Maddie Buzza, daughter of Aaron and Jennifer Buzza, participated in a Girl Scouts of America Gold Award Ceremony Oct. 23 at the Mapleton Lions Hall. The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive.
Buzza comes from a family with roots in community service and personal achievement. Her mother, Jennifer Sawyer, was Mapleton’s first Gold Award recipient in 1993. Her sister, Julie Sawyer Powers, Maddie’s aunt, was Mapleton’s second Gold Award recipient in 1994. In 1995, Linette Buzza Casey, also Maddie’s aunt, received her Gold Award as a member of a Presque Isle Girl Scout troop.
Mapleton Girl Scout Maddie Buzza received her Gold Award, which is the top Girl Scout Award, on Oct. 23 from her troop co-leader and mother Jennifer Sawyer Buzza. Jennifer was the first Mapleton Girl Scout to receive the Gold Award in 1993.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
The men in the family were not to be outdone. Aaron Buzza, Maddie’s dad), her uncle William Buzza and cousins Patrick Buzza and Reid Buzza, along with another cousin, Gavin Murphy, all earned their Boy Scout Eagle Awards. The Eagle Award is the top Boy Scout award given.
The award ceremony opened with prayer by Wendell Hudson. Troop co-leader Nancy Winslow and her daughter, Amanda, reviewed Maddie’s career as a Girl Scout.
She began as a Daisy 13 years ago. As a Daisy, she sang Christmas carols in the community and completed her first journey — the Daisy Flower Garden — with her troop.
Besides earning badges as a Brownie, she and her troop participated in a community cleanup day and placed American flags at the four cemeteries in Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill.
As a Junior Girl Scout she earned the Bronze Award by helping plan a perennial flower garden near the community pool in memory of former Town Manager John Edgecomb.
As a Cadette, she began working on her Silver Award. Her project consisted of building and installing three “Little Free Libraries” in Mapleton. They are located at the Town Office, the Mapleton Post Office and the Mapleton Lions Hall.
On entering Presque Isle High School, she became a Senior Girl Scout, helping teach girls in Mapleton’s sister Troop 187 the importance of good healthy friendships, and also served on the Sapphire Service Unit of the Girl Scouts.
The last level is the Ambassador Level, for Girl Scouts in grades 11 and 12. She served on the Sapphire unit and began planning her Gold Award project: an E911 addressing project for Scopan Township.
Fellow Scout Amanda Winslow, who served all 13 years with Maddie, said, “Not many girls continue with Scouting through all 13 years, and few still earn the Gold Award as Maddie has done. But in this time, the light of Scouting has grown with her and in her.”
With new Girl Scout Gold Awardee Maddie Buzza (center) are her mother, Jennifer Sawyer Buzza (left), who was the first Mapleton Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, and her aunt Linette Buzza Casey, who earned her Gold Award in 1995.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Also at the ceremony, former English teacher and friend Gail Rusetta congratulated Maddie. Her mother and troop co-leader Jennifer Buzza pinned Maddie with the Gold Award pin.
Maddie gave a mini Gold Award pin to her mother, as the person she felt was most helpful and supportive through Girl Scout years.
Nancy Winslow led Maddie in the Gold Award Recipient pledge.
Maddie Buzza’s proud family were happy to see her receive her Gold Award. At top, from left, are grandmother Charlene Buzza, Maddie Buzza, grandfather Gordon Buzza and father Aaron Buzza. At bottom, from left, Aaron Buzza, grandfather Larry Sawyer, Maddie Buzza, grandmother Debbie Sawyer and mother Jennifer Sawyer Buzza.
(Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
The 2021 Pinnacle Award, a new high award from Girl Scouts of Maine, was also presented to Maddie by Monique Stairs, community engagement specialist. The award honors girls who have earned their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Maddie also received a lifetime membership in Girl Scouts USA.
State Rep. Sue Bernard presented her with a sentiment on behalf of the Maine Legislature. Aroostook County Community Director Paul Bernier and County Commissioner Paul Underwood thanked Maddie for her work to install 144 reflective address signs in the unorganized Scopan Township. Bernier presented her with a certificate of appreciation for her achievement.
State Rep. Sue Bernard (right) presents Maddie Buzza with a legislative sentiment congratulating her on her Girl Scout Gold Award. This sentiment was sponsored by Sen. Trey Stewart and co-sponsored by Sen. Troy Jackson and Rep. Dustin White. (Courtesy of Terry Sandusky)
Alan Clair worked with Maddie on the project.
“She came before the board and told us what she was going to do, how she was going to do it, when she expected it to be completed and the cost, and the project went just so smooth,” he said, thanking and congratulating her.
Project adviser Glen Grew added his thanks and expressed pride in her approach and her work.
The ceremony closed with Maddie expressing her gratitude for the support of her parents, family and many other community members, including Bernier and her project team. Hudson closed the ceremony with a benediction.
Harvest supper
The State Road Advent Christian Church will their harvest supper from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6.
The turkey-and-fixings dinner will be a drive-thru event. The cost is by donation. All funds raised will benefit a family or an individual in need.
Everyone is invited to attend. The church is located at 1135 State Road, Mapleton.
Mapleton Daze auction
The Mapleton Daze Committee is preparing for the third annual online silent auction. They are grateful for the donations received.
For individuals interested in bidding in the auction, there are some items already pictured on the “Mapleton Daze third annual online silent auction Facebook page. Bidding will open at 8 a.m. on Nov. 15 and will close at 6 p.m. on Nov. 18. The highest bids at that time will be declared the winners.
The Mapleton Daze Committee recommends bidders check bids frequently. Contact Lynnelle Foster at lynnelle.foster@maine.edu or Laurie at laurie.boucher@maine.edu with questions.
Terry Sandusky is the Star-Herald correspondent for Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill and can be reached at 764-4916 or at starherald.Tsandusky@gmail.com.
