Girl Scouts Announce Scholarship Winners

. The Echo Scholarship winner Kylin Reynolds
(Little's Photography)

(Press Release) May 23, 2025 – Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida announced the 2025 recipients of eight prestigious scholarships during its annual Gold Award Ceremony, held recently at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. During the ceremony 27 remarkable young women were also recognized with the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting.

The 2025 Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida Scholarship recipients are:

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GSSEF Board of Directors Gold Award Scholarship: Ronica Deshmukh, resident of Delray Beach
Inspired by the incredible accomplishments of girls earning the Gold Award, the GSSEF Board of Directors launched a new $2,500 Gold Award Scholarship in 2025 to recognize a Gold Award Girl Scout who embodies true leadership, demonstrating integrity, clear communication, accountability, vision and self-awareness. This inaugural scholarship was awarded to Ronica Deshmukh for her project, “Shattering Stereotypes: Empowering Asian Voices in Media,” which aimed to promote accurate representation and amplify underrepresented Asian voices in the media. The Board of Directors is committed to supporting girls who are ready to apply the leadership skills attained through their Girl Scout journey to meaningful, purpose-driven educational pursuits. Deshmukh will attend Florida State University in the fall of 2025, where she plans to continue her advocacy for diverse representation.

Robin Trapani Memorial Girl Scout Scholarship: Addison Sobararm, resident of Lauderhill
Established in 2025 to honor Robin Trapani’s life, love for the Girl Scout community and expertise in plumbing and electrical repairs, this $2,500 scholarship is awarded to local Girl Scouts who intend to pursue careers in vocational trades or skilled professions requiring specialized training and education after high school. The 2025 Robin Trapani Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Addison Sobararm, who has already earned her certification as a dental assistant from Atlantic Technical High School and plans to become a dentist by attending dental hygienist school this year.

You are my Sunshine Scholarship: Selyna Amankwah, resident of Miramar
This inaugural scholarship, founded by mother-daughter duo, Christine and Logan Seal, recognizes a Girl Scout who has been empowered, inspired and raised in a single-parent household. The 2025 recipient of this $2,500 scholarship is Selyna Amankwah, whose powerful mother-daughter story began when she was adopted from Ghana. This fall, Amankwah will take the next step in her academic journey as she begins college at St. Thomas University.

Barbara Ann Turner “Service from the Heart” Scholarship: Anneliese Hsiao, resident of Weston
The Barbara Ann Turner “Service from the Heart” Scholarship is the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida’s first-ever and longest-running scholarship, established in 2008 to honor Turner’s legacy of volunteerism and passion for Girl Scouting. A dedicated troop leader, council trainer and service unit manager, Turner believed in recognizing girls who gave back. This year’s $1,500 Service from the Heart Scholarship recipient is Anneliese Hsiao, an 11th grader at American Heritage School in Plantation who will be a high school senior this fall, also a 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout, whose project “South Florida Pet Safety” focused on educating her community about protecting pets during emergencies and natural disasters. She exemplifies the spirit of service that this scholarship was created to honor.

The ECHO Scholarship: Kylin Reynolds, resident of Southwest Ranches
Launched in 2023 by Zaida Alvarez and Juan Carlos Arias, the ECHO Scholarship was created as a lasting legacy to support Girl Scouts who go above and beyond in their pursuit of the Gold Award. After witnessing firsthand how earning the Gold Award opened doors for their own daughter, Alvarez and Arias were inspired to give that same opportunity to other Girl Scouts who echoed her dedication, passion and determination. The 2025 recipient of this $3,000 scholarship is Kylin Reynolds, an 11th grader at North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek who will be a high school senior this fall, and a 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout whose project, “Let’s Get Physical! Promoting Healthy Lives and Well-Being,” focused on encouraging physical fitness and overall wellness among youth in her community.

Florida Power & Light Company Scholarship: Karina Torres Figueroa, resident of Weston
Established in 2020 exclusively for Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, the Florida Power & Light Company S.T.E.M. Scholarship is powered by FPL’s commitment to building a strong pipeline of female leaders in science, technology, engineering and math. FPL is passionate and strategically focused on supporting girls who are interested in these fields and plan to pursue them through post-secondary education. The $2,500 scholarship was awarded to Karina Torres Figueroa, a Gold Award Girl Scout who will be attending the University of Florida in the fall. Her academic goals align with a future in S.T.E.M., and she is already making strides toward becoming a changemaker in the field.

Gina Rose Montalto Memorial Scholarship: Lauren Rinella, resident of Cooper City
This scholarship was established in 2019 to honor the life, legacy and spirit of Gina Rose Montalto, a lifelong Girl Scout who was one of the victims of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Even as a high school freshman, Gina was actively exploring ideas for her future Gold Award project. Though her life was heartbreakingly cut short, her parents, Tony and Jennifer Montalto, created this $2,500 scholarship to ensure Gina’s dream of earning the Gold Award would live on through others. The 2025 recipient is Lauren Rinella, a Gold Award Girl Scout who will be attending Broward College in the fall. Her project, “BeYOUtifully Aware: Women’s Health and Cancer Prevention,” focused on educating young women about the importance of self-advocacy and early detection through routine screenings.

GSSEF Gold Award Advisors Scholarship: Karina Torres Figueroa, resident of Weston
In 2024, the dynamic and forward-thinking team of Gold Award Advisors launched this scholarship to honor trailblazing Girl Scouts that have the privilege of mentoring each year as they pursue the organization’s highest honor. Gold Award Advisors serve as official coaches and guides, providing guidance to girls as they bring their ambitious, community-driven projects to life. The 2025 scholarship was awarded to Karina Torres Figueroa, a dedicated and determined Gold Award Girl Scout who exemplifies the leadership, perseverance, and passion that inspired the creation of this $1,500 scholarship.

“Our Girl Scouts continue to inspire us with their resilience, passion and commitment to positive change,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. “These scholarships honor their dedication and help pave the way for their futures. Since its inception in 2008, our scholarship program has grown by 2,500%, awarding 48 local Girl Scouts with support to further their education and lead with purpose in their communities. We are deeply grateful to the donors who make this possible.”

To learn more about the Gold Award, scholarship opportunities, or how to support Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, please visit www.gssef.org