DAYTON — Girl Scouts from the Dayton area received their Gold Award at a special ceremony at the Ponitz Center at Sinclair Community College on March 5.
They join over a century of Girl Scout alumnae who have positively impacted their communities and the world with their creative, impactful, and sustainable Take Action projects.
This year’s recipients and projects include: Joia Camille Allen, Dayton — Library Restoration; Rachel Collins, Beavercreek — Self Defense; Nicole Gazzerro, Beavercreek — Feeding the Homeless; Danica Johnson, Dayton — A Yearning for Learning; Caitlin Justice, Fletcher — The Cover to Cover Program; Dana Koesters, Beavercreek — Books for our Future; Elizabeth Lundberg, Springfield — Make Springfield a “Champion” Again; Lauren Roush, Centerville — Bullying Prevention Awareness Campaign; Kaitlyn Scaggs, Springfield — Science Night at ECA; Brianna Taylor, Enon/Waterloo — Musical Theatre in a Day and Wynonna Wooddell, Troy — Changing Tomorrow Today.
“These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers,” said Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Chief Executive Officer Roni Luckenbill. “It’s truly amazing what these girls are able to accomplish at such a young age. They are our future, and it looks bright!”
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award that Girl Scouts in grades 9–12 can earn. Girls use their vision for change to complete a service project that reaches beyond the Girl Scout organization and provides lasting benefit to the larger community. To achieve it, girls commit a minimum of 80 hours to a specific project over the time span of one to two years. The project must include community involvement; an innovative approach; project sustainability; and educating and inspiring others.
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 with regard to positive sense of self, life satisfaction, leadership, life success, community service, and civic engagement.
It’s not only Girl Scouts who understand the value of the Gold Award. Some 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 you can do as a Girl Scout. Join Girl Scouts today or learn more about volunteering at www.gswo.org/join.
