Nora Klipfel Honored With the Girl Scout Gold Award
Nora Klipfel, a North Tonawanda student, was recently awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award.
The award is recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious youth achievements. Nora, who is an Ambassador Girl Scout in Troop 30782 of North Tonawanda, earned her award for her project “Happy Caps for Children” which helps children who need surgery. “I decided to do the project because I hope to work in a field that helps children,” explains Nora.
Nora not only takes the Early Childhood Education program at Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, but volunteers with a special education K-1 class at Meadow Elementary in the North Tonawanda School District. “I am inspired to help young children,” she says. “I had surgery to have my tonsils and adenoids out as a child, so I have first-hand experience of being in a hospital as a patient. I plan to make the general public aware that children do need surgeries, they need positive enforcements to make them more comfortable in a hospital/surgical setting. My thought is that little things, like picking out a fun surgical cap can make a positive impact on a child.”
Nora’s Early Childhood Education teacher, Laura Koeppel, says, “Nora is a very dedicated and hardworking student. Our preschoolers love her!” Niagara Career and Technical Student Academic Support teacher, Donna Quinn, has this to add, “Nora is a delight to work with! She has great energy, plus enthusiasm and sees importance in the course she has selected. She is a hard worker and therefore she has been successful.”