Wellington Teen Wins $2,000 for Breast Cancer Awareness

Addison White spent 260 hours volunteering in high school, but it was her courage to talk about breast cancer with teenage girls that earned her two scholarships totaling $2,000.

The recent Wellington High School graduate received recognition from Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida during their 2026 Gold Awards ceremony. She won the $1,500 Barbara Ann Turner "Service from the Heart" Scholarship and a $500 honorable mention from MotivEight, an organization focused on empowering authentic leaders.

White earned her Girl Scout Gold Award for a project called "taBOOB," which tackles a topic most teens avoid: breast health. She created educational programs to teach young women about early detection because breast cancer is actually the most common cancer among females ages 15 to 39, and it's often more aggressive in younger women than older ones.

Her 13 years as a Girl Scout prepared her well. White mentored underclassmen through her school's DECA chapter, organized a toy drive for Rosenwald Elementary School in South Bay, and supported the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League and Boca Helping Hands.

The timing couldn't be better. White recently graduated with both her high school diploma and an associate's degree from Palm Beach State College. She's heading to the University of South Florida in Tampa on a three-year track to become a nurse, with dreams of eventually earning a master's degree.

The Ripple Effect

White's breast cancer awareness project resonated far beyond her Girl Scout troop. When Shonette Paisley from MotivEight reviewed White's scholarship essay, she immediately shared it with her colleagues because so many women in their circles were battling or surviving breast cancer.

The Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida has now awarded scholarships to 57 young women since the program started in 2008. That's 57 future nurses, teachers, and leaders who got a financial boost to chase their dreams.

White says the scholarship money means she can focus fully on her studies instead of worrying about textbook costs. "This scholarship will aid in my ability to continue taking on leadership roles to grow academically and professionally," she said.

One teenager's willingness to start uncomfortable conversations about breast health is now saving lives and inspiring scholarship organizations to support her next chapter.