For Ypsilanti native Danielle Kanclerz, organizing a 5k event at Gallup Park to benefit C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital was more than a charity project. It was a chance to help her community while doing what she loves.

And she’s only 17.

“It was really great that I was able to combine all of my interests, running, reading, and Girl Scouting into one to actually help people,” said Kanclerz, who recently received a Girl Scout Gold Award for her work on the event. “Because it’s not often you are able to put everything you like to do together.”

Kanclerz and five other young women were awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award at a ceremony at the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center on May 16.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is only earned by three percent of young women, ages 14-18, across the country. The young women were required to develop a 65-hour service project within each of their respective communities, put the project into action through their leadership skills, and then be able to reflect upon how the program benefitted their community.

Kanclerz collected books for the Giving Library at the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital as the admission charge to the 5k. Her project donated more than 500 new books to the Library with 100 gently used books also donated to the Salvation Army. Kanclerz attends Washtenaw Technical Middle College.

The other winners were:

Sarah Betzig, 18, of Father Gabriel Richard High School, who organized a math and science workshop for upper-elementary children. The four-hour workshop engaged children with slime, logic puzzle, and math games. “The Gold Award has been the culmination of my girl scout experience,” Betzig said. “I’ve just met a lot of good people and I think the Gold Award has improved my leadership skills.” Emily Knafl, 18, of WTMC, who described winning the award as “the big finale for me in girl scouting.” Knafl created a dog therapy program at the Chelsea Retirement Community. Three dogs and their teams visited the residents.

The interaction with the dogs not only significantly impacted the resident’s day but also helped Alzheimer’s patients whom don’t usually speak, speak and interact with the dogs. “It’s kind of a big deal to finish it and a great honor to receive the award because there are so few girls that make it that far. It means a lot,” Knafl said.

Anna Leonard, 18, of Whitmore Lake High School, who developed a program to interview and transcribe the personal histories of 20 individuals at the Dexter Senior Center. After that, Leonard constructed a scrapbook with photos of each individual and a story. The scrapbook is on display at the senior center where the community can learn about its elderly residents. Teresa Madlo, 18, of WTMC, who developed a three-day workshop to help younger girls find ways to develop in their religious faith. She worked with the recognitions program of the Diocese of Lansing titled “I live my faith,” for girls of upper elementary school age.

During the workshop, the girls made cards for the ill and elderly community members. “It seemed that not a lot of girls went through the time and effort to earn the awards or they didn’t know about the awards or for some reason they just never really got involved. I think it’s really important of regardless of whether or not you earn the awards, you should do something similar,” Madlo said.

Dana DiMaggio, 18, of Saline High School, who built a program to teach responsibility through the care of pets. In six different sessions, the children learned fundamentals of fish keeping including water chemistry and proper feeding. DiMaggio then held a pet expo at the Saline United Methodist Church.

Anna Fuqua Smith is a summer intern for AnnArbor.com’s Community Team. Contact community@annarbor.com.