Three GSSI Girl Scouts were presented with college scholarships at All That Glitters Awards Ceremony on March 28 at Rend Lake Resort in Whittington. Each year, GSSI presents two scholarships to graduating Girl Scout Ambassadors who stand out in Girl Scouts, leadership, school and service to the community. The Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarships are funded from proceeds from the annual Brownie Haunted Camp program, which is planned, organized and conducted by older Girl Scouts. This year, GSSI staff was able to present an additional scholarship due to funds raised during the 2014 Staff Campaign. To receive an Outstanding Graduating Girl Scout Scholarships, girls must complete a detailed application with references. From these, a panel of staff and volunteers selects the top applicants. Recipients were:
Lainey Brown from O’Fallon
Lainey a member of Troop #915 and has been a Girl Scout for over 9 years. She earned the Girl Scout Gold Award this year by working with a local nursing home where she planned events and created sensory boards for patients with Alzheimer’s. Lainey attends O’Fallon Township High School and plans to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville upon graduation.
“The greatest things I’ve gained through Girl Scouts are confidence, leadership and family,” said Lainey. “I learned that taking charge of yourself and what you care about can turn out to be amazing.”
Megan Kraus from Waterloo
Megan is from Troop #32 and has been a Girl Scout for 13 years. She earned the Girl Scout Gold Award this year by incorporating art into various service projects at her school and church. As part of her Girl Scout community service, she also volunteers at day camp and plans to come back to camp as a unit leader upon graduation. Megan attends Waterloo High School and plans to pursue a degree in Spanish at Truman State University.
“At the end of the day, I am glad I’ve been involved with Girl Scouts for the past 13 years rather than soccer or skating,” said Megan. “When training, athletes only focus on their sport; in Girl Scouts, I have been able to learn a variety of things and build up so many dreams that I otherwise never would have known I had.”
Deanna Hohgrefe from Chester
Deanna is from Troop #8239 and has been a Girl Scout for 12 years. She has also earned her Girl Scout Silver Award and Girl Scout Bronze Award. Deanna also went on a Girl Scout destination travel experience to Germany and serves as a council delegate for her Service Unit. She currently attends Chester High School and plans to attend Concordia University in Wisconsin.
“I would tell someone thinking about putting their daughter into Girl Scouts that the skills I have learned from being a Girl Scout have made me the person I am today,” said Deanna. “I am so grateful that I have been able to do all of the many things I have gotten to do – from ice skating and skiing to traveling around the world.”
