On Sept. 20, she received approval from the Gold Award committee in the Land of Lakes Girl Scout Council to begin her project. The Gold Award is the highest award achievable in Girl Scouts. Her project focuses on disability awareness. She worked with the school district and the Minnesota Council on Disabilities to have more handicap parking spaces designated at the high school and to have a handicap accessible bathroom installed at Nordland Lutheran Church.
The council states there should be one handicap parking space for every 25 parking spaces. The Paynesville Area School District now has six new handicap parking spots at the high school. Four were added to the front parking area and two by the tennis courts.
Once the project is completed, McCarney will be giving a presentation of her project at the Girl Scout annual meeting in April. McCarney is a member of Girl Scout Troop 195 with troop leader Betty Freilinger. Her Gold Award project advisor is Lou Louis. McCarney is the daughter of Kevan and Marcia McCarney, Paynesville.