Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan is pleased to honor Haley with the most prestigious award in the world for girls: the Girl Scout Gold Award. Haley is among 13 young women who have made a difference in each of their respective communities through sustainable, community change projects. The time and continuous effort these girls have dedicated towards their projects prove they’re true leaders, innovators, and exceptional examples for all girls to look up to.

The Gold Award is Girl Scout’s highest honor and girls are required to spend at least 80 hours investigating the problem, creating a plan, and implementing it. It is presented to Girl Scouts who address a community issue or problem they’re passionate about. Haley chose to support Michigan youth for her project.

Haley established a mentoring program between high school students at Notre Dame Preparatory (NDP) and the non-profit literacy center, Center for Success, to assist Pontiac and Detroit area elementary students with their literacy proficiency. The most recent standardized test scores for third-grade students in Michigan show the devastating effects COVID-19 had on these students. The test revealed that nearly 34 percent of all Michigan third-grade students are not proficient in reading, with numbers far worse in Pontiac and Detroit. Haley’s mentor program is now part of NDP’s Campus Ministry Department and is entering its second year. She also took steps to connect 19 other high schools in Oakland County with the Center for Success to see if other high schools desired to create a similar service opportunity.

“If I’m willing to persevere and work with others, I can make a difference in someone’s life.”