Madison Yoshiko Mendoza, an Ambassador in Girl Scout Troop 5325 which meets at the Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, had the honor of participating in the Tournament of Roses Parade Troop on Jan. 1, 2024.Â
Girls selected to be in the troop must have their Gold Award (the highest award in Girl Scouting) and complete an application. The Tournament Troop carries the banners announcing the awards for various floats on New Year's Day at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.Â
Mendoza, an 11th-grader, was selected after earning her Gold Award by founding the Asian Culture Appreciation Club and organizing an Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) assembly at her high school, WISH Academy in Los Angeles.
She also helped to create the first AAPI festival at WISH Charter Middle School in Los Angeles.