Girl Scout Victoria Birchem Presents Governor's Hometown Award to O'Fallon City Council

Victoria Birchem was honored by the O'Fallon, Illinois City Council for winning the Governor's Hometown Award, which "gives formal recognition to those who contributed to projects that improved their community’s quality of life." 

Birchem received a 2018 Governor's Hometown Award Honorable Mention for her Girl Scout Gold Award Project, Nomenclature for Nature. Through this community service project, she worked with the O'Fallon Garden Club, its president and board, to create a catalog/database of the community garden’s plants and species. After the new plant species labels were installed, Victoria helped coordinate public garden tours and organized a program for local Girl Scout troops to tour and learn more about the O'Fallon Community Garden. These updates provided the O’Fallon Community Garden with new learning opportunities for the community and visitors to the garden.

Girl Scout Alum Makenzie Keiser Honored By Edwardsville City Council

GSofSI Alum Makenzie Keiser was honored by the Edwardsville City Council for her service to the community while earning the Girl Scout Gold Award - the highest award in Girl Scouting. Several Marines came to show their support - as Makenzie is entering the United States Marine Corps to continue her commitment to service. 

Makenzie, who graduated as a junior from Edwardsville High School in 2018, earned the Girl Scout Gold Award by teaching area children how to grow vegetable gardens.  She collaborated with the YMCA Early Childhood Development Center to design and develop three raised gardens, then taught children how to care for them. 

“If you give children a vegetable for a day, you feed them for a day,” she said.  “If you teach children how to grow vegetables, they will always have food.  Also, children who grow vegetables are more likely to eat them.”

Makenzie was honored with the Governor's Hometown Award (GHTA) for her service to the community as well. The GHTA program gives forman recognition to those who contributed to projects that improved their community’s quality of life.

Learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award

GSofSI Girl Scouts Present Service Projects for Governor's Hometown Awards

GSofSI Girl Scouts who were nominated for the Governor's Hometown Awards (GHTA) traveled to Springfield to present their community service projects! The GHTA program gives formal recognition to those who contributed projects that improved their community's quality of life.

Katharine Housewright presents her Girl Scout Gold Award project to
the Governor's Hometown Award committee.

Katharine Housewright from Saint Jacob
Girl Scout Gold Award Project: "Beautification of Triad Middle School Courtyard"
For her Girl Scout Gold Award, Katharine made improvements to the school courtyard which was built in the 1960's and had not seen many updates. She started by painting a map of the United States and the Preamble to the Constitution in vivid colors and updated bike racks with colorful, protective enamel. She researched and used paints that would last close to a decade for a more lasting impact. Katherine encouraged others to act alongside her by sharing her progress on social media and sending out press releases to local newspapers.

Troop #8893 was represented by Marion's Mayor Anthony Rinella

Troop #8893 from Marion
Girl Scout Silver Award Project: "Carnival for Lighthouse Shelter"

For their Girl Scout Silver Award, Troop 8893 hosted a fall festival carnival for younger children to support the Lighthouse Shelter in Marion, Illinois. The Lighthouse Shelter is a homeless shelter in Marion. During the spring of 2017, the Lighthouse Shelter suffered from flooding. The Girl Scout Troop #8893 had attendees to the festival brought items to donate to the Lighthouse Shelter.

Victoria Birchem gives a presentation detailing her Girl Scout Gold Award project.

Victoria Birchem from O'FallonGirl Scout Gold Award Project: "Nomenclature for Nature"

For her Girl Scout Gold Award, Victoria worked with the O'Fallon Garden Club, its president and board, to create a catalog/database of the community garden’s plants and species. After the new plant species labels were installed, Victoria helped coordinate public garden tours and organized a program for local Girl Scout troops to tour and learn more about the O'Fallon Community Garden. These updates provided the O’Fallon Community Garden with new learning opportunities for the community and visitors to the garden.

Girl Scout Troop #8018 from Royalton and GSofSI Director of Communications Kim Vrooman

Troop #8018 from Royalton
Girl Scout Silver Award Project: "Royalton Community Garden"

Jacquelyn and Cera were approached by Royalton Mayor, Christy Powers, to start a project that the youth in their community could take part in. For their Girl Scout Silver Award, Jacquelyn and Cera enlisted local youth and planned, planted, and maintained a community garden. After long hours of maintenance and harvesting, the youth of the community sold the produce to the people of Royalton. The proceeds from the produce sales were then given back to the town.


Mackenzie Keiser from Edwardsville
Girl Scout Gold Award project: "Growing With the Garden"For her Girl Scout Gold Award, Makenzie helped teach area children how to grow vegetable gardens with the YMCA Early Childhood Development Center in Edwardsville. After working with staff to design and build three raised bed gardens at the facility’s children’s playground, she taught students about the importance of vegetables and how they are cultivated. Makenzie helped the students start growing seeds indoors and how to transplant them to the garden. Finally she assisted the children with harvesting and tasting their produce.

Leah Walton Installs New Camp Bridge While Working on Girl Scout Gold Award Project

Leah Walton

Leah Walton from O’Fallon dedicated a new bridge that she built at Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) Camp Torqua on Friday, July 20, 2018. Nearly 80 girls, Girl Scout volunteers and friends attended the dedication ceremony to applaud her efforts, which she committed towards earning the Girl Scout Gold Award – the highest award in Girl Scouting. Earning this prestigious award requires a suggested minimum of 80 hours of community service and helps Girl Scouts give back to the world in ways that are personally meaningful.

GSSI’s Camp Torqua is a 72 acre camp located outside of Edwardsville that is open to both Girl Scouts and outside groups. Despite a robust hiking trail system, the main link between two primary sections of the camp had been a gravel road that was also open to vehicles. To create a safer, more convenient option for foot traffic, Walton built a 40-foot suspension bridge over Sugar Creek, which cuts through the center of camp. Her construction used pressure treated wood and steel cables suspended through posts on both sides of the creek, and includes cross supports for stability. She explained that the project was meaningful to her because it allowed her to use her interests and skills to inspire the next generation. 

“My Girl Scout Gold Award project was a way for me to do my part in helping kids appreciate the outdoors,” said Walton. “I absolutely love the outdoors. I spend the majority of my time outside riding my hoses and playing sports.”

Laney B and Karly K play the outdoor games Leah created

She also created and installed a pair of outdoor game boards for campers to use. The brightly painted game boards – checkers and tic tac toe – were painted on slices from trees that previously needed removed at the camp and include natural objects such as rocks as game pieces. In addition, she developed a series of STEM activities for camp, like a challenge to build a weight-bearing pyramid using sticks in order to explore the role of structure shape in engineering. During the bridge dedication, which coincided with GSSI’s annual STEM Day Camp, she led younger girls through games and activities, as STEM fields are also among her top interests. 

“My favorite part of being a Girl Scout is being a part of my troop’s robotics team,” she shared. “We were able to compete at the state level and be competitive while representing Girl Scouts in a good light. My team learned through trial and error how to use tools better than most adults can, and I was able to apply those skills to build my bridge,” she added. 

This fall, Walton plans to attend University of Findlay to double major in animal science and English equestrian studies. After earning her undergraduate degree, she hopes to attend medical school. She believes her experiences in Girl Scouts will help her continue to be successful into the future. 

“Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award is important to me because it signifies dedication,” she explained. “It sets a good example for younger girls and shows what you can achieve if you really want to.” I would recommend being a Girl Scout because of the people that are part of the community,” she added. “It might not seem important to little girls, but so many of the leaders and friends I met are also the people giving me ‘pushes’ to be the best person I can be.” 

Leah's bridge over Sugar Creek at Camp Torqua

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is a high-capacity Girl Scout council serving approximately 11,300 girls and engaging 4,550 adult volunteers in 40 ½ counties in Southern Illinois. GSSI Mission: Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. The Girl Scouts organization is the world's largest leadership development organization for girls. In partnership with committed adults, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives – such as strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth. Today’s Girl Scouts not only enjoy camping and crafts; they also explore math and science and learn about diversity, good citizenship, leadership and teamwork. Girl Scouting is the place where girls experience the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization supported by various United Ways throughout the region. Girl Scouts is a Proud Partner of United Way.

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.

Gabriella Holmes from Millstadt Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Softball Pitching Fun and Exercise, Gabriella said she wanted to take her love for the game of softball and share it with youth to get them to exercise more and eat healthier. According to Gabriella one of the root causes her project was child obesity and her Gold Award project gave kids a fun way to exercise and taught them healthy eating habits. During her Softball Pitching Camp for youth, she taught exercise and fitness and gave the children healthy eating tips and provided them with a snack each day.

Gabriella said she learned how to work with and teach younger children. “Through this project, I have learned that I enjoy helping younger people and that I can be a leader,” she said.

Gabriella is the daughter of Rick and Tracy Holmes. She is a junior at Belleville West High School and has been a Girl Scout for 12 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.

Hannah Grotecke from Granite City Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Hannah Groetecke from Granite City has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Old Six Mile Museum, Gabriella said she wanted to help make improvements to the Old Six Mile Museum and save part of the history of Granite City. The museum roof was damaged and needed to be replaced. Through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Hannah was able to mobilize volunteers to help and to donate supplies needed. After the roof was repaired, Hannah helped to promote the great things the museum offered including the free library, tours, home-made honey, unique history books and its new produce stand.

"I not only learned about my hometown," said Hannah, "but also learned that there are many helpful citizens that can be brought together to get things done." 

Hannah is the daughter of Heather Groetecke and Donny Groetecke. She completed her Girl Scout Gold Award Project during her senior year of high schoo and currently is a student at Southwestern Illinois College. She was 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.

Jordyn Thompson from O'Fallon Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Jordyn Thompson from O’Fallon has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Jordyn held a LaVerna Evans Elementary School Fall Fun Fair and Fall Book Fair in O’Fallon. She worked with her local school officials to revive the Fall Fair and design new games and activities for parents and students who attended the event. Her Girl Scout Gold Award project included planning and creating new games, organizing the event and getting volunteers to assist during the Fall Fair. Her overall goal was to bring the parents and students out to the school and engage them in activities so they could learn about La Verna Evans Elementary School and its various programs.

“In completing my project, I learned how to be a leader, and I learned organization skills and that when directing people to have good communications skills to be effective. Also I learned, to allow others to offer advice, to be flexible and have a Plan B,” Jordyn added.

Jordyn is the daughter of Curtis Thompson and JoAnn Williams-Thompson. She will graduate from O’Fallon Township High School in 2018 and has been a Girl Scout for 12 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.

Caroline Stewart from Belleville Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Washington Park Good Samaritan Center Playground, Caroline constructed an urban playground at the Good Samaritan Center in Washington Park. In the past, she assisted with Vacation Bible School and her and other volunteers noticed that the existing playground was unsafe. Through her efforts, a new playground was built from recycled materials that included a swing, a slide, a seesaw and a climbing structure. In addition, a basketball court was installed from grant money that had been received.

“I learned time management, better interpersonal communications skills, and how to ask for help when I needed it,” Caroline said of what she learned by completing her Girl Scout Gold Award project.

Caroline is the daughter of Doug and Christine Stewart. She graduated from Governor French Academy in 2017 and has been a Girl Scout for 12 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.

Kelsey Weatherford from Columbia Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Blooming Butterflies, Kelsey planted five butterfly gardens in Columbia. These butterfly gardens are a place where migrating butterflies can rest and eat and nest on their trip to Mexico. Kelsey said her Girl Scout Gold Award project was important because Monarch butterflies play a key role in our environment as pollinators. “Without pollinators like the Monarch butterfly, we wouldn’t have the vast variety of crops that we have today,” Kelsey shared.

“Through my Gold Award project, I learned the importance of being environmentally conscious, so that all creatures can continue to enjoy its wonders for many years to come,” Kelsey added.

Kelsey is the daughter of Gregory and Andrea Weatherford. She graduated from Columbia High School in 2017 and 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.

Josefina Pimentel from Carbondale Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Creative Writing: Express Your Dreams, Josefina held several creative writing clinics for 55 children at Unity Point School, the Carbondale Library and the Boys and Girls Club of Carbondale. Josefina said she wanted to pass on her love of writing to other youth living in the Carbondale area. 

“Through my Girl Scout Gold Award Project, I had the opportunity to work with children from many different circumstances: wealthy and low income, international and local, boys and girls, etc. Working with them and getting to see their faces light up when they were proud of their writing was an amazing experience. I also learned better time management skills and how to be a leader and role model for children,” Josefina said.

Josefina is the daughter of Susan Walch-Pimentel and Ed Pimentel. She will graduate from Carbondale Community High School in 2017 and 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.

Lauren Carter from Collinsville Has Earned the Girl Scout Gold Award

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

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called Nursery Reboot, Lauren worked with her church to improve and remodel the nursery. As part of her project, she removed broken furniture and toys and replaced them with age appropriate ones. Also concerned about children’s safety, she replaced the old carpet with new carpet and a thicker pad to protect the children if they fell while playing. In addition, Lauren scheduled a CPR class which would teach nursery staff and other church members life-saving skills. And finally, she updated the church nursery policy manual and set up a check “in and out” policy for the nursery.

“I learned that you can’t let the bumps in the road get in your way while trying to get something accomplished,” Lauren said. “You will always have bumps along the way in life, but they shouldn’t stop you from getting to your goals. You have to work around them and find a way to solve the problem yourself,” she said.

Lauren is the daughter of Warren and Laurie Carter. She will graduate from Collinsville High School in 2017 and has been a Girl Scout for 12 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.

Earning Girl Scout Gold Award Helps Emily Hocking Receive Full Scholarship

by Nicolle Patton, GSSI Intern

Emily Hocking with GSSI CEO Sarah Durbin

Girl Scouts is a huge staple in helping girls grow not only in various skills to help them in their future endeavor, but to grow into a better them. Nobody knows that better than Emily Hocking, from Mount Vernon.

Emily has been a part of the organization since Kindergarten. Now, she’s about to graduate High School with major accomplishments under her belt including a full tuition scholarship - and it’s thanks to earning Girl Scouts highest award, the Gold Award.

“The college I chose offers special scholarships for those girls who have earned the Girl Scout Gold award,” Emily explained. “I have worked very hard in school to have good grades and I also earned my Gold Award, these both allowed me to have the privilege to get a full tuition scholarship.” Emily will be attending MacMurray College in the fall of 2017 where she’ll be studying Nursing.

Knowing that earning the Gold Award helps Girl Scouts get scholarships, I asked her if earning her Gold Award gives her other advantages over others.

She said, “I don’t necessarily believe it is so much an advantage, but as that through my thirteen years of Girl Scouting it has taught me a lot. Thanks to Girl Scouts and earning my Bronze, Silver and Gold Award, I have learned a lot about what being a true leader in my community is. Girl Scouting has made me into the woman I am today. There is no doubt that if I wasn’t in Girl Scouts, I probably would not be as outgoing and have the leaderships skills I do.”

Emily received the Girl Scout Gold Award in 2016. 

Emily has some words of advice about those who are on the fence about pursuing their Gold Award. “I say go for it. I know that it is very time consuming and seems like a lot of work, but you never realize all the lessons you learn and the accomplishments you can make by having your Gold Award. Be the girl that can say ‘yes, I did that.’ Be proud and work your butt off because in the end it’s worth it.”

When asked if girls should stick with Girl Scouts until they graduated, she replied, “I believe as you get older in scouts you learn the true meaning of being a scout. As a Daisy or Brownie Scout you have a lot of fun doing crafts, going to events, but once you get to the higher levels you learn a lot more and get to experience the power of what being a leader in your community actually is. You get to be that girl that all the little scouts look up to and hope to be like.”

Knowing Emily personally, I can say that younger girls truly indeed look up to her for guidance when they work on something Girl Scout related or something connected to the community. It’s wonderful to see older Girl Scouts like Emily that are stepping up and being a role model for these younger scouts to emulate.

I wanted to know what exactly Girl Scouts meant to her and how it’s impacted her life so far, she answered, “Girl Scouting to me has meant learning to become a leader and knowing you can accomplish any task you set your mind to. It has lead me to lifelong friendships. One of my best friends today I met in Girl Scouts our Kindergarten year. We have done so much together from getting our Gold Awards to going to the father daughter dances. Without Girl Scouts who knows if I would have even met her.”

Emily Hocking and Danielle Patton

It seems like Emily has had a fulfilling Girl Scouting career with the many personal growths and connections she’s made through the years. With her heading off to college soon, she’ll bound to make more, but would she be able to put any skills she’s learned when doing her Gold Award into her new college life?

“I believe the organizational skills I learned from planning out my project will help me a lot through college and studying to become a nurse. I also believe the outgoing personality I have acquired through scouting will help me a lot to make friends and bond with my future patients. Scouting has definitely got me out of me shell.”

It’s good to know that she’ll be using the skills she’s gained through the years in Girl Scouts as well as the work she dedicated to earning her Gold Award to aide her on this new journey. It goes without saying that that she’s grown thanks to her years and lessons she’s gained in Girl Scouts. 

GSSI's Girl Scout Gold Award Committee Guides Girls Towards Girl Scouts' Highest Award

by Nicolle Patton, GSSI Intern

(L-R) GSSI Program Manager Courtney Schaefer, Anne Haltenhof,
Elizabeth Burr, Mary Ann Hopper, Cheryl Heimerman

The iconic Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Its prestige is built upon the considerable commitment, foresight and hard work it takes to achieve. A girl must complete a service project of a suggested minimum of 80 hours, and her efforts must be sustainable and valuable to her community. 

Of course, doing the project and getting the hours isn’t all a Girl Scout has to do to earn her Gold Award. She has to give a presentation detailing her project in front of the Gold Award Committee - a group of equally hard working, time-giving women who review girls’ projects as they present them, making suggestions and helping them towards success.

I personally earned the Girl Scout Gold Award in 2012. Presenting my project in front of the committee was a bit unnerving since public speaking wasn't really a forte of mine, but it was empowering to talk about the hard work I put into my project. Even though I was one of those girls presenting years ago, sitting there as a spectator got me thinking about the Gold Award Committee's perspective on everything.

GSSI’s Girl Scout Gold Award Committee is made up of Cheryl Heimerman, Penny Pejka, Anne Haltenhof, Marry Anne Hopper, Betsy Murphy, Chelsey Banaskavich and Carla Nilson. These women volunteer their time and talents to ensure that each girl gets individual attention to help make her Gold Award project the best it can be. 

Seeing these women go over paperwork describing girls’ projects, asking question after question to each girl that filed into the room and making sure that the girl got the most out of her Gold Award project, got me thinking about how they saw this whole process and how exactly they got involved in such a huge task in the first place.

It was enlightening to see the different range of experiences and reasons why they joined the Gold Award Committee.

When asked how she got involved with Girl Scouts and then later joined the Gold Award committee, Mary Anne Hopper said, “I was a Girl Scout for 8 years as a girl. When my daughters were in first grade, I registered them in Girl Scouts. My older two daughters’ troops met right after school. Since I worked out of town, I couldn’t help at their meetings. When my youngest daughter registered, I was asked to be a leader. Since another woman had volunteered to assist with an evening troop, I accepted the leadership of her troop.”

“My oldest daughter, Michelle, earned her Gold Award in 1996,” Hopper continued. “As my youngest daughter, Amy, approached her Cadette years, I decided I wanted to know as much as I could about the Gold Award. So I became a Gold Award trainer as well as part of the Gold Award Committee around 2000 and have continued for 16 years or so.”

Anne Haltenhof said, “I was a Girl Scout in grade school and now that I am retired I wanted to give back to the organization that helped me be who I am today.”

“My background is in project management and one of the staff members suggested that I get involved with the Gold Award since what the girls do are projects.”

Now, I know these ladies do more than sit in a room and review Gold Award projects all day and I wanted to know exactly what all their responsibilities entailed, because I know it’s more than going over a few files.

Carla Nilson explained, “I do Gold Award training. I participated in designing the Gold Award requirement paper work in the Shagbark legacy council. I read and evaluate proposed Gold Award projects with phone interviews. I offer suggestions and ask questions. I participate in interviews of final Gold Award projects. I help facilitate the awards at All That Glitters.”

Mary Anne Hopper added, “As part of the Gold Award Committee, I review Project Proposals about projects girls wish to do to earn their Gold Awards. With the committee, I help to interview the girls via phone conference calls to determine if their projects are acceptable Gold Award projects, not just a good service project. We make suggestions, and often requirements, which we feel will make the projects better.”

Seeing all of these responsibilities that the committee does really says something about their character and how much time and effort they put in for these girls. I’m sure over the years, they’ve had some memorable projects.

“All projects are memorable,” said Nilson. “I have even made special trips to see the finished product of some Girl Scout Gold Awards.”

Hopper said, “Two projects come to mind immediately. One project was done by two girls, assisting Habitat for Humanity in building a home for a family. The girls spent one Saturday for each of six months providing the volunteers and equipment as well as feeding the volunteers. The second project provided a free spay and neuter clinic for dogs and cats to eliminate overpopulation by unwanted dogs and cats. The young lady was very passionate about this project!”

When the women on the Girl Scout Gold Award Committee discuss their roles, their passion and excitement is obvious. With passion comes wisdom, so I asked these ladies to share advice for any Girl Scout who is about to present a Gold Award project in the near future. 

Haltenhof said, “Details, details, details. Make sure you are providing as much information about your project as you can. Often times, we get very sketchy reports and it’s hard to determine if they qualify for the award.”

Nilson added, “Allow plenty of time and be flexible. Before you speak to a group about your project, go over the points, have notes, take notes on suggestions and be prepared. Don't forget to write thank you notes to those who helped you with your project.”

“I would tell girls to find an issue about which you are passionate,” recommended Hopper. “Give yourself plenty of time. Choose people you can count on to help you. Ask for help when you need it. Set a timeline to achieve small goals in order to achieve the ultimate goal. Admit when something isn’t working and try doing it a different way.”

With the wonderful women of GSSI’s Girl Scout Gold Award Committee helping guide girls, there's so much knowledge and ideas to go around if any girl feels as though she's stuck at any point in her Gold Award. They want to help in any way they can to make these young women succeed in any way they can.

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

  

2017 Girl Scout Gold Award Recipients from Southern Illinois

The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes leadership, effort and impact that Girl Scout Seniors and Girl Scout Ambassadors have had on their communities. Only about 5 percent of eligible girls take the rigorous path toward earning this prestigious award, but those who complete the journey change the lives of others and their own in amazing and significant ways.

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois recognized the following girls for earning the Girl Scout Gold Award at their 2017 All That Glitters Award Ceremony.  Please note that an asterisk (*) signifies girls who have also earned the GSSI Trifecta Award for earning their Girl Scout Bronze Award, Girl Scout Silver Award and Girl Scout Gold Award.

2017 Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois

Girl Scout Gold Award Recipients

Emily Baima, Collinsville*

Project: Squirrel Habitat

Kaitlyn Barnett, Troy*

Project: Camp for Everyone

Elizabeth Boehning, O'Fallon*

Project: Operation Find a Friend

Elizabeth Burr, Collinsville*

Project: Camps in Motion

Lauren Carter, Collinsville*

Project: Nursery Reboot

Johannah Comish, Highland*

Project: Bridges to a Better Tomorrow

Cecelia Cowell, Red Bud*

Project: Got Safety?

Sarah Eversman, Swansea

Project: Plastic Caps

Sarah Goldacker, Glen Carbon

Project: An Old Spin on a New Trick

Hannah Grotecke, Granite City

Project: Old Six Mile Museum Repairs

Gabriella Holmes, Millstadt*

Project: Softball Pitching Fun and Exercise

Caitlin Lloyd, O'Fallon

Project: Suite Dreams

Lauren Lundy, O'Fallon

Project: Lullabies Live!

Josefina Pimentel, Carbondale

Project: Creative Writing: Express Our Dreams

Hannah Redinger, Columbia*

Project: Country to Country, School to School, Students Helping Students

Madeleine Renken, Troy*

Project: Graphing the Graveyard

Amelia Schmitz, Belleville*

Project: Signal Hill School: Strong Minds, Strong Bodies, Strong Character

Dakota Smallie, Granite City*

Project: Pontoon Beach Patchwork Garden

Caroline Stewart, Belleville*

Project: Washington Park Good Samaritan Center Playground

Jordyn Thompson, O'Fallon*

Project: Fall Fun Fair

Shelby Tingley, Granite City

Project: Homing the Homeless Birds

Alexandra Waugh, Nashville

Project: Move for Missions

Kelsey Weatherford, Columbia*

Project: Blooming Butterflies

Kayli Worthey, Neoga

Project:  The 3 Dangerous D's of Driving

Watch our GSSI Blog and social media platforms for more coverage of this year's Girl Scout Gold Award recipients and their amazing projects!