19 local students earn prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award for community impact
May 6, 2026
Girl Scouts of South Carolina—Mountains to Midlands announced the 2026 Gold Award Girl Scout Class. These 19 individuals (nine from the Midlands and ten from the Upstate) have tackled some of the most pressing issues facing South Carolina today, including:
- Mental health and wellness
- Literacy and education access
- Food insecurity and environmental conservation
- Digital equity and elder outreach
- Animal welfare and STEM engagement
Earning a Gold Award requires identifying a community need and leading a sustainable solution from start to finish—a feat that 99% of Gold Award alums say prepares them for lifelong leadership roles.
Midlands Recipients (9)
- Jordan Benjamin*, Troop 1600, Promoting Mental Health Through College Meditation Rooms, Columbia, SC
- Ellie Crider*, Troop 990, Literacy Awareness, Newberry, SC
- Reagan Dawkins*, Troop 2128, Money Matters, West Columbia, SC
- Ellie Fisher, Troop 1082, Water Safety and Drowning Prevention, Gaston, SC
- Ava Grace Long*, Troop 2707, Happy Camper Blessing Box, Newberry, SC
- Pearl Owens*, Troop 785, Pearl’s Path to Gold Disc Golf Course, Irmo, SC
- Stevee Speicher*, Troop 2375, Recognition & Early Management of Migraines in Adolescents, Lexington, SC
- Jordan Whitesides, Troop 1198, Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Elders and Veterans Through Computer Literacy, Columbia, SC
- Imani Howard, Troop 1179, Increasing Dog Education and Its Availability, Elgin, SC
Upstate Recipients (10)
- Samantha Boyle*, Troop 3317, Literacy Support Club, Greenville, SC
- Camille Cleland*, Troop 1344, Edible Garden, Spartanburg, SC
- Grace Faris*, Troop 1344, Little Community Lending Gallery, Spartanburg, SC
- Calliope Fenske*, Troop 1605, Bottomland Forest Renewal: Conestee Nature Preserve After the Emerald Ash Borer, Simpsonville, SC
- Mary Hammett*, Troop 1344, Practice Playbook, Spartanburg, SC
- Chloe Hujik, Troop 1344, Cat Colony Construction, Spartanburg, SC
- Ana Poor, Troop 1609, Hands-On Learning While Supporting the Community, Greenville, SC
- Anna Sandago*, Troop 1344, Jubilee’s Friends, Spartanburg, SC
- Ashby Williams*, Troop 1443, D.W. Daniel High School Outdoor Learning Space, Central, SC
- Josephine Willis*, Troop 1349, Ohana, Simpsonville, SC
*Designates a Trifecta Girl Scout (earned Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards).
