health awareness walk around Brunswick Lake in May, which served as the centerpiece of her initiative.
The event drew community members together for a collective walk, featuring informational booths staffed by local therapists and community groups. Toll organized a speaking program where she shared her personal journey and project motivations, alongside retired school psychologist John Cassily, who addressed the broader importance of mental health awareness. The walk provided a supportive, educational space, directly connecting attendees with professional resources and fostering conversations that often don't happen in everyday settings.
Following the event, Toll submitted her project report for final review by the Gold Award Council, which approved her for the prestigious designation—an achievement earned by only a small percentage of Girl Scouts annually. Reflecting on the accomplishment, Toll expressed immense pride, emphasizing that the award demonstrates how dedication and hard work can turn meaningful ideas into reality. Her project now stands as a lasting resource for her community, encouraging ongoing dialogue about mental wellness and breaking down the barriers that prevent people from seeking help.
