The Gold Award is the highest recognition for girl scouts

Staff report

MACEDONIA

The Girl Scouts of North East Ohio recently recognized 58 scouts who achieved the Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting.

Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer of Summit County Common Pleas Court, a Girl Scout alumna, was keynote speaker for the event at the John S. Knight Center in Akron.

“Although the Gold Award is the highest, most prestigious recognition a girl may earn in Girl Scouts, we know it is just the beginning of the amazing things these young ladies will accomplish in their lives,” said Jane Christyson, chief executive officer for Girl Scouts of North East Ohio. “Their projects have a lasting impact locally, nationally, and globally in environmental awareness, special needs populations, healthy living, community improvements and more.”

Since 1916, the Gold Award has stood for excellence and leadership. The Gold Award project challenges girls to identify a need not met or core issue in their community, research and investigate it, recruit volunteers and build a team to create a plan to address the issue or need.

The plan, called a Gold Award proposal, is submitted to council for approval by a committee of volunteers.

Only about 5 percent of eligible girls take the rigorous path toward earning this prestigious award, but those who complete the journey change the lives of others and their own in amazing and significant ways, Christyson said.

A national award with national standards, the Gold Award is earned individually and is independent of other awards. Girls must be in grades 9-12 to be eligible. All projects are approved by a volunteer Gold Award Review Committee.

An increasing number of colleges and universities have recognized the achievements and leadership abilities of Girl Scout Gold Award recipients by establishing scholarship programs for them.

Girls who have earned the Girl Scout Gold Award often enter the four branches of the United States Armed Services at an advanced level and salary, Girl Scout officials said.

GSNEO serves 40,000 girls and 14,000 adult volunteer members in an 18-county region including Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.