When most people think of Girl Scouts, they likely think of "cookies and camping"-all important components of the Girl Scout experience, of course! But arguably the most impactful part of Girl Scouting is earning the Girl Scout Gold Award.
This year marks 100 years of the Girl Scout Gold Award and while the name for the highest award in Girl Scouts has changed over the past century, the purpose has remained the same: to positively impact their community and world. Over the course of the last century, millions of Girl Scout alumnae have positively impacted their communities and the world with their creative, impactful, and sustainable "Take Action" projects.
This prestigious award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and challenges girls ages 14-17 to initiate meaningful, sustainable change locally, nationally, and/or globally through unique "Take Action" projects of their own creation.
The following young women will be receiving the prestigious Gold Award from Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming (GSMW) for their projects completed in the past year.
Lyndon Bare - Sheridan, WY
Leann Burton - Sheridan, WY
Madison Eubanks - Bozeman, MT
Madilyn Kriskovich -- Hobson , MT
Meghan Macwhorter - Bozeman, MT
Brianne Malchow - Shepherd, MT
Jordan McCloney - Missoula, MT
Elizabeth Merritt -- Shepherd , MT
Teresa Patten - Helena, MT
Rebecca Rutledge -- Great Falls, MT
Tianna Thurston - Clancy, MT
Robyn Ziler-Sheridan, WY
The Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming will be honoring these young woman as well as Silver and Bronze Awards recipients on Friday, June 24th at 3:30 at the Montana State Capitol.
Our research confirms the lifetime benefits for girls of earning the Gold Award and the impact it has on their lives. According to The Power of the Girl Scout Gold Award: Excellence in Leadership and Life, a report by the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI), girls who earn the Gold Award display more positive life outcomes than non-Girl Scout alumnae. These outcomes pertain to positive sense of self, life satisfaction, leadership, life success, community service, and civic engagement.
The GSRI report also highlights those who have earned Girl Scouts' highest award feel they have had success in their lives (95 percent), their education (94 percent), their careers (92 percent), and their financial life (78 percent) because of the unique and powerful experiences they had access to through Girl Scouting.
And it's not just Girl Scouts who understand the value of the Gold Award. Many universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to award recipients, and girls who enlist in the U.S. armed forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.
Earning the Gold Award is just one of the amazing things girls can do as part of Girl Scouts. To join Girl Scouts or learn more about volunteering, please visit: www.girlscouts.org/joinhttp://www.girlscouts.org/join.asp?tab=j&utm_campaign=ICantWaitTo&utm_medium=PR&utm_source=smt>.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each recipient's dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. They are our future, and it looks bright!