Indian Hill High School senior earns exclusive Gold Award

Lauren Sewell

Indian Hill High School (IHHS) congratulates senior Lauren Elizabeth Sewell for ranking in the top six percent of Girl Scouts in the nation by earning the Gold Award Project. Sewell has been a member of the organization dedicated to building courage, confidence, and character the past 13 years. During that time, Sewell dedicated focused service efforts through all Indian Hill School District buildings through the Pop Tab Collection Program with the Ronald McDonald House (earning the Silver Award Project). She most recently worked with Stepping Stones, a non-profit United Way partner agency offering year-round programs to people who have disabilities, to earn her Gold Award recognition.

“When I first started volunteering at Stepping Stones, I was 13-years old,” said Sewell. “As the years went on, I started to understand how the campers and volunteers would become frustrated, because of communication challenges they faced. I worked to develop a specifically tailored American Sign Language (ASL) Manual and Video Guide for the volunteers to use during training as my Gold Award Project. It was extremely rewarding, and I feel will make a significant impact going forward.”

The ASL Manual and Video Guide will be used every year for training at the Stepping Stones Summer Camp as well as for permanent use for staff and families of students during the year-round program for children and adults. It will assist in training hundreds of volunteers and staff who work at Stepping Stones annually.

“We are very proud of Lauren,” said Monique Sewell, who has encouraged her daughter to volunteer 24 to 50 hours each summer since middle school. “Volunteering is very important in our family. She started in Girl Scouts as a Daisy in kindergarten and has learned wonderful values and leadership skills. Both her Silver and Gold Award Projects were very personal to her and directly related to her volunteer work.”

Photo caption: Indian Hill High School senior Lauren Sewell is in the top six percent of Girl Scouts who achieve Gold Award recognition in the country.