Go to Press Releases, Highest Awards, Press Release

Ximena Serna Earns Prestigious Gold Award for Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – March 31, 2025 – Ximena Serna, a dedicated student from La Cueva High School, has been awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, for her impactful project, “Beyond Borders.” Serna’s initiative directly addresses the critical issue of human trafficking in New Mexico, a state particularly vulnerable due to its geographical location and socioeconomic challenges.

Recognizing the $150 billion global industry of human trafficking and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, Serna focused her efforts on raising awareness and providing tangible support to at-risk individuals, especially teenagers.

“At the start of this project, I never thought of myself as a humanitarian kind of person because I am a tech person who likes physics and math, so human trafficking seemed outside of my aisle. It is a touchy, taboo topic which really drew me to it and now I can talk about it with confidence,” Serna said.

Her project, “Beyond Borders,” culminated in the creation of a comprehensive website, www.endhumantraffickinginnewmexico.com. Designed with accessible language, the site provides crucial information on the nature of human trafficking, its various forms, and the signs and symptoms to watch for.

“I know how to identify signs in a stranger and even a friend now. In situations with community members, I am able to connect resources, which has been very beneficial to not only know statistics but also cite sources for those points,” she explained.

In addition to the website, Serna collaborated with her school and two local churches to assemble and distribute 100 hygiene bags to homeless teens through the New Mexico Dream Center. These bags, containing essential items, serve as a protective measure against potential traffickers who often exploit the lack of basic necessities. Each bag also included informational pamphlets on human trafficking, empowering recipients to recognize and avoid dangerous situations.

“As a person, I care a lot more about the humanitarian side and how it has impacted people with less of a logical-mathematical side on this issue,” Serna stated.

Serna’s work will be sustained through the La Cueva High School Backyard Broadcast Club, which has committed to maintaining and updating the website and organizing an annual hygiene bag donation drive for the New Mexico Dream Center.

“We are incredibly proud of Ximena for achieving the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award,” said Elizabeth A. Garcia, GSNMT Gold Award Committee member. “Ximena is a trailblazer by taking action to address a real-life issue in her community and leading a team of people to success. In the process, she empowered others to join in the fight against human trafficking and created a lasting impact in her community and New Mexico. Ximena is an inspiring young leader, and we are excited to see what she will accomplish next.”

The Gold Award, earned by fewer than 6% of eligible Girl Scouts, recognizes girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and create sustainable change in their communities. Ximena Serna’s “Beyond Borders” project is a testament to her commitment to creating a safer New Mexico for all.

April 22, 2025