COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Girls Scouts are known for having confidence in themselves and their abilities, and Alexis Avera has that in spades: the confidence to speak, the confidence to sing, the confidence to paint, and the confidence to make the world a brighter place for others.
Avera, known by many as “Lexy,” had a vision to create a more beautiful surrounding for the residents of Valley West Care Center in Williams – and she used her artistic talent to achieve it.
Last week, Avera delivered paintings of the great outdoors to the residents who live in the nursing home. Her paintings of waterfalls, mountains, forests, and rivers will grace the walls of the entryway and rooms.
“They are always inside,” Avera said. “They don’t have a lot of freedom with where they are allowed to go. So, with my paintings, I tried to capture the idea of them still looking outside and getting a sense of peace and fulfillment from these paintings.”
Avera, who is a self-taught artist, funded the project herself. She also incorporated the Gold Award project into her requirement for graduation.
The 18-year-old Colusa High School graduate can now look back on 13 years in Troop No. 4134 and know she accomplished the highest rank and honor that can be reached in
Girls Scouts.
Avera was one of four kindergarteners that established the troop after more than 15 years without the program being offered in Colusa County, rising through all the levels.
In June, Avera was awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in the national organization.
Avera is the daughter of Christy and David Avera, of Colusa, and has been active in community service as a Girl Scout since she was five years old.
“I was always involved in doing stuff in Colusa and cities nearby,” Avera said. “And there was a lot of connecting with other Girl Scouts and making friendships with the girls who stayed in.”
Avera said being in Girls Scouts taught her the skills to be a good role model for other girls and gave her the confidence to pursue other activities and achieve academic success. Avera was a member of the Class of 2023’s prestigious Super Seven. She plans to attend Butte College in the fall, before transferring to a four-year university.
Avera will complete her second term as a Girl Scout Ambassador and representative to the Board of Directors for the Heart of Central California Girl Scouts on Sept. 30, when she officially ages out of the organization at the
highest level.
While Avera said she intends to pursue other goals in business, music, and art, she hopes young girls will continue to want to join the organization that gives back as much as the girls, who are a part of it, put in.
While all Girl Scouts benefit from being in the organization for any length of time, only 2 percent of scouts nationwide will receive the Gold Award, said Troop Leader Debbie Shantz.