Emma Roper of Girl Scout Troop 2023 in Burke County has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for a community service project created to support residents at the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center.
Roper, a Girl Scout Ambassador, partnered with the center’s therapeutic staff on “Healing Hooves Memorial,” a project designed to help residents process grief and remember therapy horses that have died.
“When a beloved horse passed away, there was no dedicated space for residents to process their grief, honor their memories or find solace in a peaceful environment,” said Roper, a Girl Scout of 13 years. “The absence of such a space made it difficult for residents — many of whom have cognitive or developmental disabilities — to navigate feelings of loss and emotional transition.”
Roper designed and built a permanent outdoor memorial garden at the center’s equestrian facility. The space includes a hand-painted mural, planter boxes, and a seating area where residents, staff, and volunteers can reflect and remember the therapy horses that touched their lives.
She also created resources on grief processing and the human-animal bond, along with a care guide and maintenance checklists intended to help keep the memorial sustainable and accessible.
Girls in high school can earn the Girl Scout Gold Award by creating sustainable change around a community or global issue. Each Girl Scout must spend at least 80 hours planning and carrying out a project designed to have a long-term impact.
“I chose this project because of my passion for animals, my commitment to community building and my empathy for individuals with disabilities,” Roper said. “Horses have always been a significant part of my life, and I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that equine-assisted therapy can have on emotional well-being.”
The Gold Award, first known as the Golden Eaglet, dates to 1916. In 2025, 30 Girl Scouts from the Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont council earned the award.
Gold Award projects completed by girls in the council have included community gardens, foster care initiatives, anti-bullying efforts, and other community service projects.
For more information about local Girl Scouting and the Girl Scout Gold Award, visit girlscoutsp2p.org.
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