Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois Honors 26 Girls Who Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts were shining stars during Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois’ (GSSI) All That Glitters Award ceremony on April 9, 2016 at Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon. Each year, the banquet recognizes Girl Scouts from across southern Illinois who achieve significant accomplishments in community service and leadership. This year, GSSI recognized 26 girls who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award ... the highest award in Girl Scouting. Each Girl Scout Gold Award project requires a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work and only about 5 percent of eligible girls earn this prestigious award.

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2016 Awardees:

Sophia Ballard - Effingham
Bethany Carrillon - Carlyle
Carlie Daffron - Du Quoin
Jessica Drewer - Highland
Katelyn Elias - Breese
Maddie Farrar - Edwardsville
Haley Gregson - Waterloo
Emily Hocking - Mt. Vernon
Sarozjani Hunter - Shiloh
Elaina Johnson - Breese
Heather Junge - Red Bud
Alexa Keiser - Edwardsville
Nicole Laflen - Belleville
Allison La Salvia - Swansea
Kira Mantz - O'Fallon
Kathleen McCracken - Edwardsville
Danielle Patton - Mt Vernon
Eliza Paulk - Edwardsville
Sarah Pavlisin - O'Fallon
Adrienna Ridgeway - Troy
Emily Ripperda - Breese
Marlaina Snow - Troy
Angela Stratman - Waterloo
Megan Thompson - Red Bud
Bailee Warsing - Granite City
Alexis Workes - Highland

Mary Lou McDermott Receives Heart of Gold Award from Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois

Mary Lou McDermott from Edwardsville received the Heart of Gold Award from Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI).

The Heart of Gold Award recognizes the long-term impact a volunteer has had on girls and adults in his or her community through involvement with Girl Scouting.  The service of this volunteer has been an integral part of maintaining and recruiting new girls and/or adults in one or more areas of the council.

"Mary Lou is the keeper of traditions, mentor to many and a trusted advisor," said Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Service Unit Manager Elizabeth Frisbie. "She continues to inspire us through her ongoing dedication, friendship and the wisdom about both life and Girl Scouts she imparts to us all."

Top volunteers were recognized during GSSI's Annual Meeting on April 9 at the Holiday Inn in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.  GSSI’s 4,500 Girl Scout volunteers play an instrumental role in providing leadership programming and opportunities for more than 13,000 girls in southern Illinois. The theme for this year’s Annual Meeting was Golden Jubilee, which celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scout Gold Award.

More news and photos from the day's events are coming soon! 

Air Force First Lieutenant & GSSI Alumna Alyssa Heimerman Inspires As Keynote Speaker at Annual Meeting

Keynote speaker for GSSI’s annual meeting was 1st Lt. Alyssa Heimerman, who is the Operations and Training Flight Commander at Travis AFB, CA, where she serves as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. Lieutenant Heimerman is originally from Belleville and was a Girl Scout for many years. She culminated her Girl Scout career by earning the highest award in Girl Scouting - the Girl Scout Gold Award - in 2009. 

Lieutenant Heimerman explained how earning her Girl Scout Gold Award was a phenomenal experience and prepared her to step into future leadership roles.  She thanked those involved in the Girl Scout movement  for making such a profound difference in girls' lives. 

“Girl Scouts gave me so many positive things…confidence to succeed, open-mindedness and the importance of communication in leadership,” she added.