More than 50 local high school students recently earned Girl Scouts of the USA’s most prestigious national honor for girls, the Girl Scout Gold Award. Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana honored their accomplishments during a ceremony on June 6 in Oak Brook.
Mary Bauer of Evanston, a member of Girl Scout Troop 42189, received the Girl Scout Gold Award after completing a complex series of requirements.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that Girl Scouts ages 14-18 may earn. The leadership skills, organizational skills, and sense of community and commitment required to complete the process set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship. Scouts complete seven steps to earn the Gold Award, including the completion of a significant service project. Mary earned her Gold Award by creating a recruitment video for the fine arts department at her high school.
As awareness of the Girl Scout Gold Award continues to grow, so does its prestige. An increasing number of colleges are offering financial incentives to those who earn Girl Scout Gold Awards, and admissions counselors view it as a sign of an individual girl’s ability to lead.