Special to IFN
Nila Granillo of Girl Scout Troop 13036 in Iredell County has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for a community leadership and service project that teaches children about Mexican culture.
Aiming to further educate kindergarten to fifth grade students in the Spanish Immersion Program, the Girl Scout Ambassador partnered with Lake Norman Elementary School for her Lotería project to help students learn the Spanish language while also teaching them about Mexican culture.
“When I was younger, my family and I would all gather at my grandmother’s house during the holidays and play Lotería,” said Granillo, a Girl Scout of 12 years. “Playing the game allowed for a chance to build skills, learn about our Mexican culture and bring everyone together.”
She made her own version of Lotería for students at Lake Norman Elementary School to use as a part of their Spanish Immersion Program. She gave a presentation to the students and led them through the game to help teachers and students alike understand the benefits of the game.
Girls in high school can earn the Girl Scout Gold Award by creating sustainable change on a community or world issue. They address the root cause of a problem, plan and implement innovative solutions to drive change and lead a team of people to success. Each Girl Scout must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to planning and carrying out their project that benefits the community and has a long-lasting impact.
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they are the leaders our community and world need, and those from the Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont (GSCP2P) council have created community gardens, addressed issues in foster care, combated bullying in schools and so much more.
“When I moved to North Carolina, I saw that there was a lack of diversity, understanding of Mexican culture and a lack of materials in the schools,” said the Gold Award Girl Scout. “My love for the game and the time I spent with my family, as well as the needs I saw at the school, inspired me to bring this game and Mexican culture to the classrooms.”
Thousands of Girl Scouts across the country earn the Girl Scout Gold Award each year, which first began in 1916 as the Golden Eaglet. Earning the Gold Award opens doors to scholarships, preferred admission tracks for college and amazing career opportunities. In 2025, 30 GSCP2P Girl Scouts earned their Gold Award.
About Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont, a United Way agency, is one of 111 councils nationwide chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA to deliver Girl Scout program within specific geographic boundaries. The local council serves over 6,300 girls and 4,500 adult volunteers in 40 counties and maintains three camp properties and four service centers offering unique experiences for girls and adults. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to GSCP2P, call 800-672-2148 or visit www.girlscoutsp2p.org.