Change the world, Girl Scout
Gold Award Girl Scouts are rock stars, role models, and real-life heroes. How do they do it? By using everything they’ve learned as a Girl Scout to solve a problem in their community or make a lasting change in their world.
Seniors and Ambassadors who want to go for the Gold Award build a team of trusted adults, peers, and leaders in their community to guide them through challenges and support their success.
Plus? Nothing beats that feeling of seeing real, lasting, and sustainable change and knowing it was you who made it happen. It changes the way you see your place in the world—and how the world sees you.
You can become a Gold Award Girl Scout if you:
- Are in ninth, tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade
- Are a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador
- Have completed the Gold Award training
- Have completed the Silver Award, a Senior/Ambassador Leadership Award, or a Senior/Ambassador Journey
How to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award
- Sign up for a Gold Award training through our Event calendar
- Find an issue in your community or the world that you care about.
- Learn everything you can about that issue through research and trusted sources.
- Form a team by identifying experts and people in your community who could help you.
- Think about the root cause of an issue, then make a plan of how you could tackle it.
- Submit your project proposal through GoGold
- Present your project to the Gold Award Committee for approval - meetings are the first Wednesday of every month
- Lead your team and carry out your plan
- Don’t forget to submit your bio and photos to girlscoutshelp@gssn.org to be included in the current years' program. Bios and photos must be received by March 15th.
More resources
- Project Advisor Guide (PDF)
- Parent/Caregiver Guide (PDF)
- Troop Leader Guide (PDF)
- Guide for Leadership Experience (PDF)
- GSUSA Proposal Rubric (PDF)
Highest Award Prerequisites
Hey, grownups!
When you support Girl Scouts earning their Gold Award, you’ll help them see their own power and be by their side as they make a lasting change in their community. Download a guide to get started today.
Have you taken a Gold Award Training? Ready to get to work? Learn more at GSUSA, then submit your Gold Award Proposal through GoGold Online.
Earning a Girl Scout Gold Award is an excellent way to give any college or scholarship application that “something extra” to help you stand out from the crowd! Learn more about college scholarships available for Gold Award recipients.
The deadline to submit your Gold Award Final Report is September 30, after your 12th grade year.
The Benefits of Going Gold
Girl Scout Gold Award recipients do well in life! They rate their general success significantly higher than their peers and report greater success in reaching their goals in many areas.
- Higher education and career
- Distinguish yourself in the college admissions process
- Earn college scholarships
- Enter the military one rank higher
Life skills
- Be seen as a role model and distinguished leader
- Master time management skills
- Make the world a better place
Community
- Use your vision for change
- Tackle an issue, locally or globally
- Establish a lifetime network
- Create your community legacy with a sustainable solution to a problem
Source: Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study , a report from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 2012
Past Gold Award Girl Scouts
Congratulations to all of our amazing Gold Award Girl Scouts in the GSSN Council over the past 35 years!
2025- Delaynie Bowley, Millie Grieve, Faith McCrea, Neva Mellow, Kristianna Meister
2024 - Samantha Amrhein, Sadie Beall, Margarette Blankenship, Sierra Chavez, Quill Cooke, Graciella Martin, Kyra Oh
2023 - Erkia Strain, Kelly Strasser, Shona Flake
2022 - Denali Cooke, Siena Lopez, Julianna Martin, Wendy Thompson
2020 - Baylee Mee, Casey Stoddard
2019 - Irene De Haan, Sara Knight, Gillian Mandel, Emilie Rodriguez
2018 - Maxine Grieve, Baylee Mee, Theresa Sandborn
2017 - Grace Griego, Holly Strasser, Kelsey Kjer, Madison Evans, McKenna Boegle
2016 - Chelsea Baldwin, Delaney Mott, Jenna Rohlf, Kaitlin Meetze, Karly McCutcheon, Lexie Jensen, Mary Kate Parmer, McKenzie Blankenship, Xena Horne
2015 - Kylee Lyons, Lindsey Zeising, Sarah Kidd, Sarah Novak, Tanya Smith, Vanessa Smith
2014 - Cassandra Klein, Danica Bunnett, Kelsey Blotter, Magie Albrecht, Rebecca Berelson, Victoria Hagan
2013 - Helen Bansen, Kate Albrecht, Lauren Cromer, Nicole Dobrovolny, Nicole Glynn, Rose Campion, Victoria McCrea
2012 - Amanda Swezey, Ester Jewell Gilbert, Gabriela Alvarez, Kirsten Casey, Laura Mitchell, Melonie Mecca
2011 - Ashley Fixl, Maggie Jones, Marissa Tompkins, Melissa James, Natalie Reavy, Nicole Updegrove, Saylor Gilbert, Victoria Ann Vajgrt
2010 - Breean Bell, Caroline Montiel, Elizabeth Benson, Erica Knutson, Jillian Foxcroft, Liesel Condliffe, Natasha Brown, Paige Talbott, Shelly Mason, Tory Vogler
2009 - Ali Martinez, Ashley Stein, Bridgett McLean, Chelsea Keith, Haley Robbins, Lisa Lawrence, Melissa Popnoe, Sarah Poulsen
2008 - Amy Douglas, Danielle Swanson, Megan Mecca, Rachael Cowell, Tiffany Henricks
2007 - Alexandra Martinez, Annelise Nelson, Cassidy Iverson, Jillian Robbins, Leah Mazza, Marquise Van Tassel, Rachael Berelson, Rebecca Melton, Sheri Huggins
2006 - Alexandra Veach, Alyssa Alimurung, Chelsea Stratmeyer, Daniela Huggins, Danielle Swanson, Jenny Sweet, Lindsay Panko
2005 - Heather Boni, Holly Hathaway, Kaitlin McMillan, Kimberly Moore, Lauren Hansen, Meghan Ekstrand
2004 – Allison Dickman, Amy Aramanda, Danielle Hiollenbeck-Pringle, Esther Young, Heather Littlefield, Jolene McLaughlin, Katie Dunster, Kristina Sewell, Leslie Masterpool, Paige Elrod
2003 – Allison Snyder, Allondra Thibault, Amber Boyd, Catherine Stewart, Erin Wilson, Heather Johnson, Jennifer Schefcik, Kate Lomen, Sashel Hammond
2002 - Brianne Owens, Brittany Iverson, Crystal Knight, Janine Bush, Jennifer Napier, Sarah Wise
2001 - Bree Kasper, Karrie Parman
2000 - Arriva Gordon, Emily Davey, Janet Barnes, Krista Byers, Laura Hickman, Rebecca Reynolds, Shannon Queirolo, Sharon Minney
1998 - Anna Landis, Connie Scherschel, Corinne Devin, Danielle Stephens, Erin Bjur, Jennifer Mahe, Kara Bjur, Kimberly Marquis, Kristina Wilson, Lisel Volherding, Overman, Melissa Izatt, Tiffani Wallace
1997 – Angela Bush, Carolyn Boyd, Laura Thiel, Sarah Norberg
1996 - Cristina Taormina, Melissa Heaphy, Natalie Morse, Theresa Squatrito
1995 - Carrie Reynolds, Dagny Williams, Eryka Raines, Heather Tash , Hilary Binker, Kerrie Napier, Rachel Thomas, Rebecca Reno
1994 - Cara Taormina, Jennifer Taormina, Victoria Glover
1993 - Kellie Schnabel, Melanie McLaughlin, Rachel Novak, Renee Meisshach1984 - Lori Anderson
1992 – Allison McStroul, Claire Booth, Dawn Lawrie, Kaminski, Sarah Hood, Wenona Glover
1991 - Jamie Schnabel
1990 - Erin Ostrom, Jackie Humphreys, Kimberly White, Melissa Hollman, Rhonda Henderson, Sarah Hartman
1989 - Becky Granados, Karen Coleman
1988 - Tammy Wynia
1987 - Aeryn Donnelly
1986 - Amy Hendrickson, Dawn Elton, Sonya Cirone
1985 - Amy Hagadorn
1984 - Lori Anderson
1983 - Sally Clarke (Dault)
