By Zach Spicer

For The Tribune

Macy Casner is now and forever a Gold Award Girl Scout.

In a letter dated Sept. 7 from Phyllis Gilman, a volunteer for the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana Gold Award Team, the 18-year-old Seymour resident learned her final report was approved.

Casner will receive a Gold Award pin to add to her Girl Scout uniform and a letter of congratulations from Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana CEO Maggie Elder.

Plus, her name will go on the list of Gold Award Girl Scouts to be recognized in the spring of 2025 at the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana annual meeting, and she will be invited to ceremonies to honor Gold Award Girl Scouts.

The award is Girls Scouts of the USA’s highest and most prestigious honor.

Recipients use everything they’ve learned as a member of the organization to help fix a problem in their community or make a lasting change in their world.

A Girl Scout learns everything she can about an issue through research and trusted sources, forms a team by identifying experts and people in her community who could help her and makes a plan of how they could tackle the issue.

Once the project proposal is submitted to the local council for approval, the Girl Scout leads her team and carries out her plan.

When the project is done and reviewed and approved by the council, the Girl Scout is presented the Gold Award.

Casner’s project was creating a pet memorial garden outside the Humane Society of Jackson County in Seymour.

On Labor Day, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was conducted for the new garden.

“Today, we gather to honor this beautiful space here dedicated to the cherished memories of our beloved pets and prospective new furry friends that live just beyond these walls and also are available to adopt,” Casner said. “This garden stands as a testament to the unconditional love and the joy that they brought into our lives each and every day.”

Casner received donations of shrubs, plants, flowers, rock, buckets, a sign, bricks, benches, concrete statues and money from businesses and individuals. The garden also includes solar lights, a birdbath and a rainbow bridge.

Ellen Mirer, a volunteer with the Humane Society, was her advisor for the project.

“I owe a heartfelt ‘Thank you’ to everyone who contributed to bringing my vision to life,” Casner said. “Your support and dedication have created a solace pet memorial garden, where closure and healing can now begin.”

Before Casner spoke, Jackson Superior Court I Judge AmyMarie Travis read an honorary court order and judgment.

“The award acknowledges each recipient’s power and dedication not only to bettering herself but to making the world a better place for others,” Travis said. “The young women who earn the Gold Award are courageous leaders and visionary change makers that come directly from the Girl Scouts.”

Travis adjudged Casner a courageous leader and visionary change maker for Jackson County.

“Macy Casner examined her world, identified a need, researched the need, created a plan to address the need, made a proposal (and) organized the personnel and resources necessary to make her vision a reality,” Travis said. “I as a Girl Scout never went to that level. Congratulations! I’m so proud of you.”

Missy Casner, Macy’s mother and leader of Troop 1239, said only 5% of girls who start Girl Scouts receive the Gold Award.

“I want to thank all of you guys for all of the help with buying cookies and Girl Scout products that my troop had for 12 years,” Missy said. “At the end of this month, it will be 12 years that we’ve done this.”

Missy encouraged people to order an engraved brick to support the Humane Society, a private nonprofit animal welfare organization that provides short-term shelter care for animals, lost and found services, adoptions and advice regarding animal health and behavior.

The cost is $50 for a 4-by-8-inch brick or $100 for an 8-by-8-inch brick. Bring cash or mail a check to Humane Society of Jackson County, 1109 G Ave. West, P.O. Box 135, Seymour, IN 47274.

There already are some bricks along one side of the garden, and others will be added along the perimeter.

Macy has supported the organization since she was 6, giving a portion of her birthday money on an annual basis until she was 16. Troop 1239 helped the Humane Society over the years, too.

Macy also earned the Girl Scout Silver Award during her tenure.

The 2024 Seymour High School graduate is now studying robotic engineering and meteorology at Purdue University.