PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor Pulkit Desai and Council Vice President Diya Patel recognized three outstanding Girl Scout Gold Award recipients at the Township Council meeting of Tuesday, June 23, celebrating the remarkable community service projects each young woman completed to earn scouting’s highest honor.
Shrujana Praveen — Road Safety Awareness
Shrujana Praveen, a senior at Parsippany High School, earned her Gold Award by creating a road safety curriculum aimed at elementary school students across Parsippany. Her project was inspired by two powerful experiences — the death of an 8-year-old boy in town struck by a speeding car, and a patient she befriended while volunteering at a hospital who had been paralyzed in a speeding accident.
Praveen developed a kid-friendly educational video, a student reflection survey, and launched a petition to lower the speed limit on Littleton Road — a high-risk area for students and families. The petition gathered more than 800 signatures, and school districts across the area have committed to continuing to use her resources even after her graduation.
Residents can view her road safety awareness video at youtu.be/CJfhzflNo5A, complete the student survey at forms.gle/MmARD79qa6MpcoJY9, and sign her Littleton Road speed limit petition at change.org/MakeOurStreetsSafe.
Sanjana Medapati — Honoring Parsippany Veterans
Sanjana Medapati began her Girl Scout journey in 3rd grade and went on to earn her Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Now 18 and a 2025 graduate of The Academy for Mathematics, Science & Engineering, she currently attends Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida, where she is a sophomore majoring in Biology as part of the BS/MD Dual Admission Program.
Inspired by her brother, a recent graduate of the United States Military Academy and commissioned officer, Medapati set out to honor Parsippany’s veterans and inspire younger generations to appreciate those who have served. With the guidance of her mentor, Frank Cahill, she helped create a program that displays banners honoring local veterans throughout the community.
Currently there are 49 Veterans banners on display along North Beverwyck Road. For more information click here.
Lithra Sankari — TheHealthyQuest
Lithra Sankari founded TheHealthyQuest at age 16 with a mission to promote healthy habits among children through accessible health education. She developed and delivered workshops at local elementary schools, where she read from a children’s book she authored and engaged students with interactive activities and educational worksheets.
Sankari promoted the book through a dedicated website and donated more than 250 copies to healthcare facilities, libraries, and classrooms throughout the community. A 2025 graduate of Parsippany High School, she is currently a student at Rutgers University–New Brunswick Honors College, pursuing studies in Cell Biology & Neuroscience and Public Health.
Parsippany Focus previously covered Sankari’s project in 2025. She has also been recognized through the NJ Governor’s STEM Scholars Program and the Zonta Morristown Awards & Scholarships.
Parsippany Focus congratulates Shrujana Praveen, Sanjana Medapati, and Lithra Sankari on earning the Girl Scout Gold Award — the highest achievement in Girl Scouting — and thanks them for their extraordinary contributions to the Parsippany community.
