MARLBORO – Krystle Henriques, 17, an Ambassador Girl Scout from Marlboro, has earned the highest award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.
Krystle is a senior at Marlboro High School and has been a Girl Scout since she was in kindergarten. She enjoys giving back to the community through Girl Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Special Strides and as a volunteer at CentraState Medical Center, according to a press release.
Her Gold Award centered on an issue that is near and dear to her: working with children who have special needs. Her project, “Special Artists,” was an art therapy program that allowed students to come in and express their feelings or release their tensions through art, according to the press release.
Krystle’s project also gave the students a chance to work on their social skills and provided them with a sense of pride in their work. The students looked forward to coming to class twice a week, produced beautiful artwork which they took home, and created a mural that showcased their artistic abilities and is displayed at the Marlboro Recreation Community Center, according to the press release.
Virginia Jonas, whose children are in the program, said, “Krystle is an amazing young lady who made all those kids feel special and their work is beautiful. This program gave my children confidence and taught them they needed to believe in themselves. They loved being around everyone and being a part of this project. They walked away more confident and open to more experiences.”
Ted Ernst, director of the Marlboro Recreation Department, helped to get the program off the ground and into the community, according to the press release.
Due to the positive feedback from parents and growing interest in the program, Ernst and Lynne Gustman, program coordinator, plan to continue “Special Artists” in the spring through Marlboro Recreation, according to the press release.
“This was something we were happy to team up on with Krystle,” Ernst said. “The Recreation Department is also excited at the prospect of beginning new programs to serve this sector of our community.”
