Sarah Goldacker from Glen Carbon Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Sarah Goldacker from Glen Carbon has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called An Old Spin on a New Trick: Teaching Art to Senior Citizens, Sarah wanted to share her love of art with others in the community in a way that would benefit their well-being. Having a desire to help the elderly, Sarah learned that art classes can help to cope with the onset of dementia. In the hope of relieving boredom and increasing cognitive ability by learning new skills, she knew that teaching art classes at nursing homes is what she wanted to do for her project. 

Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Sarah learned that giving back to others benefits all those involved. “Through this project I not only found a way to give my art back to people, but I really grew as a person,” said Sarah. “My people skills are far better now that I’ve done this project, and I like to think I’ve made an impact on each person I taught,” she added.

Sarah is the daughter of Don and Debra Goldacker. She is a senior at Edwardsville High School. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in Art and Design. Sarah has been a Girl Scout for 13 years.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 5 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.

Deadline Extended for Painting at the Gardens Sessions for Brownies!

Brownies are invited out to the Missouri Botanical Garden on October 29

Use a paintbrush to bring your imagination to life! Pick a spot to relax and paint a landscape. Discover how to paint your mood. Learn different ways to paint including using natural objects such as leaves, seeds and pine cones. Finally, create a mural depicting the work of the famous artist Georgia O'Keefe! Visit the Children's Garden at the end of your session. Activities will complete the Painter's Badge (included in fee.)

Program: Painting at the Gardens

Date: October 29

Fee: $12/girl, $8/adult

Location: Missouri Botanical Garden (4344 Shaw Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63110)

The deadline has been extended to Oct. 17!

There are two sessions: 
9 a.m. - 11 p.m.
1-3 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Marissa Schatz from Scott Air Force Base Receives the Girl Scout Gold Award

For her project, Art for the Heart, Marissa raised awareness of the value of art in society by organizing professionally taught art classes for SAFB youth and creating a gallery area in the Youth Center for them to share their artwork with family and friends. In addition, she coordinated an art show during SAFB’s annual Youth Fair, which hundreds of families attended.

“The arts are often overlooked in our society,” said Marissa. “I made an impact by demonstrating to children how entertaining art is in hopes that they will spread its joy throughout their lifetime.”  

While the children at SAFB learned more about art, Marissa developed crucial leadership skills for her future, including decision making, time management, effective communication and organizational skills. “The amount of knowledge I obtained through the course of this project is astounding,” she said. “It gave me confidence that I can achieve what I set my mind to if I have enough passion to pursue it.”

Marissa has been a Girl Scout for 13 years and received the Girl Scout Trifecta Award for earning her Girl Scout Bronze Award, Girl Scout Silver Award and Girl Scout Gold Award. Marissa is currently a senior as Mascoutah High School and plans to attend college to major in Biology next year. She is the daughter Kim and Wayne Schatz.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.