“Project Princess:” A Crowning Achievement

     “Project Princess:” A Crowning Achievement
     Girl Scouts become princesses for the day at the Museum of Art
     
     Contact:
     Lori Ebinger Sullivan (954) 739-7660, ext. 219
     
     For Immediate Release: January 18, 2005
     
     OAKLAND PARK, FL – Hear ye, hear ye! On Tuesday, January 18, 6-year-old Brownie Girl Scout Isabel Salinas will be crowned as the winner of the Sun-Sentinel’s “Project Princess” contest. Salinas will share her one-of-a-kind prize “princess party” with her “court” of five other Brownies of Troop 547 at the Museum of Art.
     
     Sponsored by the Sun-Sentinel and the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale, “Project Princess” commemorates the North American debut of the “Diana: A Celebration” exhibit. Girl Scouts were invited to create a crown or tiara in honor of the late Princess with newsprint from the Sun-Sentinel as their key material. In addition, the girls were encouraged to enhance their crowns with their other favorite art supplies such as glitter, beads, rhinestones and stickers.
     
     Angie Salinas, with just two months as Troop Leader under her belt, brought this craft project to her new troop in December. “I found the project on the Girl Scouts’ web site, and it looked like a lot of fun for the girls,” Salinas said. “We shared the story of Princess Diana with the girls and dove right into making the crowns. We usually have a craft project at each troop meeting but we had to extend the meeting time for this one so each girl could make her own crown.”
     
     Salinas held another Troop meeting one week before the winners were announced. “The girls were on the edge of their seats,” she recalled. “But I never thought we would win.” And she wasn’t the only one. When Salinas told her daughter that she was the grand prize winner, Isabel was overwhelmed with delight. “She was jumping and yelling. She was so excited to go to the party with her friends…and be in the newspaper.”
     
     The “princess party” prize package includes a tea party at the Museum of Art for the entire troop with special guest, Melissa Witek, Miss Florida USA 2005. The girls will don their favorite princess apparel and be escorted on a tour of the “Diana: A Celebration” exhibition with their Leader and parents. Their winning crowns will be on display at the Las Olas Riverfront during February.
     
     “Project Princess” second place winner is 11-year old Rachel Cushanick from Troop 91 of Fort Lauderdale and third place winner is 8-year-old Melissa Ellett from Troop 1102 of Cooper City. Each girl received five tickets for the “Diana: A Celebration” exhibit and their crowns will also be displayed the Las Olas Riverfront.
     
     Girl Scouts of Broward County, Inc. serves more than 9,100 girls and 4,500 adult volunteers. For more information about the Girl Scouts, including information on registering your girl or becoming a Leader, call (954) 739-7660 ext. 200 or visit www.browardgirlscouts.org.
     
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