Molly McCracken, left, receives a new pin for her sash from Girl Scout Troop 4288 leader Andrea Loewenwarter Sunday, May 21 in Fairfax United Methodist Church at 10300 Stratford Ave. The Fairfax teen earned the highest award for Girl Scouts from a stress management program she designed last year for her peers called “BreatheOut!”
Fairfax — Molly McCracken doesn’t sweat the small stuff these days as she prepares to graduate Fairfax High School June 15 then pursue a degree in education at Longwood University in Farmville, Va.
McCracken, 18, held a stress management workshop for 30 teenagers last year in the very room in which she received a new pin for her sash from Girl Scout Troop 4288 leader Andrea Loewenwarter on Sunday, May 21.
According to the Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital council roster, Greater Washington boasts 59,425 Girl Scouts in grades K-12. Officials say more than 5,500 senior and ambassador Girl Scouts are eligible for scouting’s top achievement — the Gold Award — which few obtain due to an arduous seven-step process to meet strict guidelines of the GSCNC.
McCracken met the challenge, planned her project to design a mental health toolkit for stressed-out teens and joined an elite group of 159 ambitious students who worked last year to improve the lives of others. She received recognition from the Woman’s Club of Fairfax, the Rotary Club of Fairfax, Daughters of the American Revolution, City of Fairfax Mayor David L. Meyer and U.S. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-11).
Read about her journey online at www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2016/mar/31/fairfax-teen-hold-stress-management-workshop/.