Cherice in her Girl Scout uniform.

The Girl Scout Legacy of Cherice
A Mother's Reflection
Celebrating Black History Month

By Jennifer Gioia and Melinda Howard Flores

"She was the epitome of excellence and everything she aspired to be, she achieved it," Claudette Cochrane said of her daughter, Girl Scout Gold Award recipient Cherice. Tragically, Cherice passed away due to meningitis when she was a sophomore in college.

The STUDIO 2B Team asked Claudette to share Cherice's Girl Scout leadership experience with other girls.

An Inspiration to Others

"She saw her ability to be a leader as a means for motivating and inspiring others to achieve success," Claudette said. "Girl Scouting built the confidence in her to pursue positions of leadership and authority in other areas."

A Girl Scout for ten years, Cherice earned both the Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards. She was a Council Delegate, a Leader-In Training, and a Board Member of the Girl Scout Council of the San Antonio Area.

For her Gold Award project, called "Safe at Home," Cherice educated latchkey children about home safety precautions and correct responses to emergency situations.

Combining Skill and Compassion

Through Girl Scouts, Cherice toured Italy, Paris, Germany and Belgium. She dreamed of opening a free children's clinic in Brazil, combining her skill in Portuguese/Spanish and her compassion to help others.

Cherice planned to graduate with honors from Tulane University. She wanted to go to medical school and pursue a career as a pediatric surgeon.

Cherice's Legacy

"The hardest thing about success is that you have to keep being a success. Some people dream of success, while others wake up, create a plan, seek a mentor and work hard at it," Cherice once said.

As a special tribute to Cherice and to continue her legacy, The Girl Scout Council of San Antonio created a Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship. Cherice's mother, Claudette, also created the Cherice Cochrane Mentoring for Success Foundation.