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Girl Scout Gold Award recipients honored at Governor's Mansion

October 2010

Nine Girl Scout Gold Award recipients were honored at the Governor’s Mansion over the summer at the Girl Scouts Louisiana East’s Gold Award Pinning Ceremony and Reception.  The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador can earn, and is received by only a few select Girl Scouts nationwide.  Joined by family members and council representatives, Girl Scout Gold Award recipients for 2009-2010 included Brittney Bourgeois of Des Allemands, Leigh Griffin of Destrehan, Sara Martin of Walker, Sarah Mathews of Mandeville, Mandy McNamara of Destrehan, Jerri Pringle of Livingston and Jennifer Roques of Robert.  Unable to attend were Abbey Simoneaux of Baton Rouge and Hannah Songy of Des Allemands.           

The honorees and their parents or special guests, enjoyed the unique opportunity of  touring the mansion’s dining room, foyer, and parlor area, as they enjoyed punch and cake, prior to the pinning ceremony.  Each of the girls displayed some of the Gold Award project materials for guest viewing as well.

Vice President of Communications and Fund Development Marianne Addy began the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance and Girl Scout Promise, followed by a warm welcome.

“Someone once described the Girl Scout Gold Award as being ‘what you really want to be remembered for’ in Girl Scouting. For many, the leadership skills, organizational skills, and sense of community and commitment that come from ‘Going for the Gold’ set the foundation for a lifetime of active achievement,” said Addy.

According to Addy, the requirements for the Gold Award involve the completion of a combination of interest projects, leadership, career exploration, culminating in a Gold Award service project requiring at least 65 hours of work by each Girl Scout.

Addy was followed by congratulatory remarks made by CEO Jackie Alexander and Council board member Durinda Robinson.  In her remarks Alexander emphasized that the honorees truly were the top echelon of Girl Scouts, achieving what only a few ever achieve in Girl Scouting. Robinson encouraged the girls to continue their community service involvement wherever their lives take them.

Program Specialist Kevin Shipp introduced each Gold Award recipient individually as she was pinned by either a parent, troop leader or close friend. According to Shipp, the council hopes to make the Pinning Ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion an annual event.

Girl Scout’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.  The local council, Girl Scouts Louisiana East, serves girls 5 to 17 in 23 parishes of southeast Louisiana. For more information about Girl Scouts or adult volunteer opportunities, call the council office in Baton Rouge at 225-927-8946, or visit its website at www.gsle.org.

 

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Media contact: Marianne Addy, VP of Communications and Fund Development,
504-733-8220, ext. 2226 or maddy@gsle.org  or Cathy Pottschmidt, Public Relations Specialist, 225-927-8946, ext. 1238 or cpottschmidt@gsle.org.

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