Strongsville Girl Scout Earns Gold Award

Kimberley Graves of Girls Scouts of North East Ohio passed along this story of a Strongsville student's impressive achievement:

Girl Scout and student Isabella “Izzey” Pirl knows first hand that music has the power to inspire people to take action. 

Using her gift for music and the leadership skills she developed throughout her 11 years of Girl Scouting, Izzey crafted a profound project, which earned her the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award.

The Gold Award is the pinnacle of leadership and community service in Girl Scouting. This national award represents a girl's leadership, creativity, and contribution to making the world a better place.   

Izzey’s project, titled, “Rainbow of Music: Bringing Therapy and Hope to All,” was just the beginning of a grand effort to bring people together to help a disaster struck area of the country devastated by tornadoes in 2011. The sorrow and grief expressed by the survivors of the twister outbreak that killed hundreds of people and destroyed homes, businesses and schools in four states, struck a chord with Izzey. 

She discovered a need, connected with others to create a plan, and took action by reconstructing an entire music program for the students at a Tuscaloosa, Alabama County elementary school.

Her project began here in northeast Ohio, where she organized and held a nine-hour benefit concert on Aug. 7, 2011, which featured nine local bands and many acoustic acts. The proceeds of this event were used to purchase instruments such as recorders, percussion kits, a drum set, and an acoustic guitar.

Izzey also purchased CDs, music theory workbooks, decorations for the school’s classroom and other materials crucial to the school’s music program.  Donations from local music stores and community members included a clarinet, keyboard, kazoos, and song books.

Izzey took the time to design this music program so that any teacher would be able to compose a music class without missing a beat. Her work included a vast amount of research into grade-appropriate music topics. She also created a curriculum for the entire school year with detailed lesson plans for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Izzey also makes time to mentor young Girl Scouts, contribute to Key Club, French Club, Banned Books Club, and is a DARE role model. She is a member of the Strongsville Symphony Orchestra and has performed at Carnegie Hall with them. Isabella is also a member of the Strongsville Chamber Strings, Baldwin-Wallace Junior Youth Orchestra, as well as the Baldwin-Wallace Senior Youth Orchestra. Her future plans include attending Baldwin Wallace University and majoring in Music Therapy and Arts Management.

To find out more about how to support the GSNEO Campaign for Girls or volunteer with the organization, contact Brenda Byrne, Director of Fund Development at 330-983-0399 or bbyrne@gsneo.org.