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Marion Chester Read Award: Aleks
“Seeing young girls grow into confident leaders, witnessing firsthand the impact Girl Scouting has, and knowing it’s making a difference in the world…I can’t stop now.”
Serving as troop leader, a council delegate, a service unit leader, an outdoor skills facilitator, and a cookie captain, Aleks Skibicki has contributed roughly 400-500 hours per year over 14 years. Aleks coordinates monthly service unit meetings; hauls and sorts hundreds of Girl Scout Cookie pallets; organizes an annual winter Girl Scout camp; hosts appreciation dinners for volunteers and Girl Scouts; plans daddy/daughter dances; and hosts World Thinking Day and Mental Wellness activities, to name a few.
“My daughter, Evie, wanted to be a Girl Scout when she was in kindergarten. So, I’ve been her proud troop leader throughout all her years as a Girl Scout. She’s now a freshman at UW-Madison,” reflected Aleks. “Girl Scouting has been a great way to spend quality time with my daughter. Kids are so busy between sports, school, and extracurriculars, so it was nice to have dedicated time together to build memories. Seeing Evie and all the other great girls in the troop grow up throughout the years and develop into strong leaders—and to know I played a small part in their own journeys—has been incredibly humbling and rewarding.”
Aleks’ work has inspired Girl Scouts to believe that they can do anything and they can come up with creative ways to solve problems and make the world better. For example, when the troop noticed that they were the only girls in their engineering and higher science and math classes in high school, Aleks helped the Girl Scouts start a girl-led robotics/STEM team to encourage a safe, inclusive space where girls can thrive. What started as a team of six kids from one school has flourished into a team of 50 girls from 14 different schools across the state who participate in robotics competitions two to three times per year.
“These girls can do anything. Their energy and enthusiasm carry them to achieve great things,” said Aleks. “I’ve seen girls be willing to take risks, test themselves, raise their hands, share ideas—that’s the power of Girl Scouting. It unlocks something in girls and inspires them to be unstoppable.”
As Girl Scouts learn new skills and grow their perspectives, so has Aleks.
“As an adult, the girls have encouraged me to dream bigger and have opened my eyes to a lot of things in the world that can and should change,” reflected Aleks. “They’ve inspired me to challenge myself, to go for the ambitious goals and not just the ‘easy’ goals, and be stronger by working together.”
Even though his daughter is now an alum, they still share memories together in the program. They recently spent a weekend volunteering as co-leaders at the annual winter camp. “It was so special working with Evie now as an ‘equal’—as two adult volunteers and not just as a Girl Scout and her troop leader,” shared Aleks. “Seeing how much she has grown and making the time after a busy day leading activities to go on a nighttime hike together—the same one we’ve been doing since she was just five years old—I’ll never forget it.”
Aleks will receive the Marion Chester Read Award at GSWISE’s annual Celebration of Volunteer Achievement for his longstanding and far-reaching contributions as a volunteer. To receive this prestigious award, a volunteer must demonstrate noteworthy volunteerism, model the Girl Scout spirit, and share their talents to advance the mission.
“If only we could replicate him and his outstanding work as a volunteer who always gives 110%, the world would be a much better place,” remarked Pam Donegan, Volunteer Relations Specialist, and Wendy Dahl, Director of Product Program. “Aleks has infectious eagerness and brings a reliable, special energy to everything he does. He fully embraces everything about Girl Scouting and would do anything for the girls and the mission. He has been an invaluable resource to us and an incredible role model to the girls and volunteers.”
“Being a Girl Scout volunteer has been worth every second. To see hints of leadership in girls as young as kindergarteners, and to have a hand in fostering their growth, and then watching these young leaders turn around and give back to others—there’s literally no better feeling in the world. It’s been life changing,” said Aleks.
Dedicated volunteers like Aleks help Girl Scouts dream bigger and do better. By supporting Girl Scouts, you support girls and the volunteers who mentor and nurture today and tomorrow’s leaders.
