Jefferson County girls win Girl Scout high honor
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| Samantha Messmer |
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According to Girl Scout officials, the Gold Award symbolizes outstanding accomplishments in the areas of leadership, community service, career planning and personal development.
"It's really a great accomplishment to win it," said Janet Vigen, the marketing and communications manager for Girls Scouts of Eastern Missouri. "To win this, you really must devote some time. These girls have really dedicated themselves to earning it."The requirements for the award involve the completion of multiple interest patches, a variety of leadership experiences, career exploration and service projects.
The culminating service project requires a minimum 50-hour commitment and allows the Girl Scout to demonstrate her skills and abilities in goal setting, planning, putting values into action and relating to the community.
Those from Jefferson County to receive the Girl Scout Gold Award in 2008 are:
- Julia Brunais, 13, Dittmer, who directed a play for elementary children.
- Ashley Erlinger, 13, House Springs, who planned and directed activities at WaBaCiGe Day Camp.
- Samantha Messmer, 18, House Springs, who collected 436 items for the Target House in Memphis.
- Erin Patrick, 13, Arnold, who created noodles for newborns.
Vigen pointed out that only a small portion of the many thousands of girls in the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri win the Gold Award each year.
"We have 64,000 members," she said. "Only 103 in our council won the award."
The Girl Scout Gold Award is an extension and combination of all that the Girl Scout has learned in her previous Girl Scout experiences, said Vigen. Those who win the awards are eligible for a number of college scholarships.
The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri council consists of the city of St. Louis and 28 surrounding Missouri counties.
To join, volunteer or donate to the council, call 800-727-4475 or visit www.girlscouts.org.
