Gateway Council Girl Scouts Earn Highest Recognition

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - May 1, 2018 - PRLog -- This year's Gold Award recipients include young women from across Northeast and North Central Florida:

·         Daria Burdette, Atlantic Beach, Fla.

·         Brianna Dillard, Jacksonville, Fla.

·         Katherine Dykstra, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

·         Jennifer Gordon, Bunnell, Fla.

·         Amanda Higley, St. Johns, Fla.

·         Hannah James, Orange Park, Fla.

·         Celina Johnson, Jacksonville, Fla.

·         Kaitlyn Karnes, Neptune Beach, Fla.

·         Emily Matthews, Atlantic Beach, Fla.

·         Danielle Oko, St. Johns, Fla.

·         Emilie Pearson, Gainesville, Fla.

·         Shreya Ravi, Jacksonville, Fla.

·         Elena Sarabia, Gainesville, Fla.

·         Miranda Van Zyl, Ponte Vedra, Fla.

·         Jenni Wilson, Orange Park, Fla.

         "The Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award in the world for girls – and the most difficult to earn – and it's only available to Girl Scouts," said Mary Anne Jacobs, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. "The award acknowledges the power behind each Gold Award Girl Scout's dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others."

Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been planning and executing creative, impactful and sustainable "Take Action" projects in response to community needs. The Gold Award has inspired girls to find the greatness inside themselves and share their ideas and passions with their communities and the world.

Girl Scout Gold Award projects tackle a broad spectrum of important issues that occur locally and around the globe. From animal conservation across the world to coastal beach erosion, local pedestrian-traffic safety to special needs education, the young women of Gateway Council have proven to be community leaders in the truest sense.

         Gold Award recipients represent the most successful and engaged Girl Scouts, actively achieving a sense of self and community service while sharing their ideas and passions with their communities.

A young woman who has earned her Gold Award reflects outstanding leadership and civic engagement. Findings from the Girl Scouts Research Institute report, Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, indicates that Gold Award Girl Scouts soar when it comes to seeing themselves as leaders, providing service to others through volunteerism, and having positive attitudes about themselves and the lives they lead.

"These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers," Jacobs said of Gateway Council's awardees. "They are our future, and it looks bright!"

More and more, colleges, universities and civic organizations are recognizing the value of the Gold Award through scholarship opportunities, with the U.S. armed forces distinguishing Gold Award Girl Scouts with an advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.

        To learn more about the benefits of going gold or to join Girl Scouts, visit girlscouts-gatway.org (https://www.girlscouts-gateway.org/). For inquiries about the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Gold Award recipients and their projects, contact TriciaRae Stancato at tstancato@girlscouts-gateway.org or (904) 421-3484.