Gold Award (Girl Scouts of the USA)

Gold Award
Owner Girl Scouts of the USA
Created 1980

The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award.[1]

History

Girl Scout's highest award was created in 1916, and has gone through numerous changes over the years.

Golden Eaglet of Merit - 1916 to 1918

This award was a pin of an eagle with its wings spread, on a red, white, and blue ribbon.[2][3]

Golden Eaglet - 1919 to 1938

In 1919 the name of the award was changed to the Golden Eaglet. Requirements for the award ranged through the years from earning 14 out of 17 specific badges, earning the Medal of Merit, earning a different number of badges, and the acceptance of a letter of Commendation instead of the Medal of Merit. The award it self changed from the spread-winged eagle and ribbon to an eagle with half-furled wings and a "G" and an "S" on either side of its head.[2]

The founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, wrote in November 1923: “The five requirements for winning the Golden Eaglet are character, health, handicraft, happiness and service, and that others will expect to find in our Golden Eaglet a perfect specimen of girlhood: mentally, morally, and physically.”[3]

First Class - 1938 to 1940

In 1938 the Golden Eaglet changed to the First Class Award.[4]

Curved Bar - 1940 to 1963

This award was earned by Intermediate Scouts who had already earned the First Class Award, and was the way to bridge to Senior rank. Because of the shortage of metal during WWII, at first the award was a curved embroidered patch worn on the uniform. In 1947, the Curved Bar pin was introduced.[5]

First Class - 1963 to 1980

In 1963 the award went back to being called First Class.[4] Requirements for earning the First Class Award changed over the 17 years it was offered. Beginning in 1963, Cadette Scouts were required to earn four Challenges, plus at least six badges in specific areas:

In 1972, eight new Challenges were offered:

The Scout was permitted to choose any four of the twelve Challenges.

In addition to the four Challenges, a Scout was required to earn at least one badge in each of six areas:

Alternately, from 1972 to 1980, a Scout could earn any seven of the twelve Challenges, with no badge requirements.

Gold Award - 1980 to 2016

In 1980 the Gold Award was introduced. In 1990, National Council Session delegates approved a proposal which would keep the name of the Gold Award in perpetuity.[7]

Until 2004, requirements for earning the award were:

Gold Award Requirements 2010 to present

Once these steps have been met, girls use their vision for change to complete a service project that reaches beyond the Girl Scout organization and provides lasting benefit to the girl's larger community. It requires a minimum of 80 hours of work in planning and actually completing the project. All of these hours must be completed by the Awardee, and though it is encouraged that the girl use troop members and others from the community to help her, their time spent does not count towards her 80-hour requirement. Plans must be developed with the aid of an advisor, then a project proposal must be submitted and approved by the girl's local council before starting the project, and a final report submitted and approved after the project's completion.

Insignia

The Gold Award emblem is presented as a pin resembling an eight-pointed gold star with rays radiating from a central, polished trefoil.

After earning the Gold Award

Recipients of the Gold Award who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.[8][9][10] Some universities and colleges offer scholarships to Gold Award recipients. Yearly, GSUSA selects ten girls to be National Young Women of Distinction based on their Gold Award projects.

Notable recipients

Highest awards in other programs

The Gold Award is often compared to the Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Girl Scout Gold Award : Highest Award for Girls Ages 14-18
  2. 1 2 "Girl Scout Golden Eaglet". Vintage Girl Scout Online Museum. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Girl Scout Gold Award History" (PDF). Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "The Girl Scout Gold Award". Girl Scouts. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Girl Scout History Timeline 1860-2002". Scouting Web. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Official Girl-Level Girl Scout Pins". Vintage Girl Scout Online Museum. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Gold Award Journey Packet" (PDF). Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  8. ↑ AFRS Instruction 36-2001, Recruiting Procedures for the Air Force (PDF). U.S. Air Force. 2005. Retrieved 2006-03-06.
  9. ↑ Military Personnel Procurement Manual, Volume 2, Enlisted Procurement (PDF). U.S. Marine Corps. 2004. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  10. ↑ Active and Reserve Components Enlistment Program (PDF). United States Army. 2007-06-07. p. 16. Army Regulation 601–210. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  11. ↑ Fredricksen, Lynn (September 29, 2012). "In 100th year, Girl Scouts of Connecticut honor trailblazers". Post-Chronicle. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  12. ↑ Nichols, Carole (January 1, 1983). Votes and More for Women: Suffrage and After in Connecticut. Routledge. ISBN 0866561927. Retrieved May 10, 2013. Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help)

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