Girl scouts win grant to help diversity organization

IU Campus Girl Scout Troop and the Girl Scouts of Tulip Trace Council received a grant from MetLife for $10,000 last week to start an interest group targeting mainly Hispanic minorities. Out of 112 councils that applied, they were one of the 13 nationally that received a grant. IU Campus Girl Scout Troop is an organization that provides college-aged women with an opportunity to continue their Girl Scout careers.\n"I was amazed, its quite an honor," Susan Sullivan said, the adult advisor of the student organization. "Now we face a big challenge and need all the support to reach out."\nSophomore Jessica Jenkins, one of the grant writers, explains how the process started with MetLife giving money to the Girl Scouts USA National Organization.\n"There are about 300-500 councils nationally, but only 112 applied," Jenkins said. "MetLife's main objective was to award councils who launched out new initiatives in starting new projects for minority groups."\nJenkins proposed the grant along with director of programs of Tulip Trace Council, Terry Tock, to organize a college mentoring program targeting older girls ages 15-17. This program would help girls find a college after high school, discover a major of interest, how to seek financial aid and answer any college-related questions.\n"We want to reach out to the Hispanic society and give the girls opportunities to travel places and get internships," Jenkins said.\nJenkins and Tock asked for the maximum amount of $10,000 and received that amount from the Girl Scout USA National Organization. Now they have many resources in which to use the grant money.\nJenkins said the money will be used for targeting the Hispanic minority group. Planning events and panels, getting contacts, establishing career development centers and just getting involved in the community will help provide in the Hispanic society.\n"Getting this grant moves us in a new category," Sullivan said. "We need a lot of enthusiastic and energized people to help and support us."\nThus far, the IU Campus Girl Scouts have received numerous supports from different organizations. La Casa and Latina sororities have volunteered their services to start the College Mentoring Program for Hispanic minorities. Sigma Lambda Gamma, one of the Latina sororities, has assisted in providing contacts for the panels and participating in Girl Scout events.\n"Our sorority supports any kind of women for the most part," president and junior Iris Insurriaga said. "We want to help out in the community especially in education and beyond. \nIU Campus Girl Scout Troops are in hopes of presenting their new initiatives and timeline second semester. Currently with 12 members, the student organization is accepting new members. To become a new member, qualifications include being an IU student volunteer who has had previous past experiences in Girl Scouts, but many new members are new to the organization. The student does not necessarily have to be a girl.\n"Girl Scouts have always had the public image of little brownie or goodie goodie girls," Jenkins said. "We want those girls after 18 to stay in girl scouts and show them that there is totally something different waiting for them after high school"