GOLD AWARD SPOTLIGHT: BRIANA GOODYEAR
For her Girl Scout Gold Award, Briana Goodyear combined her love of dance with her desire to create more opportunities for students with disabilities.
Briana taught different styles of dance through an afterschool program at The Midland School, working directly with students to introduce them to movement and dance instruction. To make sure the program could continue beyond her time there, she also created instructional videos and a book that schools and dance studios can use as teaching tools.
She provided these resources to The Midland School and to a dance studio in Florida, allowing both organizations to continue offering dance instruction without additional staffing costs. The videos were also posted on a shared site so they can be accessed and used by others.
Briana was inspired by her long-standing interest in dance and her goal of pursuing special education after earning her teaching certification in college. She recognized that students with disabilities are not always given the same opportunities as their peers and wanted her project to help address that gap.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, recognizes girls who identify a community need and create sustainable solutions that last beyond the life of their project. By pairing hands-on instruction with reusable resources, Briana ensured her work could continue supporting students over time.
For Briana, being a Girl Scout means helping the community and providing opportunities that might not otherwise be available. She values being part of a supportive, welcoming environment where girls can grow and build lasting friendships.
Congratulations to Briana on earning the Girl Scout Gold Award and for creating tools that help expand access to dance education for students with disabilities.
January 23, 2026
