Diahna Stubbs ’28 Earns Girl Scout Gold Award for Water Conservation Project

Diahna Stubbs ’28 has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest and most prestigious achievement in Girl Scouts of the USA. The award recognizes Girl Scouts who demonstrate exceptional leadership by identifying a significant issue in their communities and developing a sustainable solution through a rigorous “Take Action” project requiring at least 80 hours of work.

For Diahna, that issue was water conservation.

Her Gold Award project, “Water Works,” grew out of a simple observation at her church, The Church of St. Andrew and St. Monica: There was an opportunity to reduce the number of single-use plastic water bottles used by members of the congregation and the broader community.

Diahna partnered with the church to create a portable water filtration system that provides free filtered water to community members. Rather than purchasing bottled water, people can bring their own reusable bottles to the church and fill them for free—reducing plastic waste while also helping families save money. As part of the project, Diahna distributed reusable water bottles featuring the “Water Works” logo, designed by her classmate and fellow Girl Scout troop member Gabrielle Bradley ’28.

The church fully funded the filtration system, while a Girl Scout grant helped Diahna purchase the custom reusable bottles.

Diahna also used the church’s food distribution program, which serves approximately 200 people each week, as an opportunity to share information about water conservation and promote the project. Recognizing the diversity of the surrounding community, she translated her promotional materials into Chinese to ensure that members of the area’s large Asian community could learn about and participate in the initiative.

The impact of Diahna’s project extended beyond her church. At the recommendation of the Girl Scouts, she entered “Water Works” in the MyImpact Challenge, a national competition sponsored by the Bill of Rights Institute that recognizes students for service, volunteerism, and entrepreneurship in their communities. Diahna earned fourth place and a $500 prize. She was also recognized for her achievement at the National Girl Scout Convention in Washington, D.C., in July.

Reflecting on her experience, Diahna said, “Earning my Gold Award taught me leadership, delegation, and patience. It was not an easy task, but I’m proud that I didn’t give up and pushed myself to finish what I started. Receiving the Gold Award means a lot to me because it showed me that hard work pays off and that I can turn an idea into something that makes a real difference in my community.”

Diahna has been a Girl Scout for 10 years and has earned numerous accolades and leadership appointments along the way. From 2020 to 2026, she was the top cookie seller in the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Council and throughout the Philadelphia region, spanning nine counties and more than 25,000 sellers.

Through “Water Works,” Diahna has put her leadership into action, turning an idea into a project with a tangible and lasting impact on her community. Her commitment to service, initiative, and making a difference reflects the spirit of a Merion Mercy education—and gives us another reason to be proud of this remarkable Merion girl.