I have dedicated over 800 hours towards community service throughout my 2.5 years in high
school. Inspired by my older brother with Cerebral Palsy, I took the initiative to increase inclusion,
awareness, and advocacy for people with disabilities through my Girl Scout Gold Award Project.
Growing up with a brother with Cerebral Palsy who cannot walk or speak has made me realize the
inequities in our community. Throughout my life, he has been my beacon of hope and my
motivation to do better. For this project, I collaborated with the Best Buddies Organization, “a
nonprofit organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates
opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and
inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities”.

For inclusion, I founded a Best Buddies Chapter at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, which
partners with Abraxas Transition High School. After high school, students in special education go
to transition schools where they learn life skills, yet many do not have the Best Buddies programs
established in their schools. Chapter members participate in activities for the students at Abraxas,
including making Halloween treat bags, personalized Christmas stockings, and Valentine bookmarks.
Easter eggs filled with chocolate and end-of-the-school-year treat bags. The Best Buddies Chapter
aims to increase awareness of disabilities, promote inclusion, and advocate for others while
establishing friendships. In the summer of 2024, I volunteered as a teacher’s aide. Inside the
classroom, I assisted them in writing sentences, helped them use communication devices during
speech class, and helped bake new recipes together. Outside the classroom, I have volunteered at
the prom. Helped with grocery shopping, and accompanied them while taking public transportation
to the local store. These experiences showed me that disabilities do not restrict these students from
living happy lives. They have friends, supportive teachers, and contagious smiles while working
in a welcoming community in which everyone is included for who they are.

To increase awareness, our chapter participates in Cerebral Palsy Walk and the Best Buddies
Friendship Walk with special education students where we gather as a community to show that
disabilities are not limitations. In addition, I trained as a California State Ambassador for the Best
Buddies Organization and speak on behalf of those with disabilities in the local and statewide
community. I am also the only high school member of the Best Buddies Advisory Board for San
Diego County. I was one of the 2023 Best Buddies Champions of the Year nominees in San Diego.
I competed in a fundraising campaign to spread the mission of Best Buddies where I learned the
value of teamwork and communication when achieving community participation. I also attended
the Best Buddies Leadership Conference at Indiana University in July of 2024 where I met other
advocates for inclusion while making connections with other chapter leaders.

To promote advocacy, I made a video, which showed the hardships that people with disabilities
experience when traveling in a commercial airline that is not wheelchair accessible. I also made a

letter and reached out to leaders in the community to call for change. I sent the letter and video to
Southwest Airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration, President Biden, Senator Tammy
Duckworth, Representative Scott Peters, the Today Show, Secretary of Transportation Pete
Buttigeig, the Department of Transportation, Vice President Harris, Senator Padilla, Senator
Butler, Representative Sarah Jacobs, Boeing, First Lady Jill Biden, and Anthony Shriver, the
president and founder of Best Buddies. I have received a few responses from government officials.
however, changes are yet to be implemented making a common mode of transportation more
challenging for people who might not be able to stand up for themselves. I also went to Washington
D.C. and advocated for wheelchair-accessible airplanes in front of the US Capitol.

From these efforts, I will continue to advocate and hope that one day these national leaders will
realize that all people should have access to all modes of transportation. I hope and believe that
one day all people, no matter their ability or disability, will be treated with compassion, friendship, and
equality.
Congratulations Frances, an award well deserved.
Please see the link below for a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1l0O-yAr-I