Becka Gately’s love of fitness inspired her to organize and promote a health and fitness night at Kent’s Panther Lake Elementary School.

The 17-year-old was recognized for her efforts with the Girl Scout Gold Award, the organization’s highest achievement, at the Gold Award Gala at the Tacoma Art Museum last month.

The Gold Award, open only to Girl Scouts in high school who have received their Bronze and Silver awards, challenges candidates to improve their communities.

Gately, who starts her senior year at Kentwood High School in the fall, has been involved in Girl Scouts since she was in kindergarten and completed her Bronze and Silver projects with her friends who were in her troop.

“I like to make an impact and like to lead, so I decided to pursue it,” Gately said of her decision to take on the Gold Award project.

At the time Gately began researching her project, her mom, Kelley Gately, worked at Panther Lake Elementary, and connected Gately with Coleen Schlichte, physical eduction teacher at Panther Lake. Schlichte had been interested in organizing a fitness night for the school, and Gately decided to help lead the project.

Gately said she knew she wanted her Gold Award project to involve helping kids and as a soccer player, she was interested in promoting fitness and healthy living, so organizing Panther Lake’s fitness night was a perfect fit.

Schlichte, who is a former Girl Scout and a troop leader, agreed to be Gately’s project adviser. Gately started planning the event in the fall of 2013. She worked with the Hope Heart Institute and Molina Healthcare to put on the fitness night in June 2014.

Gately recruited vendors and volunteers for the event, which featured more than 25 booths about nutrition, physical exercise and cardiovascular health. More than 400 students, families and community members attended.

Gately said she was pleased with the turnout.

“A couple of the booth vendors that had done other events said this was one of the best they had ever been at,” she said.

Gately said organizing the event taught her a lot about leadership.

“I can lead a group of members that aren’t necessarily younger than me but still get the respect from them that I need to be a successful leader,” she said.

Schlichte said Gately’s project will leave a lasting impact on Panther Lake Elementary. The school hosted its second fitness night this year and plans to make it an annual event.

Schlichte said Gately did a great job planning and executing the event.

“It is wonderful opportunity to find out what happens for real when you are planning an event this size this is a real life experience,” Schlichte said.

Receiving her Gold Award basically wraps up Gately’s Girl Scout career, but she said she might look into leading a troop after college.