(Photo provided) As part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Bridget Zoeckler created an ADHD awareness website, https://adhdgs.crd.co/, as an online resource designed to increase understanding of ADHD and connect visitors with educational resources and support. Zoeckler spent nearly two years researching and developing the website.

BETHLEHEM – An Ohio County Girl Scout won $5,000 for her two years of work to conduct research and create a comprehensive website about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, https://adhdgs.crd.co/.

Bridget Zoeckler of Bethlehem recently received a $5,000 Gold Award Scholarship from Girl Scouts of the USA in recognition of her Gold Award project, an ADHD awareness website.

Zoeckler spent two years researching the subject and then creating the website aimed at providing clear, accurate information about the condition.

She is the daughter of Margaret and Keith Zoeckler and sister to Luke Zoeckler.

“My goal was to create a resource that helps people better understand ADHD and provides accurate information,” Zoeckler said. “Whether someone has ADHD, knows someone who does or simply wants to learn more, I wanted this (website) to be a place where they could find information and support.”

The site also includes resources to help individuals, families and educators.

“Bridget’s project exemplifies the purpose and power of the Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Beth Casey, CEO of Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council. “She identified a need, developed a solution and created a resource that will continue serving others for years to come. Her leadership and commitment to helping others make her incredibly deserving of this national recognition.”

The site has already had more than 100 visits and is being used by Wheeling Park High School’s counselors.

Margaret Zoeckler said she is proud of her daughter and her accomplishments.

“She is a very determined young woman. She plans to double major in mathematics and English with the goal of attending law school and eventually practicing intellectual property law,” she said. “She graduated from Wheeling Park High School cum laude with a 4.53 GPA all while working part time, doing speech and debate, Girl Scouts and more. We are proud of her and her brother’s accomplishments.”

Luke Zoeckler received his Eagle Scout award last year after creating three custom-made shelving units for Wheeling Central Catholic High School’s music room closet.

On her website, Zoeckler explained in detail why she decided to create the online ADHD resource.

“When I was in middle school, COVID-19 hit, and everyone was in quarantine,” she wrote. “During quarantine, my grades fell markedly in a short period of time. I went from being a straight-A student who was always on top of things to a student who could barely get work turned in at all, nevermind on time,” she said. “I considered the possibility of having ADHD to help explain the reason for my drastic fall from grace; however, most of my teachers believed firmly that I did not possess the symptoms of ADHD.”

Zoeckler decided to take a diagnostic test anyway, and the results came back with her having a 99.9% chance of having ADHD. She believes that her teachers didn’t fully understand the disorder, especially how it presents itself in girls as compared to boys. She also realized just how limited education was regarding ADHD.

“As such, when I was brainstorming what to do my Girl Scout Gold Award project on, the answer became clear to me,” she wrote. “I needed to provide a website with resources for individuals seeking answers about what ADHD is, what the symptoms are, how to get diagnosed, what treatment options there are, and tips for managing ADHD on a daily basis.

Zoeckler’s website contains basic information on ADHD and she believes spreading awareness about the simpler aspects of the disorder is an “essential first task.” The website will allow for building upon those foundations to offer a more complex understanding of ADHD.

“Overall, I hope this project will help to be a stepping stone to advance public awareness, recognition, and understanding of ADHD and make life better for everyone,” she wrote.

This Gold Award Scholarship is the most prestigious a Girl Scout can receive from national organization. Requirements include finding an issue that needs to be addressed in her community, taking action to research and implement the project, having a local and/or global link and having a sustainable impact. Each Girl Scout expends at least 80 hours on her project.