Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands Honors 29 Gold Award Recipients
May 11, 2015
GREENVILLE, SC – Twenty-nine high achieving Girl Scouts who demonstrated outstanding leadership through initiating and completing community service projects were recognized with the prestigious Gold Award at Presbyterian College on Sunday, May 3, 2015. Of those, six were in attendance from the greater Greenville area. This is the highest award that a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador in grades 9-12 may earn. On average, these hard-working, young leaders completed a minimum of 80 hours each to meet all the requirements needed to earn the award.
The six Gold Award honorees from the greater Greenville area were: Victoria Cannon, Greenville; Erin Clark, Greer;Linnea Grace Stevens, Taylors; Jordan Vogt, Simpsonville; Merriet Olivia Wells, Simpsonville; and Rylie Wheeler, Greenville.
For her Gold Award project, Girl Scout Ambassador Victoria Cannon addressed the need for appropriate housing in Greenville Animal Care for small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. She is the daughter of Lesley and Tony Cannon. She is in Troop 85 under the troop leadership of Tiwana Fields.
Girl Scout Ambassador Erin Clark established a garden for fresh vegetables with the support of her church members at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Her parents are Christina and Scott Sandefur and Roger and Christie Clark. Erin is in Troop 336 under the leadership of Christina Sandefur.
Girl Scout Ambassador Linnea Grace Stevens, Troop 268, addressed childhood sexual abuse by raising awareness and equipping adults with the knowledge of how to prevent it. Her parents are Andrew and Jennie Stevens and her troop leader is Terri McCloud.
Girl Scout Ambassador Jordan Vogt, Troop 538, created instructional videos to train tutors to more effectively meet the needs of children with low reading and math skills. Jordan’s parents are Kirk and Anne Vogt and her mother is her troop leader.
For her Gold Award project, Merriet Olivia Wells created a Healthy Kids Camp to encourage children to get regular outdoor exercise in order to stay fit, healthy and happy. Her parents are Melvin and Tiffany Wells and she is in Troop 421 under the leadership of Susan Gardner.
Girl Scout Ambassador Rylie Wheeler made scrapbooks for families with newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Greenville Health System. Her parents are Larry and Carrie Wheeler and she is in Troop 2560 under the leadership of Margie Russell.
Noting that Gold Award recipients, on average, spend one to two years on their projects, Kim Hutzell, President & CEO, Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands notes, “Gold Award recipients have extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership, in making the world a better place. Collectively, this year’s 29 recipients have spent more than 2,320 hours improving their communities. From receiving special consideration to many universities and colleges for acceptance and scholarships, to the potential of receiving advanced rank in the U.S. Armed Forces, these young ladies are joining the 59 million Girl Scout alumnae who report a higher education level, income and sense of self than their non-alumnae peers.”
The program also honored 100 Silver Award achievers. This is the highest honor to earn for girls, ages 11–14, or in grades 6–8. It recognizes their outstanding efforts to improve their own lives and the lives of others. The requirements for this award are designed to strengthen each girl’s leadership skills, encourage her to explore career opportunities and to make a commitment to self-improvement.
Having evolved from a long line of elite Girl Scout awards, going back as far as 1916, and previously known as the Golden Eagle of Merit, then the Golden Eaglet, First Class and Curved Bar, the Gold Award was first earned in 1980.
Photo: Linnea Grace Stevens, Victoria Cannon, Rylie Wheeler, Merriet Olivia Wells, Jordan Vogt, Erin Clark
For 103 years, Girl Scouting has helped girls develop positive values and become active, responsible leaders in their communities. With emphasis on personal growth and leadership development through service to others, Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of South Carolina-Mountains to Midlands serves approximately 11,450 girls, grades K5-12, and 4,700 adults in 22 counties of central and western South Carolina, including Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, and Union.
