Many thanks to the dedicated volunteers who serve on GSCCC’s Highest Award Committee.
Candice Cherry
Diana Behling
Christine LeBlanc
Linda Linke
Cheryl McGrenra
Susan Ramsland
Cathy Six
Ann Stenberg
Megan Taliaferro
Tracy Keller Chief Executive Officer
We are proud to recognize and celebrate the incredible achievements of Girl Scouts who have earned highest awards — the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards — and other special Girl Scout honors and recognitions.
The highest awards are not earned easily; Girl Scouts must make a commitment to themselves, their leaders, and their sister Girl Scouts of dedicated time and effort toward earning them. The impact that these award recipients have on their communities, because of their projects, will continue to be evident for years to come. For many of these Girl Scouts, the paths they choose as adults will be determined by what they learned and the skills they gained through earning these awards. These changemakers all demonstrated hard work and passion, and in doing so touched lives and improved communities.
While presenting awards and recognizing successes is certainly the reason we are here today, we are also celebrating our mission of empowering girls. In Girl Scouting, we honor the whole journey, not just the final destination. Through Girl Scouts, girls hold the power to tell their stories, speak their truth, and believe in the value of their experiences. They demonstrate the courage, confidence, and character to lead by example. They take action to shape the future for themselves, their families, their communities, and beyond.
In essence, Girl Scouting empowers girls to grow and thrive in amazing ways, to become confident leaders and responsible community members, creating a better world today and tomorrow.
Congratulations to all of our honorees. We applaud your commitment to create positive change for yourself and others through your Girl Scout resilience and leadership!
Tracy Keller Chief Executive Officer, GSCCC
Girl Scouts Who Lead the Way
June 7, 2025
L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center
Norfolk State University
Emcees
Terri Washington
Vice President of Member Engagement
Sarah Peterson
Council Partnerships & Events Manager
Opening Flag Ceremony
Girl Scout Troop 305
National Anthem
Girl Scout Ambassador Bella Waite
Message
Carolyn Pittman Board Chair
Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast
Buck Harris Award Presentation
Girl Scout Senior Caelyn Yerigan
Lifesaving Award
Medal of Honor Awards
Girl Scout Highest Awards
Journey Summit Awards
Bronze Awards
Silver Awards
Gold Awards
Gold Award Charge
Christine LeBlanc
Highest Award Committee
Scholarship Announcements
Graduates Bridging
Remarks
Tracy Keller
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast
Buck Harris Award
The Buck Harris Award was established in honor of Buck Harris, a former executive director of the Virginia Tidewater Girl Scout Council. The award honors a Girl Scout who loves the outdoors, relates to others with respect, has developed values that give meaning and direction to her life, and uses her skills and talents to serve the community. The award is presented annually to one Girl Scout who has been nominated and approved by the Council’s Recognition Committee. The recipient receives a framed certificate and a free week at a GSCCC-sponsored summer camp.
2025 Buck Harris Awardee
Girl Scout Senior Lily Willis
Girl Scout Senior Lily Willis from Troop 53 in Service Unit 330 is described by the volunteers who have led and mentored her as a bundle of enthusiasm with an unwavering dedication to the Girl Scout Promise and Law. She is the first to raise her hand and the first to come to the aid of someone in need. She is always on the lookout for ways to help. From masks and ear savers for local police and nurses to constructing a Little Free Library and knitting beanies for babies in neonatal care, this Girl Scout has a giving nature that is making the world a better place.
Her achievements in Girl Scouting have included earning the Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards, serving as a Cookie Captain and stepping up to be a Service Unit Delegate. Lily inspires others with her positive approach to life and motivates them to find common ground and solutions to any challenges they might face. When Lily shows up to help with badge work, participation is high and smiles are wide. Troop members continue to recall the Brownie Day where Lily volunteered to lead a Take Action project. With her guidance, Girl Scouts created care packages for the unhoused and shut-ins from the community. Lily led a collection drive for personal items, organized the day, and ensured that each package included a heartfelt, handwritten note.
Her commitment to making the world a better place also includes nature and the outdoors. She diligently finds ways to help protect and promote environmental awareness. Lily made turtle rehabilitation habitats for a local animal rescue, and created key chains with attached trash pouches for litter clean ups. These key chains were so popular that she made them as S.W.A.P.S. (Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere) for her service unit’s encampment! She is always finding ways to integrate her Girl Scout experience with her interests and hobbies, such as crafts, hiking, hammock camping, and outdoor photography.
“I have had countless opportunities to learn and experience new things through Girl Scouts. I have found a love for adventure, the outdoors, camping, whitewater rafting, archery and more. I have learned that with patience, determination and perseverance I can accomplish anything that I set my mind to!”
Lifesaving Awards
Lifesaving Awards have been part of Girl Scouts since the organization began in the United States in 1912. These awards recognize Girl Scouts from 5-17 years of age who have heroically saved or attempted to save a life, demonstrating skills and judgement beyond the degree of maturity and training to be expected at their age.
There are two Lifesaving Awards; the Lifesaving Bronze Cross is given for saving a life or attempting to save a life with risk to the candidate’s own life, and the Lifesaving Medal of Honor is given for saving a life or attempting to save a life without risk to the candidate’s own life.
Medal of Honor
Girl Scout Cora Jackson from Troop 137 is the recipient of the Girl Scout Medal of Honor. Last spring while attending a neighborhood picnic and pool party, Cora noticed a five-year-old who was having difficulty in the water after jumping into the pool without supervision.
With no supervising adults nearby to see this, Cora took action and jumped in after the girl and brought her to poolside safety.
This is a reminder that drowning isn’t the loud, dramatic spectacle that we often see in the movies. It can be very quiet and only takes a second for a dangerous situation to unfold. After helping the younger girl out of the water, Cora went back to enjoy the picnic!
She was commended for her bravery and for being a Girl Scout who was helpful, courageous, and caring by her troop friends at their 2025 Cookie Rally party.
Medal of Honor
Girl Scout Vada Carawan from Troop 44 is a recipient of the Girl Scout Medal of Honor. For Vada, a Girl Scout Junior troop activity to earn a First Aid badge became part of a miracle. Vada never thought that the CPR training she and other troop members took would save her dad’s life. Vada recalled how she felt at the time, “Of course, it was scary, and I started tearing up. I was in complete shock. And then I was like, ‘heart attack... heart attack, 911.’”
While on the phone with the dispatcher, she started chest compressions. With the help of paramedics, who arrived within minutes, Vada’s dad, Clint, was revived. The paramedics said Vada’s quick action saved her dad’s life.
Clint and his family applauds Vada learning CPR. “Vada proved that even the smallest hands can make the biggest difference. You never know when you’ll be called to act, and the skills you learn today could save a life tomorrow.”
Life Skills learned during Girl Scouts’ programs prepare girls to handle life’s situations, even in extreme emergencies.
Journey Summit Recipients
The Journey Summit Award Pin is earned by Girl Scouts who have completed all three National Leadership Journeys at their grade level. The colored border around each pin corresponds to their grade level.
Girl Scouts being recognized have achieved Summit Awards for their current grade levels, from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.
Daisy Summit Awardee
Abresha Robledo
Brownie Summit Awardees
Serenity Angus
Emily Douglas
Junior Summit Awardees
Marissa Hughes
Evelyn Katen
Kaitlyn Keller
Margo Johnson
Lila Marchand
Mikayla McVeigh
Cadette Summit Awardees
Braelyn Douglas
Sydney Duryea
McKenna Myles
Alexa Richardson
Peyton Scott
Alexis Tasber
Madison Gyles-Lyons
Jocelyn Hayes
Kaitlyn Keller
Juliet Mcdonald
Nina McVeigh
Melody Newman
Adriana Pickett
Emma Mae Wiley
Deborah Wright
Nina McVeigh
Gabriella Pickett
Grace Trout
Julianne Van Auken
Amelia Weber
Emma Mae Wiley
Katherine Wilson
Ambassador Summit Awardee
Gabrielle McCants
Changemaker Award
The Changemaker Award is a puzzle piece, and each piece of the puzzle represents the highest award a Girl Scout has earned for her grade level.
Bronze Award Girl Scouts
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. Earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award involves the time to complete a Journey, a suggested minimum of twenty hours building a team, exploring the community, choosing and planning a project, and then putting the project into motion.
Lauren Bascom
Averi Beard
Cora Beard
Harper Best
Harriet Bragdon
Sydney Brown
Solymar Carr
Giada Catanese
Emma Chavez
Grace Cipalla
Ryleigh Clough
Cora Condon
Devin Cox
Alison Daley
Sierra Darden
Keionna Davis
Micaela Deming
Lyla Dill
Velina Dimitrova
Kai Dixon
Madison Dorrman
Emmie Dozier
Haley Elton
Victoria Engler
Alice Erving
Piper Farrell
Grace Freeman
Harper Fulrath
Olivia Gehring
Charlize Griffin
Briana Guerreiro
Natalie Guiffre
Selahra Hairston
Peyton Ten Haken
Ellie Hale
Taylor Harris
Aiden Harrison
Evalyn Hart
Alexandria Harvey
Annabell Heath-Matney
Scarlett Holley
Lexi Holmes
Elizabeth Huddle
Marissa Hughes
Melody Ireland
Harmony Isidore
Guinevere Johnson
Kyriana Jones
Scarlet Justason
Olivia Karunaratne
Callie King
Brooke Lacasse
Addison Landry
Haleigh Langstaff
Eleanor LeMay
Sarah Leroy
Autumn Lester
Aurora Leung
Ella Logan
Elyse Mai
Lila Marchand
Alyssa Martin
Sara Martin
Anna McLaughlin
Mikayla McVeigh
Madeline Milkowski
Kaliope Miller
Sylvia Monk
Ruby Morgan
Iris Motter
Charlotte Nelson
Brooke Parker
Annabel Patrick
Sydney Patton
Arya Phillips
Gabriella Pickett
Emalyn Pugh
Eyonna Red-Fox
Maya Reed
Emmy Reese
Olivia Rickel
Mia Rivera
Daisy Roberts
Elena Sampson
Lilliana Sargeant
Lennox Seabron
Anabelle Sellers
Sophia Sharp
Avalee Shepard
Megan Shuck
Mary Sikorski
Chelsea Simonsen
Mallory Simonsen
Eliza Skees
Raven Smallwood
Emma Smith
Reagan Smith
Ana Maria Solis
Easterly Spanik
Sadie Spindler
Olivia Sturges
Kaitlyn Tasber
Elizabeth Taylor
Emilie Taylor
Makayla Thomas
Brooke Trudeau
Hannah Van Auken
Vivian Waible
Emmeline Waite
Emma Wersal
Elizabeth Wheatley
Olivia Wilkerson
Darby Willard
Kaitlin Williams
Silver Award Girl Scouts
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve. It gives girls the chance to show that they are leaders who are organized, determined, and dedicated to improving their community. When Girl Scout Cadettes focus on an issue they care about, learn the facts, and take action to make a difference, they gain the confidence and skills that will catapult them to lifelong success.
Emma Bailey
The Ivor Playground
Emma Slauson-Blevins
Cookies for Hope
Isabella Connors Scholar Success
Parker Cook
Improve Chesapeake Bay Water Quality: Encouraging Oyster Collection in Oceanview
Maranna Gadler The Bird Sanctuary
Wren Greene Wren’s Blanketfest
Quinn Powers McDermott Cookies for Hope
Hannah Marie Opauski
The Ivor Playground
June Robison Cookies For Hope
Benefits of Becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout
Gold Award Girl Scouts 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.
Here are some of the benefits of earning the Gold Award:
• Girl Scouts distinguish themselves in the college admissions process. Only six percent of Girl Scouts earn their Gold Award—imagine how much your application will stand out in the general applicant pool!
• Earn college scholarships with the distinction. Scholarships are available on a national and local level.
• Enlist in the military one rank higher. Jump start your military career by earning the Gold Award.
• Be seen as a role model and distinguished leader.
• Master time management skills. Girls learn to balance their academic studies and social life before living independently and present themselves as a stronger applicant in the job market.
• Make the world a better place.
• 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.
Gold Award Girl Scouts
Gold Award Girl Scout
Janelle Breitkreutz
Troop 468
Virginia Beach, VA
Community Music Café
Dedicated to empowering individuals experiencing
Gold Award Girl Scout
Sarah Glassman Troop 919
Suffolk, VA
Dogs for a Cause
Gold Award Girl Scout
Maureen Keller
Troop 359
Chesapeake, VA
Green Hearts – Think Before You Trash
Maureen created a project in response to a city-wide nix on the city’s funded recycling program. As a concerned citizen, she had tracked the story about the cancellation of the free curbside recycling program that had been available to all citizens for many years. As an environmentalist, this action was alarming. Before the cancellation, 76% of people in Chesapeake used curbside recycling. Maureen’s research prompted her to take action.
She planned and hosted the first citywide Earth Day celebration event in Chesapeake,
Gold
Award Girl Scout
Mackenzie Koman
Individual Girl Member – Juliette Chesapeake, VA
It’s Time to Get Cheering
Mackenzie loves the sport of cheerleading and wanted to spread the “cheer” to others through her project, “It’s Time to Get Cheering.” As a person who has enjoyed the benefits of cheerleading and attending cheerleading camps, she knows the value it can bring to a youth. Cheerleading camps can help campers build confidence, learn teamwork, and develop life skills. They can also help campers strengthen relationships and set goals for success. Plus, it is a full-body workout that improves strength, flexibility, and coordination! The discipline required for cheerleading can help kids learn time management, focus, and dedication.
Research shows that the average cheerleading family spends between $100 to $1,000 monthly to participate in the sport, a cost that is incompatible
Gold Award Girl Scout
Abi Michalczak
Troop 673
Chesapeake, VA
Taylor Westbrook Troop 57
South Mills, NC
Let’s Get Real. Period.
The social stigma of discussing menstrual health and pelvic pain inhibits adolescents from discussing their symptoms or seeking treatment. In addition, parents and others can hold stigmatizing attitudes towards menstruation, pelvic pain, and endometriosis and may be unable to provide optimal social support to adolescents who navigate this condition. Undiagnosed endometriosis and toxic stress due to stigma can harm adolescents throughout childhood, adolescence, and later in life, including their maternal health.
Taylor took action to address this issue with her project, “Let’s Get Real. Period.” She developed an educational website to help girls in her community learn more about their menstrual cycles. Research and development of the
Gold
Award Girl Scout
Julia Williams
Troop 15
Chesapeake, VA
Nurture Your Mind with Nature
There has been a growing concern that a lack of exposure to nature and kids not spending time outside in natural green spaces is contributing to health problems, including effects on mental health. According to the National Recreation and Park Association, lack of access to green spaces has been linked to higher rates of chronic stress and mental health disorders.
Gold
Award Girl Scout
Justina Williams
Troop 15
Chesapeake, VA
Bringing Awareness to Crisis Boarding Program & Resources
Justina loves helping in her community and she loves animals. She took action to help both with her project, “Bringing Awareness to Crisis Boarding Program & Resources.” She provided a series of resources and educational opportunities designed to help domestic violence victims seeking shelter with or for their pets.
Scholarship Opportunities
She Believes She Can, So She Does Scholarship
The She Believes She Can, So She Does scholarship supports Girl Scouts pursuing higher education opportunities. Girl Scout alum, Kate Godby, created the scholarship to recognize graduating Girl Scouts’ achievements. The application features an essay for the applicants to describe how they personally exemplify the principles contained within the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Maylea Brockington Beasley Love and Laughter Scholarship
Maylea was a member of Troop 475 and a Gold Award Girl Scout who lost her life in a tragic accident as a college student. Maylea embraced all things in Girl Scouts and spread kindness to all. To honor her commitment to making the world a better place, her family recognizes a Gold Award Girl Scout with a scholarship to honor Maylea’s commitment to making the world a better place.
Girls Scouts of Courage, Confidence, and Character Scholarship
After 20 years as a troop leader for both of her daughters, Jennifer Lynch is giving back to graduating Girl Scouts who are continuing their education. As Michaella and Morgan’s mom, Jennifer saw how Girl Scouting contributed to their achievements, especially in their courage, confidence, and character. The Lynch family is excited to offer this opportunity to girls who have grown throughout their years in Girl Scouting.
Helen Kattwinkel Lifetime Membership Endowment
The Helen Kattwinkel Lifetime Membership Endowment conveys Lifetime Memberships upon graduating Gold Award Girl Scouts. Helen offered leadership and mentorship to girls seeking the Gold Award since it was introduced in 1980. Helen founded the Council’s Gold Award Committee and supported the cause until her passing. Thanks to the endowment, Helen’s legacy to girl leadership continues her cherished work.
GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship
The GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship recognizes and provides financial support to one Gold Award Girl Scout per council and one from USA Girl Scouts Overseas. Scholarship recipients must have completed a Gold Award project that demonstrates extraordinary leadership and measurable, sustainable impact and addresses an issue of national and/or global significance.
Find more information about these and other scholarship opportunities at gsccc.org.
2025 Girl Scout High School Graduates
Madison Anderson
Julia Apgar
Andrea Bak
Kya Baldwin
Morgan Barnett
Nasaya Basnight
Nisan Bates
Kayla Bell
Gabriella Bergstrom
Meredith Boone
Betty Bravo
Madisyn Brenenstuhl
Caroline Brodowski
Cheri Brown
Emily Brown
Javonna Brown
Paige Cabel
Danielle Carlson
Kaelan Campbell
Kayleigh Carnazza
Alexia Charbonneau-Woods
Mia Cistola
Ember Clark
Rain Clark
Darrees Copeland
Denise Copeland
Megan Corn
Lillian Crouch
Gwendolyn Darrow
Anastasia Davis
Emma Delmar
Bridget Dineen
Madysen Dougherty
Sienna Drake
Brooklynn Eckstien
Amiya Eure
Jayla Fields
Abigail Ford
Naomi French
Sarah Fulghum
MyAsia Fulton
Abigail Funk
Carmen Gardner
Camryn George
Emi Gibson
Sarah Glassman
Anslie Goff
Camille Graninger
Maura Graves
Shalise Green-Linzy
Cailyn Gregory
Kaylee Hall
Brianna A Harris
Laura Harris
Jade Hawkins
Kimberly Hicks
Molly Hooks
Eva Jernigan
Layla Johnson
Rachel Johnson Burfort
Maya Jones
Lauren Kimball
Sydney Kirby
Gabriella Kormanis
Naomi Lawson
Natalie Layton
Autumn Lee
Mari Lewis
Ella Longhini
Makaila Mason
Virginia Grace Mataya
Elora May
Kaitlin Mccleod
Avanni McDaniel
Emmelia Mcilhinney
Alyssa Mclawhorn
Cayley McReynolds
Shelby Meredith
Kendra Miles
Sara Miller
Kamryn Monroe
Victoria Newberry
Laila Norris
Ryann Norton
Lainie Oliver
Na’Shyyah Overton
Hannah Pape
Eshani Patel
Victoria Patton
Alexandra Peacock
Emily Pearce
Riley Pensyl
Brittnie Pittman
Grace Powell
Tyra Price
Emily Priest
Leann Purkey
Amira Randolph
Elgin Raymond
Kaitlyn Redman
Nomi Reins
Lauren Restrepo
Emily Rivas
Sarah Roberts
Lillian Robison
Shylah Rodriguez
Emma Rogowski
Vanessa Royce
Krissalan Rudolph
Taylor Rufty
Liz Mar Ruisanchez-Melendez
Maya Sanchez
Kyndal Seely
Paige Schweigert
Rachel Shaffer
Madison Smith
Joslyn Steiskal
Mackensie Stephens
Isabella Stone
Kendra Strickland
Noor Swanson
Caylin Szilagyi
Lexe Tarkenton
Jordan Tesoro
Damya Thomas
Clara Elodie Tilley
Danika Tonnesen
Charlie Tucker
Ruby Vander Burg
Alexis Vann
Jayla Vaughn
Alexandria Viviano
Gabriella Waite
Justina Williams
Maya Wilson
Lydia Winstead
Emma Wood
Brianna Worth
Ophelia Ye-Germond
Give the gift of lifetime membership to a graduate!
a graduate!
Contact: customercare@gsccc.org
Contact: customercare@gsccc.org
Off to college? Consider Campus Girl Scouts®. You can continue your Girl Scout experience by joining—or starting—a Campus Girl Scouts club. If your school doesn’t have a club, you can start one yourself!
Off to college? Consider Campus Girl Scouts®. You can continue your Girl Scout experience by joining—or starting—a Campus Girl Scouts club. If your school doesn’t have a club, you can start one yourself!
Thank You to the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center Norfolk State University for Opening Their Doors to Girl Scouts!
