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Eighteen area Girl Scout Ambassadors, who are girls in the 11th and 12th grades, were recognized June 4 with the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement in Girl Scouts.

The recognition came from area council Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast during a Girl Scouts awards event held at Norfolk Collegiate School. 

A GSCCC news release noted that amongst the awardees was Girl Scout Ambassador Rachel Blythe, of Courtland, a senior at Southampton High School. 

In addition, Blythe received a Girl Scout lifetime membership from the Helen Kattwinkel Lifetime Membership Endowment.

To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, Blythe completed a service project she titled “Veterans Awareness Day.” She hosted a public event at VFW Post 4411 in Franklin in 2022 with the mission of connecting the community with resources that can be utilized to assist friends and loved ones as they overcome the effects of traumas related to military service.

Blythe said, “My granddad is a veteran, and I know many veterans are suffering due to the traumatic effects of war. Veterans and their families and friends may be too proud, angry or hurt to seek help. Sometimes, they just do not know where to go for help.”

Gold Award Girl Scout alum Marisa Beck, who owns and operates Latitude Climbing + Fitness, a climbing gym with three Hampton Roads locations, emceed the event. She spoke about earning her Girl Scout Gold Award as a teen and applauded the girls on successfully completing Gold Award projects that included more than 80 hours of community service. 

The awards were presented by GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller and Board Chair Marisa Porto.  

ABOUT THE GIRL SCOUT GOLD AWARD

Since 1916, girls have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each Gold Award Girl Scout’s dedication to not only empower and better herself, but also to make the world a better place for others. 

ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS OF THE COLONIAL COAST

Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, a United Way agency, serves more than 8,000 girls in grades K through 12 with the help of more than 4,000 adult volunteers in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. 

To volunteer, reconnect, donate or join, visit www.gsccc.org or call 1-800-77SCOUT.