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An Elizabethton girl, Abigail Jack, was among seven of the 29 recipients from the Tri-Cities of the 2021 Gold Award given by the Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians.
Nationally, only 6 percent of all eligible Girl Scouts achieve the Gold Award, the organization’s highest honor, for demonstrating extraordinary leadership and making sustainable change in their communities.
In addition to Jack other Gold Award recipients from the Tri-Cities were Olivia Ares, Carolina Pack, and Riane Olsen of Johnson City; Emily Cai and Emily Maxwell of Kingsport; and Emily Morgan of Jonesborough.
The high honor required hours of hard work and the leadership skills that they have been developing during their years as a Girl Scout.
Jack as part of her work created the Do College Better program to help prepare high school students for college applications. She explained important coursework, SAT and ACT exams, scholarships, and the college application process. Jack created videos that are now in the school library for future students to watch and learn.
Since 1916, thousands of Girl Scouts across the country have earned the Girl Scouts’ highest honor, now called the Girl Scout Gold Award, for demonstrating extraordinary leadership and making sustainable change in their communities. Nationally, only 6 percent of all eligible Girl Scouts achieve the Gold Award.
“Our communities have been positively impacted by the vision, leadership and dedication of each of our Gold Award girls,” said Lynne Fugate, CEO of the Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians. “This high honor required hours of hard work and the leadership skills that they have been developing during their years as a Girl Scout.”
The Girl Scout Gold Award represents exceptional achievement in leadership development, positive values and service. Only Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors are eligible for the Gold Award, and before they can pursue it, they must meet prerequisites, including completing a Take Action Project or earning the Girl Scout Silver Award, which entails a girl-led project to improve the neighborhood or community.
At a minimum requirement of 80 hours, most girls spend between one and two years on Gold Award projects. A Gold Award Girl Scout’s achievements prime her for the fast track when it comes to college admissions and make her an outstanding candidate for academic scholarships and other financial awards. In addition, Gold Award Girl Scouts who join the armed services even enter at a rank above other recruits.