Abigail “Abbey” Johnson, a student at Downingtown STEM Academy, has received the Girl Scout Gold Award for establishing a volunteer fair at school, writes Ginger Rae Dunbar for the Daily Local News.

The award is intended to help encourage teenage girls to stay involved in Girl Scouts and help them develop their leadership skills.

The criteria for the award are that a project should help the community and extend beyond the originator’s involvement. Johnson’s project, the creation of a “Volunteerism Fair and Website,” achieved both.

Johnson fashioned the fair as a career or college fair. She invited area community service groups to set up table displays, introduce their organizations, and offer volunteer opportunities to STEM students.

“The genius of the project is that she not only helped her fellow students approach the sometimes overwhelming graduation requirement for community service,” said Pauli Brandt, Johnson’s troop leader. “She also helped these organizations grow their base of potential volunteers.”

Johnson has also created a website for students to use as a resource throughout the year.

Read more about Abigail “Abbey” Johnson in the Daily Local News here.