Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles recently announced 2022 Claremont High School graduate Haylee Hewton earned the Gold Award, scouting’s highest honor, for her project “Female representation in children’s literature,” which aimed to address the “issue of children’s books not showing accurate or diverse depictions of all that women are capable of and can achieve,” read a news release.

Hewton recognized early on that children learn gender expectations partly from books, which typically give female characters a limited range of careers, the release read. She took it upon herself to write a children’s book, “I Will Do My Best: A Girl Scout Book for Everybody,” showcasing relatable females succeeding in male-dominated industries. To align with the Girl Scout mission, she included the Girl Scout Law as an essential element in her book.

“The little girls in my book demonstrate the leadership qualities described in the Girl Scout Law, are a diverse group inspired by the girls of my Girl Scout troop in Claremont, CA, and are meant to inspire readers to dream big and accomplish their goals,” the awardee wrote in a statement.

Once published, Hewton presented her book to two classrooms of first graders, led two public readings and donated 10 copies to the Chaparral Elementary School Library. To learn more, visit girlscoutsla.org/goldaward or issuu.com/girlscoutsofgreaterlosangeles.