Cibola High School Student Transforms Sensory Room, Earns Girl Scout Gold Award
August 06, 2025
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – August 6, 2025 – Cora Mandell, a senior at Cibola High School, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award for her project, "Sensory Sanctuary: Cultivating Calm for Student Success." Mandell revitalized a long-neglected sensory room at Cibola High, providing a vital resource for students in the Intensive Global Support (IGS) program.
The lack of a sensory room posed a significant challenge for IGS students who often experience sensory overload. "Without a functional sensory room, many struggled to self-regulate, making it harder to learn in school," Mandell explained. Her project transformed a previously cluttered storage space into a functional and calming environment.
"The most measurable impact of my project was how quickly and frequently students began using the room after it opened," Mandell said. "Teachers noticed a drop in classroom disruptions and said students returned from the room more calm and ready to learn."
Mandell collaborated with various groups, including her school and church communities, to bring her vision to life. Weems Hazen Law Firm also provided a significant gift-in-kind to support the project.
"Leading this project helped me realize how passionate I am about making schools more supportive and inclusive for all students," Mandell stated.
For those interested in creating similar supportive environments, Mandell has developed a website detailing how to build a sensory-friendly space: https://sites.google.com/view/sensorysanctuary/home?authuser=0.
Mandell is currently entering her senior year at Cibola High School. She plans to join the GSNMT Camp Staff next summer before pursuing a college degree to become a forest ranger.
