Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast recognized the 41 local Girl Scouts who earned the Gold Award during the past year at a celebration June 4 at Virginia Wesleyan University. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

Gold Award recipients and guests were welcomed by Heather Lowe, a Girl Scout alumnae and former Gold Award recipient from Chesapeake, who served as the emcee for the event.

Jordan Thomas, a 2013 Gold Award recipient and a student at Virginia Wesleyan University, delivered welcoming remarks from the university. Carolene Goodwyn-Harris, chair of the board of directors for Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, congratulated the awardees on their accomplishments.

“I am inspired every time I reflect on the leadership opportunities offered through the Girl Scout Movement, especially the opportunity to earn the Gold Award,” Goodwyn-Harris said.

Lea Bonner, Angela Geraci and Shannon Hepp were recognized as the three local Girl Scouts nominated to be honored as National Young Women of Distinction.

Every year, Girl Scout councils from across the country nominate exceptionally inspiring Girl Scout Gold Award recipients to be selected as one of the 10 National Young Women of Distinction.

Each Gold Award recipient was then recognized, and Tracy Keller, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, pinned each recipient with the Gold Award pin. A summary of each girl’s project was shared with guests in attendance.

This year’s projects addressed a number of issues in the community, including food insecurity, bullying, childhood obesity and literacy rates.

In her closing remarks, Keller congratulated the girls for the hard work they put into earning the Gold Award.

“You have made meaningful, sustainable change in your communities,” Keller said. “You are changing the world.”

Since 1916, the best and brightest Girl Scouts have completed projects to improve their community and the world while earning the highest award in Girl Scouts. Girls who pursue the Gold Award aspire to transform an idea and vision for change into an actionable plan with measurable, sustainable and far-reaching results.