From left: Tenth-grader Annabelle Holmes with Superintendent Lois Costa at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Hampton School District) 
The volunteers with their certificates of appreciation at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Hampton School District) 
Winnacunnet High School 10th-grader Annabelle Holmes raised $4,200 to install a softball shed at Hampton Academy as part of her Girl Scout Gold Project. (Photo Courtesy Hampton School District) 
Plaques on the shed recognizing Annabelle Holmes’ Girl Scout Gold and Silver Award projects. (Photo Courtesy Hampton School District)
HAMPTON — SAU 90 Superintendent Dr. Lois Costa is pleased to share that Winnacunnet High School 10th-grader Annabelle Holmes raised $4,200 to install a softball shed at Hampton Academy as part of her Girl Scout Gold Project.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is a highly sought-after designation, which is achieved when students use the skills and knowledge that they have learned as a Girl Scout to solve a problem in their community. The Gold Award is awarded to fewer than 6 percent of Girl Scouts annually.
Holmes, who has been a Girl Scout in Troop #22475 since first grade, was inspired to install a shed when she discovered that the old shed at Hampton Academy was torn down during a renovation in 2018. This left little space for storage or protection for sports and maintenance equipment at the Hampton Academy Softball Field.
Holmes established a pet-sitting business with her mother Caroline Holmes called “Seacoast Wags to Whiskas,” which raised $3,200 of the total $4,200. Holmes raised the remainder from a car wash held by her troop at the Irving gas station in North Hampton, and a donation from her troop.
Holmes researched shed options, and after consulting with Andy Carberry of Middleton/LaValley Building Supply, decided that a prefabricated shed would be the most feasible and economical option. The company generously offered to supply the shed at a significant discount, which allowed Holmes to purchase supplies for the installation.
Holmes installed the shed and completed the necessary groundwork with the help of her Girl Scout Project Advisor Dave Hoyt, her dad Steve Holmes, and a number of volunteers.
The new shed was unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, Aug. 29. Holmes gave a speech thanking all who helped her throughout this project, and she handed out certificates of appreciation to each volunteer.
Holmes has played softball since she was in second grade and noted that this partly inspired her project.
Holmes has attended Centre School, Marston School, and Hampton Academy. She originally began the shed project when she was an eighth grader at Hampton Academy. She earned her Girl Scout Silver Award for her work developing the plan to build the shed.
“All three schools have always supported me and the local Girl Scout community in so many ways,” Holmes said. “By providing this softball shed to Hampton Academy and the local Recreation program, I feel I am not only filling a need involving a sport I am passionate about, but am also giving a little back to the community that has always supported me and has helped my family.”
Additionally, Holmes achieved her Girl Scout Bronze by raising awareness about epilepsy at Marston School.
“Annabelle has been a dedicated and hard-working Girl Scout for many years, and is so deserving of this award,” Superintendent Costa said. “Congratulations to her and thank you to everyone who helped make her vision a reality to benefit the students of Hampton.”
Holmes and SAU 90 thank everyone involved in the project, including the Girl Scouts, Troop #22457 Leader Brandy Hardiman, Middleton/LaValley Building Supply for the shed, North Hampton Irving for providing a space for the car wash, and all of the other volunteers.
The Girl Scout Counsel will review Holmes’ installation project and issue the Gold Award accordingly.
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