Girl Scouts of South Carolina ? Mountains to Midlands Honored 32 ...

Girl Scouts of South Carolina ? Mountains to Midlands Honored 32 Gold Award Recipients

May 16, 2012

COLUMBIA, SC - May 16, 2012 - Columbia resident, Rachel Bryson, was recently recognized for earning the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award.?

Photo at right:? Rachel Bryson earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout may earn.

A total of 32 high achieving Girl Scouts were honored at Presbyterian College on Sunday, May 5, 2012.? The honorees represented 23 troops from across the council?s 22-county region.? Of the 46 total girls who earned this award, 32 were able to attend the reception, including Rachel.? This is the highest award that a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador in grades 9-12 may earn.? On average, these hardworking young leaders completed a minimum of 80 hours each to meet all the requirements needed to ear this award.

For her Gold Award project, Girl Scout Ambassador Rachel Bryson focused on the hunger issue.? With the help and support of volunteers, she provided hot meals for homeless people and others in the community.? She also made presentations to groups and individuals to raise awareness about this pressing need.? Rachel is the daughter of Hedy and Emanuel Bryson.? She is in Troop 853 and her Troop Leader is Norma Ferguson.

Noting that approximately 80 percent of current women business owners, 59 percent of female U.S. Senators, and five of six female Governors, including South Carolina?s Nikki Haley, were Girl Scouts, Kim Hutzell, President & CEO of Girl Scouts of South Carolina ? Mountains to Midlands stated, ?Girls who earn the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award are highly esteemed by their peers and the community. Because of their demonstrated leadership, organizational and networking skills, they receive special consideration for college/university acceptance, scholarships and advanced entry into military service.?

The program also honored 164 Silver Award achievers, of whom 62 were able to attend the reception.? This is the highest honor to earn for girls, ages 11 ? 14, or in grades 6 ? 9.? 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.? Last year, fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts around the nation received the Girl Scout Gold Award.? Its respect is demonstrated by the fact that more than 100 U.S. colleges and universities and numerous national organizations and nonprofit agencies offer scholarships specifically for Girl Scout Gold Award recipients.? In addition, an 18 year old entering military service begins at a higher pay grade if she has earned this honor.

For 100 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 12,600 girls, grades K5-12, and 5,000 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.

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