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Butte College Concurrent Enrollment Student Earns Top Scouting Award

Inspired by her philosophy class at Butte College, Nakyla Stolp set out to create and implement logic and critical thinking curriculum for elementary school-aged children. Her project earned her the Girls Scouts’ Gold Award, the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting. To win the Gold Award, a scout must use everything they've learned as a Girl Scout to help fix a problem in their community or make a lasting change in their world.

Stolp enrolled in Dan Barnett's Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking during her junior year of high school. She said the college-level class made her realize that children are exposed to fallacious arguments online long before they are taught the skills necessary to critically assess them. She decided to make this the basis for her final project as a Girl Scout. Stolp selected Barnett as her advisor on the project. With his help, she researched age appropriate philosophy curriculum and began crafting a lesson plan. She hosted several fundraisers, including yard sales and cookie sales, to purchase the materials necessary to teach the course. Stolp partnered with the YMCA in Oroville and trained their staff to implement her curriculum.

"I got to sit in and supervise as their staff taught the class," Stolp said. "I measured the effectiveness of the course by conducting assessments before and after. Watching firsthand how the kids responded to the curriculum will help me refine and improve future curriculum." After completing the project, Stolp donated the instructional materials and supplies to Poplar Elementary School in Oroville so that they may continue to teach the course.

Stolp said she always hoped to earn her Gold Award and explained that few scouts even attempt to earn the award because of all the work that goes into it. She is appreciative of Mr. Barnett and the rest of her team for helping her achieve it. Stolp, along with other Gold Award winners, will be honored at an award Ceremony hosted by the Girls Scouts this spring.

"Do you want to know what warms the heart of a Philosophy instructor?" Barnett asked. "This does."

Aside from inspiring her Gold Award project, taking classes at Butte College while in high school has allowed her to complete high school early. Stolp will graduate from Durham High School this spring after attending for three years. She plans to attend a four-year college but said all of her Butte College credits will transfer to the UC of her choice. 

"Butte College has helped me achieve many of my goals," said Stolp. "I'm very fortunate for the opportunities I've had here."