American Heritage Girl, Amanda Abbott, Earns 2022 Spirit Alive and Pillars of Faith Catholic Religious Awards

Amanda Abbott, an American Heritage Girl, Patriot Level Trailblazer, and Rehoboth, MA resident, was the 2022 recipient of both the Spirit Alive and Pillars of Faith Catholic religious awards. The Spirit Alive Award is designed for Catholic high school-aged students at the senior level of American Heritage Girls, Boy Scouts, or Girl Scouts. The program journey assists the candidate in discovering how the Holy Spirit moves within her life, calling her to greater participation in the ministry of the Church. The Pillars of Faith Award recognizes senior level candidates that have earned all four National Catholic Religious Scouting Awards in the program while participating in their scouting program, including Family of God, I Live My Faith, Mary The First Disciple, and Spirit Alive. The Pillars of Faith award represents the depth of her commitment to exploring her faith and her service to God.
 

The medals were awarded at a Mass presided over by the Most Reverend Bishop Thomas J. Tobin at the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul in Providence, RI on March 13, 2022. Abbott is a communicant of Ss. Rose & Clement Parish in Warwick, RI, and a sophomore at St. Mary-Bay View Academy in Riverside, Rhode Island.
For the project element of the Spirit Alive award, Amanda volunteered at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in its Seamanship Sailing Program during the summer of 2021 for six weeks as an Instructor-In-Training. Amanda worked with 5-12 year-olds teaching them how to sail 12.5-foot sailboats. When the weather failed to cooperate, the group was able to focus on knot tying and game-playing designed to build camaraderie. Her project allowed her to focus on fundamental needs and values of love; education; sports; self-respect; time outside; fun time with friends; and the right to be a member of a group or organization. Her project encompassed the Catholic social teaching themes of call to family, community, participation; rights and responsibilities; and solidarity. Abbott assisted the children in gaining knowledge of a sport and developing a sense of community while ensuring fun. As youngsters learned the skills of sailing, they developed self-confidence and self-respect. Amanda enjoyed watching the children learn and gain confidence and independence in the sport. Abbott found that it was very fulfilling for her skills to be used to help others.

American Heritage Girls is a Christ-centered character and leadership development program for girls 5 to 18 years of age. AHG is dedicated to the mission of building women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country. www.americanheritagegirls.org