Kayli Kohn from Fairfield Earns Girl Scouts' Medal of Honor

Kayli Kohn of Fairfield was 10 years old when she rescued her two year old brother Hudson in 2013. Kayli was putting Hudson into the van as the family was leaving a local business. Before her father and stepmother got into the car, Hudson accidentally hit the gear shift and the van began to roll backwards into the street, although the keys were not in the van’s ignition. Kayli began to yell to get the attention of the oncoming traffic. Her attempts were successful as the cars came to a stop before colliding with the family vehicle. After crossing two lanes of traffic, the van struck a building and came to a stop. Hudson was unharmed when he was taken out of the vehicle, and it was later determined that the van’s gear shift was defective. 

“My brother was so scared, and he was crying in my arms. Nobody got hurt; we are so lucky. I love my brother so much,” said Kayli. Kayli is the daughter of Jessica and Jeremy Kohn.

Girl Scout Gold Awardee Lainey Brown Represents GSSI at United Methodists Bishops Gathering

On March 15, Girl Scout Ambassador Lainey Brown from O'Fallon represented GSSI United Methodist Bishops Gathering for Scouting Ministries at Christ Church in Fairview Heights. The annual event addresses how to strengthen the relationship with youth groups, as well as how young people can use the skills they learn through Scouting to explore and express their faith.

Lainey discussed earning her Girl Scout Gold Award, which she achieved by helping develop resources and programming for Alzheimer's patients at area nursing homes.

GSSI also provided information about Girl Scout Sunday, religious recognitions and the My Promise, My Faith pins. Learn more about Girl Scouts' faith-based awards: http://www.girlscouts.org/program/basics/faith/

Jordan Larusso from Edwardsville Earns the Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Jordan Larusso from Edwardsville has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive. 

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Jordan held a week-long Vacation Bible School for middle school students with First Baptist Church of Edwardsville. To make the week a success, Jordan coordinated faith-based learning sessions and discussions, planned fun activities and arranged community service projects with the Edwardsville Humane Society and Watershed Nature Center. She publicized the event by putting up flyers, promoting through Facebook and Joy FM radio station. Her efforts not only drew new middle school students to her church, but also increased membership its youth group.

“Through my Girl Scout Gold Award project, my leadership skills will continue to improve because I have grown a lot from taking on this project,” said Jordan.

Jordan is the daughter of Neal and Cheryl Lorusso of Edwardsville. She is currently a senior at Triad High School and has been a Girl Scout for 7 years. After graduation, she plans to attend Southwestern Illinois College for culinary and dietician studies.

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.