Kaitlyn Barnett from Troy Earns the Governor's Volunteer Service Award for Work with Girl Scouts

(L-R): GSSI CEO Loretta Graham, Kaitlyn Barnett, GSSI Director of Development & Communications Kim Vrooman

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is proud to share that Kaitlyn Barnett has been named as a Governor’s Volunteer Service Awardee for her service to Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. The bipartisan Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service presents the Governor's Volunteer Service Awards. These awards recognize in​dividual volunteers through a statewide award program to highlight the importance of volunteerism and community service in the State of Illinois.

Kaitlyn Barnett is 17 years old and lives with her parents and sister in Troy. She attends Triad High School and participates in the Running Start Program at Southwestern Illinois College, where she will graduate with an Associate’s Degree in Arts and Science. Kaitlyn earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by completing a project called “Camp for Everyone”. With the help of local companies, Kaitlyn was able to make Girl Scout Camp Torqua accessible. In order to make the camp accessible, she installed a concrete ramp to the fire pit, a concrete sidewalk leading to the bath house, and an accessible rock trail. She has continues to volunteer in local service unit events and serves as a member of the Girl Scout Board. Kaitlyn is also a board member of Triad’s Science Club, Secretary for Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and President of Holy Cross Lutheran’s Youth Group.


Kaitlyn notes, “Through the Girl Scout program, I have been given the opportunity to service Girl Scouts and my community. This has led me to earn this award. These Girl Scout programs have consisted of community Take Action projects, journey Take Action projects, Service to Girl Scouting bar, Community Service Bar and the GSSI Trifecta Award.” Kaitlyn has earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Girl Scout Silver Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award—the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award.

Girl Scout Gold Award Recipient Kaitlyn Barnett Is Keynote Speaker at GSSI's Annual Meeting

Kaitlyn Barnett speaking at GSSI's Annual Meeting

Kaitlyn Barnett addressed volunteers and girl members as keynote speaker of GSSI's 8th Annual Meeting on April 1 at Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon.  Kaitlyn discussed her journey asd a Girl Scout and how Girl Scouting empowers young women to be leaders in their communities. 

Kaitlyn has been a Girl Scout for 11 years and has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting.  For her Gold Award Project, named A Camp For Everyone, Kaitlyn helped make Camp Torqua more accessible for both campers and community members using wheelchairs.

At this year's Annual Meeting, Kaitlyn was also elected as an Ex-Officio Girl Member of GSSI's Board of Directors.  

Kaitlyn is the daughter of Thomas and Melissa Barnett and is currently a junior at Triad High School. 

Kaitlyn and her family

  

Kaitlyn Barnett from Troy has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Kaitlyn Barnett from Troy has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Camp for Everyone, Kaitlyn wanted all Girl Scouts and other members of her community to have the opportunity able to fully enjoy camping and outdoor activities. Kaitlyn took on several projects to make Camp Torqua in Edwardsville more accessible. She added a rock trail and sidewalk that connected the lodge to the restrooms. In addition, Kaitlyn installed a concrete ramp to the campfire ring and a threshold for the restrooms at the area known as Pumpkin Patch at the camp.

Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Kaitlyn learned valuable life skills that she will be able to use throughout her life. “Through this project, I have learned that I am filled with an abundance of patience and determination,” said Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn is the daughter of Thomas and Melissa Barnett. She is a junior at Triad High School. Kaitlyn has been a Girl Scout for 11 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.