The modern term “girlboss” is often used to describe women who are hard-working and ambitious. For Alana Mason, a 15-year-old student in the 10th grade at Wissahickon High School, the title is more than fitting.

Mason, of Blue Bell, is a member of Girl Scout Troop 9158, a local troop associated with Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cedarbrook. In the spring, she received the Gold Award, the highest possible achievement for a Girl Scout. Fewer than 5% of Girl Scouts nationwide receive this award. The achievement came after Mason’s year-long participation in the Calling All Girl Bosses program through the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (GSEP).

Mason started the Calling All Girl Bosses program in 2024. According to the GSEP website, this initiative calls girls in grades 6-12 to “discover their agency to make real sustainable changes in their neighborhoods.” Each participant takes part in 12 three-hour workshops to identify a community problem and take action to find a solution.

For Mason, who has been a Girl Scout for five years, inspiration struck while listening to the radio.

“[The radio] was talking about how someone was suing hair companies because the relaxers were cancerous,” Mason said in an interview with the Local. “I thought that was a very important topic and I wanted to expand on it.”

Over the course of the program, Mason spent time researching common chemicals found in pesticides, vapes, hair products, and other everyday items. As part of her project, entitled “Environmental Health Awareness for Teens,” Mason created travel-friendly pamphlets highlighting ingredients such as BPA and phthalates, explaining their risks, and describing how teens can identify them on product labels. These pamphlets were distributed to Wissahickon High School’s main office and used in the school’s health curriculum.

Mason then collaborated with science teachers to develop hands-on demonstrations to reinforce her educational content. Her workshops helped students better understand how their choices could impact their long-term health. Mason said these two-hour workshops were “nerve-wracking,” but she worked hard to keep her peers’ attention.

“I did different types of labs and games to make sure it was hands-on, fun, and interactive,” Mason said. “I tried to make sure it was very interesting and I got some feedback from the girls after the workshop.”

On May 17, Mason received her Gold Award at GirlzDay, an event hosted by GSEP at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. However, the celebration hadn’t ended yet. On Sept. 21, Mason was also honored at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church and spoke to the congregation about her project.

After months of hard work, Mason said it is nice to relax and focus on her busy school schedule. Before long, she will begin looking into future careers. Her interests mostly revolve around science, including biology and veterinary medicine.

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.