2026 Girl Scouts of Central Indiana United We Lead Honoring Girl Scouts of Central Indiana’s top girl and adult award recipients.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scout Mission
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Welcome! Through Girl Scouts we try new challenges, serve our community, and make the world a better place. For decades, local girls and adult volunteers have honed their leadership skills to earn some of the highest awards in Girl Scouts. Throughout my 27 years of service, I have been honored to celebrate our Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award Girl Scouts who take action and do good work throughout their communities, as well as our amazing top volunteers, who continue to inspire girls to succeed. And finally, I love learning about our scholarship recipients who are pursuing paths to make the world a better place. The extraordinary Girl Scouts you’ll find in the following pages are dreamers and doers. Their work makes a positive impact for this generation and those that follow. Congratulations to each girl and adult award recipient; you should be proud of your amazing accomplishment. I look forward to seeing how you will continue to make the world a better place.
Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Deana Potterf Chief Executive Officer 2
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Gold Award Girl Scouts Change the World
Gold Award Girl Scouts Valeria Arriz
Gold Award Girl Scouts are change-makers. They have changed the world, changed their lives, and earned the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting. To earn the Gold Award, a Girl Scout identifies an issue in their community, drafts a plan to address a root cause, and leads a team of volunteers to implement it. When the project is complete, the Gold Award Girl Scout and their team have made a sustainable impact on the world that continues to last beyond their involvement. It’s a huge accomplishment that also impacts the Gold Award Girl Scout as a person. How they see the world—and how the world sees them—is forever changed. It’s also a credential that will be with them for the rest of their life; having the Girl Scout Gold Award on a high school transcript or résumé can make a Girl Scout stand out when it comes to college admissions, scholarship applications, internships, and job interviews.
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Athlete’s Armory A former high school athlete and lifelong sports fan. Valeria wanted more people to have the opportunity to explore their interest in sports and increase activity in my community. She created a library of sports equipment for community members to access outdoor sports equipment to encourage activity and outdoor enjoyment. A graduate of Center Grove, Valeria currently attends Purdue University and is majoring in Economics and Law & Society, with plans to go onto law school.
Kathryn Baker Band Trailer Organization Project A four-year member of Lawrence Central’s marching band, Kathryn is passionate about supporting her band community. She noticed instruments were not stored properly, and the trailer’s disarray led to wasted time and damaged instruments. Kathryn took on a complete revamp of the band storage trailer to help improve the band experience for future students. Kathryn plans to attend Notre Dame to study strategic marketing.
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Aubrey Dillon
Mary Hickman
Student Comfort Closet
Adapting for Food Allergies
Girl Scout Aubrey wanted to support her fellow students in her community of New Castle. Recognizing that students sometimes lacked access to personal care and hygiene items they needed, she created a Comfort Closet at Blue River Valley High School to solve this need. Aubrey will be a sophomore in college this fall.
Mary noticed that many people are affected by food allergies, which can create challenges in cooking healthy and enjoyable meals. She worked at the Purdue Student Farm to learn about new vegetables and how to cook with them, then hosted virtual cooking classes for others to learn how to cook a new meal. This helped connect others with allergies to know that cooking should not be a struggle but a good reason to learn a new skill.
Reagan Fortier Pollinator Garden New Palestine grad and nature lover Reagan was concerned at the rate of habitat loss for pollinators across the world, driven by pollution from pesticides and garbage. Knowing pollinators are critical for global food supply, Reagan created a pollinator garden of raised beds filled with a variety of native plants and flowers that are vital to helping bees support the ecosystem. She also included a bee house as a safe haven for visiting bees and a website to educate the public. Reagan plans to attend Vincennes to study chemical engineering and psychology.
Sarah Greener Neighborhood Owl Boxes Carmel High School graduate Sarah noticed her neighborhood ponds were having issues with ground instability due to muskrats burrowing holes. She decided to build owl boxes as a natural way to better support the ecosystem. A 13-year Girl Scout, Sarah plans to attend college in the fall.
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Megan Hinze Sensory Wall Megan realized there was not an outlet for children in her community to fulfill their sensory needs. At her local playground, Megan created an interactive sensory wall to incorporate fidget and other sensory supports for students with sensory needs.
Peyton Holloway Project Owl Warror Noticing how new commercial and residential construction was negatively affecting habitats in her area, Peyton set out to create Project Owl Warrior to protect local bird populations. She built and installed screech owl boxes at W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park in Avon, created two websites, and made materials for Daisy Girl Scouts to help earn the Animal Observer Badge. Peyton plans to study computer science at Purdue this fall.
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Ashlyn Inman American Flag Retirement Boxes
Hygiene Blessing Boxes
White River Valley High School senior Ashlyn learned only two places in her county offered drop-off boxes to properly retire American flags. She decided to make flag retirement boxes for every Greene County American Legion branch that needed one. To fund the project, Ashlyn collected scrap metal to sell for lumber, paint and other needed supplies. She also educated the public about proper flag retirement procedures.
As a future military service member, Girl Scout Nevaeh is passionate about supporting veterans and noticed many in her community lacked access to hygiene products. With rising costs placing further strain, Nevaeh created blessing boxes to pass out to veterans, disabled adults, and other adults in her community struggling to get support for basic needs.
Natalie Lewis High School Heroes 2.0 Natalie noticed her community lacked sufficient education about the dangers of drug use for students transitioning into middle school. She revamped her district’s existing drug prevention programming to better protect students in her community.
Vera McConnell Addressing Period Poverty in Indiana Vera is passionate about access to menstrual products, having previously organized a period product drive to benefit Horizon House. For her Gold Award project, Vera wanted to advocate for the end of sales tax on menstrual products in the state of Indiana, which currently classifies them as a luxury item rather than a necessity, which disproportinately affects women from low-income backgrounds. Vera plans to attend Columbus College of Art and Design this fall.
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Nevaeh McLaughlin
Loriese Myers Native American Cookbook Loriese noticed a lack of Native American cultural awareness in her community and wanted to create a connection through food. She compiled a cookbook with recipes from Native American tribes, individuals, and organizations. Loriese also hosted community presentations to share dishes from her cookbook and educated younger Girl Scouts to help them earn their Native American Heritage patch. Loriese will attend Dartmouth this fall.
Kaavya Patel Soaring Together: The Cardinal Mural Project Hamilton Southeastern High School student Kaavya noticed her school community lacked a strong sense of unity and school spirit, leading to a gap in student involvement. She created a collaborative mural for students, teachers, and community members to express their school spirit through art, resulting in a striking piece titled Soaring Together: The Cardinal Mural Project. Kaavya plans to pursue a career in the medical field. 9
Ella Sellers
Jenna Stone
The Art of Healing
Tackling Food Insecurity
Franklin Central High School Senior Ella has personal experience with being hospitalized as a young child and wanted to give back and support kids now facing that challenge. Noticing young St. Francis patients did not have a creative outlet during lengthy stays, she wanted to outfit the hospital with art supplies and tools to help provide some fun and relaxation as they received treatment. The Art of Healing offers a supportive space for young patients to engage their creativity.
Jenna was concerned at food insecurity in her community and wanted to do something to help. She partnered with Garfield Park Conservatory to grow fresh produce and give it to those in need, creating a new source of healthy food for families in her community who might live in food deserts. After graduating from Roncalli, Jenna plans to attend college and major in physics.
Tanessa Sherwood Fresh Food Stand Tanessa was concerned at the lack of fresh food available at food banks in her community. Noticing that local food banks only received canned and dried fruits and vegetables, she created a fresh food stand to keep donated items fresh, separate and visible so they can be properly stored without spoiling or affecting other products. Tanessa plans to attend law school in the future.
Phoebe Sidebottom Improved Access to Voter Registration for High School Students Girl Scout Phoebe wanted to address Indiana‘s low youth voting rates. She created voter registration and educational resources for Get Out the Vote Events and at her high school, reaching hundreds of highschoolers to equip them with the knowledge to act and educate others. 10
Willa Thomas Introducing Phenology and Native Plants to Kids Girl Scout Willa grew up camping and spending time in nature, developing a deep love of nature and understanding of native ecosystems, which provide shelter for native animals and require less fertilizer, pesticides, and water, and can help improve air quality by locking up carbon dioxide. Willa’s project educates kids on the importance of native plants to spread awareness and effect change.
Maddalyn Turnipseed Take a Seat Maddalyn is passionate about recycling and wanted to educate her community about its benefits. She made four benches for the Park foundation in Greenwood, collecting hundreds of pounds of bottle caps to fund the project.
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Elizabeth Weinantz Bags of Comfort Elizabeth noticed many children entering foster care in her commnity lacked essential items to help them feel comfortable during what is often a scary time of sudden transition. She created a project to create bags of comforting items to help children feel supported and cared for during their transition into foster care.
Madyson Whicker Reviving a Lost Art Madyson loves to crochet and wanted to spread that joy to younger generations of Girl Scouts from different troops and counties. She created a tutorial online and help in-person lessons to teach the skill to others. After her sessions, she had 50 mini crochet projects to donate to the local Child Protective Services branch. Madyson is attending Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the fall.
Silver Award Girl Scouts Troop 212 Sophia Jimenez Butcher Gwyneth Gonzalez Scarlett Logan Sarah Monzingo Katie Sullivan Troop 706 Zoey Gantt Troop 791 Astrid Jones Troop 908 Callie Ahlbrand Juliet Bright Isabell Fiega Senai Redwine Troop 1094 Aubree Amback Evie Coates Novalee Cosby Anna Dick Naima Duong Elizabeth Rose Matthews Emma Peregrine Brynn Elizabeth Richey Emery Shepherd Ellie Snyder Betsy Nicole Strong Allison Tharp Hannah Walker
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Troop 1323 Elizabeth Holtsclaw Isabella Holtsclaw Roberta Holtsclaw Troop 1649 Marian McConnell Troop 2968 Delilah Jean Emmons Troop 3063 Anna Sandoval Troop 3078 Kaeleigh Amburgey Harper Lee Bridges LaShay Dwiggins Tynira Johnson Chloe Kramer Mackenzie Schneider Lydia J. Schwartz Troop 3111 Dorothea Formo Troop 3153 Abigail Hicks Troop 3200 Kaydence Lind Nevaeh Wallace Troop 3250 Kendall Davis Ahmya Journey-Gilbert Harper Setterlof 13
Troop 3274 Aven Brockley Jessica Lester Reagan Roudebush Troop 3284 Karissa Hampton Nora McNelis Bhavya Thakkar Troop 3429 Sara Krohn Troop 3462 Emily Kelsey Troop 3574 Rosalie Carter Isabelle Plondke Ella Williams Troop 3658 Evelyn Holladay Troop 3684 Marie Nicely Troop 3961 Katharine Gayes Troop 3976 Emerson Schwab Zoie Taylor Emma Wollowski Troop 4022 Audrey Christiansen Troop 4161 Olivia Banks Darcy Borneman Hannah R. Craig Norah Koontz Lyla Tysen 14
Troop 4234 Lillian Chapman Trinity Simons Troop 4383 Emilia Dunagan Holly Priddy Troop 4431 Addi Brown Emma Goodman Vesper Hynes Julianne Loetz Catherine Smith Troop 4737 Lauren Beck Troop 4800 Jemma Bagley Harper Mathews Maple Myers Troop 4948 Vega Dange Lisey Lamoureux Troop 6201 Maya Winarko Troop 8021 Emerson Agan Sofia Cubero Katherine Snyder
Bronze Award Girl Scouts Troop 309 Evvy Hopkins Troop 415 Laynie Bales Gabrielle Henry Troop 474 Kinzlee Durant Victoria Sparks Troop 608 Dagney Crouch Gwen Hollars Cecilia Keller Molly Pease Skye Townsend Ellie Wogomon Troop 641 Kadence Brown Troop 647 Jacqueline (Jacquie) Coers Krystal Collins Amelia Dalton Leanor Formo Charli Hart Ripley Maixner Jay (Remi) McGillen Violet McGillen Troop 706 Hannah Copp Maddison Gantt Annette Rundquist
Troop 728 Alaina Krysevig Madeline Urso Cassidy Waltz Troop 730 Madelyn Qualman Gemma Schwartz Troop 776 Mackenzie Donohue Arianna Fee Natalie Forsythe Kiaya Gillette Violet Kress Ryland McKinsey Rosalind Vigus Troop 779 Alice Bernard Aimee Borchert Eleanor Dwiggins Ari Georgiades Clara Goergen Celeste Ho Maya Ingwell Isabel Janecko Zoey Jung Mackenzie Lee Mallory Morgan Imogen Olsen Beril Salihoglu Sydney Steinfort Gretta Tonnsen Alice Turkstra Alaina Werkmeister
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Troop 802 Macy Camplinger Peyton Huff Brenna Hutchins Lucy Large Lily Large Charlee Skunk Troop 956 Harper Dieckmann Raygan Grooms Izabella Lemons Josephine Luers Ava McMullen Brooklyn Ott Briella Strelnik Heidi Werner Troop 979 Zelia Bancroft Morgan Cogswell Pheobe Hernandez Summer Hurm Genevieve Kelley Wren Kuznarsky Olivia Obszanski Adrijana Rusher Troop 993 Malina Hudacin Isabella Patterson Baylor Pruett Lena Ray Lanning Royer Addison Stuples Alayna Tapp Charlotte Taylor
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Troop 1150 Ashlynne Dunay Katelyn Jones Mychelle Miller Kaylee Mullen Lydia Price-Conway Remi Trester Rylee Vargas Troop 1377 Brooklyn Gott Sydney Short Sophia Titara Troop 1594 Molly Bunde Nemora Cloud Amara Farrell Maren Glass Cecelia Leigh-Wing Viv Taylor Troop 1900 Marlena Alexander Violet Hoyt Elaina Iverson Nicole Kielar-Thompson Emma McCrory Scarlett Smith AJ Wood Troop 2149 Nora Curtis Cali Denniston Samantha Melton Harper Pierce Troop 2303 Kiya Crandall Suzi Hendrick Ariel Salas Bella Still Addelyn Tilley
Troop 2567 Emily Boake Troop 2743 Chirayn McClung Troop 2873 Cecilia Bowman Troop 3757 Laura Ciancaglini Audrey Coyle Cora Hitchcock Callie Kerswick Kendall Kraft April Krock Emily Lopresto Quinn McLaughlin Troop 3758 Elena Buchanan Bonnie DiCicco Emma Glass Lily Holladay Emmaline Roden Addie Webb Emma Wei Troop 3780 Harper Byrge Elsa Cheney Max (Matilda) Horrall Nora Knust Jaiden Lawrence Clara Leslie Vanessa McCorvie Audrey Rutz
Troop 3836 Margaret Barrow Sunnah Bashir Daya Bates Nadia Bray Iris Craig Fiona Cushing Amara Ellis Emelia Keslar Karson Kollada Leia Lewis Nora McCarthy Madeline Selby Zariah Simmons Lilly Troyer Ava Wallace Troop 3844 Madilyn Brannan Carlee Burdine Ashlyn Frare Skylar Gurney Macy Ham Adrianne Henderson Natalie Kerns Malia Pryor Alexa Vondersaar Troop 3903 Nora Crandall Lucy Elston Braelyn Fox Skylyn Garcia Libby Gernand Violet Johnson Nella Sloan Ellie Wenger
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Troop 3904 Hadley Arnett Evelynn Ashburn Adalynn Bowers Emmie Brock Emilia Dunagan Holly Priddy Troop 3904 Elena Barnes Marlee Bell Alaina Dean Sadie Gonzalez Violet Logan Isabella Martin Mia Patel Skye Schneider Luna Torres Luna White Nikki Wolfe Troop 3961 Lizzy Carter Olive O’Conner Gabby Sanders Essillee Smith Troop 4698 Vyvian Whicker
Troop 5061 Evelyn Avery Maddie Beck Lila Britton Audrey Gualdoni Emelia Harbeck Aria Lockwood Zela Neibert Myka Parra Aubree Royce Troop 5062 Ivy Andersson Leah Ball Autumn Kemery Caroline Nicely Juna Trefun Troop 5067 Ada Anger Layla Barry Autumn Dillingham Briana Marcum Indiana Smith
Scholarship Award Recipients 2026 Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Scholarship Recipients Sophia Campbell Sydney Davee Hope Morcombe Rachel Rath
2026 GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship Sarah Greener
Troop 8009 Peyton Land Troop 8017 Karter Dixon
Troop 4714 Laney Milleman Ellie Novak Josie Novak Emmie Smith Sophia Smith Ryleigh Willison Troop 4793 Anastasia Graf Isabella Mundo Mora
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Girl Scouts of the USA Thanks Badge Honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.
Sarah Bowmer Madison County Sarah hosts the cookie cupboard which serves both Maidson and Delaware Counties. In the last year she supported 45 troops who sold 32,841 packages of cookies. During the cookie season, Sarah supports all new troops to navigate their first cookie experience. She guides them on amounts to purchase, how to manage caregivers, and supports the girl to have fun while learning entrepreneurial skills. Through her commitment and dedication to the Girl Scout cookie program, girls learn to set high goals, deliver outstanding customer service, and become savvy entrepreneurs.
Girl Scouts of the USA Thanks Badge Christina Schwab Greene County Through her unwavering dedication, leadership, and passion for creating meaningful opportunities, Christina exemplifies the true spirit of Girl Scouting for girls and volunteers alike. Her commitment reaches far beyond the expectations of a volunteer, and her impact is felt across troops, service units, and council-wide initiatives. Christina continually goes above and beyond to ensure that girls experience the very best that Girl Scouting has to offer.
Sarah also assists at the county level and assists with technological changes. She has shared insight and guidance for countless troop volunteers as they navigate eBudde, Digital Cookies, and Cheddar Up. Sarah also has assisted troops by serving as a second signer to ensure the troop funds are well taken care of until appropriate leadership can be found.
Christina has been instrumental in planning and supporting some of our most impactful experiences for older girls. She plays a key role in organizing and executing CSA Roundup events, creating spaces where Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors can connect, learn, and grow as leaders. Her thoughtful planning ensures that these events are engaging, educational, and empowering. Christina also dedicates her time and energy to helping plan and run the Brownie Overnight, an event that often serves as a magical and memorable experience for many girls early in their Girl Scout journey. From logistics and planning to hands-on support during the event, Christina ensures that every detail helps create a safe, fun, and meaningful experience for the girls.
Sarah’s enthusiasm for Girl Scouts is seen locally, offering one on one guidance to a troop with little support, organizing events and activities for all girls as well as supporting girls throughout the council during the Girl Scout cookie program. Her kindness and positivity are contagious. She truly models the Girl Scout Law helping wherever needed and being a sister to every Girl Scout.
Christina’s contributions to Girl Scouts are truly exceptional. Through her leadership, service, and dedication, she strengthens our council, uplifts volunteers, and creates unforgettable experiences for girls. She embodies the mission of Girl Scouting and consistently works to ensure that girls have opportunities to grow into confident leaders who will make a positive impact in their communities.
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Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Outstanding Leader of the Year
Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Outstanding Leader of the Year
Sheila Lacy
Rachel Fishback & Kristen Gross
Troop 415 - Howard/Tipton County
Troop 1388 - North & South Vigo
Sheila has spent six years leading a troop that opens its doors to every girl who wants to join. Her troop has grown to 54 girls and 34 adults, and she thoughtfully organizes each grade level while recruiting and mentoring co‑leaders. She builds strong partnerships with local schools, ensuring families know about Girl Scouts and more girls have access to the program.
Rachel and Kristen lead a troop of 14 fourth‑ and fifth grade Girl Scouts, creating experiences that truly center girl leadership. They encourage girls to try new things, speak with confidence, and take responsibility for their choices. Instead of stepping in, they intentionally step back—giving girls space to make decisions, manage money, and work through challenges together.
She encourages girls to stretch beyond their comfort zones—whether it’s their first camping trip, cookie booth, or community service project. Under her guidance, girls learn to solve problems, make an impact, and advocate for what matters to them. Sheila’s steady encouragement helps girls find their voices and feel confident as leaders. Her commitment creates a warm, inclusive community for girls and families alike.
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Their thoughtful approach builds independence and confidence as girls discover what they are capable of. Through creativity, mentorship, and a deep belief in girl-led learning, Rachel and Kristen make a lasting impact on every member of their troop.
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Girl Scouts of Central Indiana Outstanding Leader of the Year Heather Pegg Troop 03153 - Wayne/Union County For eight years, Heather has devoted herself to leading a troop of 13 girls, investing countless hours into planning experiences that broaden their perception of the world. Under her leadership, the troop has traveled to Canada and Niagara Falls, and she is currently coordinating an educational and cultural trip to Puerto Rico. Heather encourages girls to embrace new challenges, speak up, and believe in their abilities. Through thoughtfully planned activities and travel opportunities, she helps girls explore new places, cultures, and ideas—building courage, independence, and curiosity. Her ability to create a strong sense of community ensures girls feel supported, valued, and excited to grow together. Heather brings joy and positivity to every experience, fostering a space where girls feel safe to shine.
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Volunteer Recognition Committee Kris Gertz Tippecanoe County Service Unit
Erika Graham Ft. Ben Service Unit
Emmy Linman Johns Midtown & Washington Township Service Unit
Carrie McCammon Vigo County Service Unit
Susan Norman Avon Service Unit
Diana Sullivan Greenwood Service Unit
Marrisa Taylor Fayette County Service Unit
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In Memoriam We pause to recognize the following Girl Scout members who passed away in the last year. We are extremely grateful for their lasting positive impact on the Girl Scout Movement.
Amanda Bowers
Share Your Story Scan the QR code to share your story with Girl Scouts of Central Indiana. Your memories will help inspire future generations and may be featured in our archive, on social media, or in other Girl Scout promotions. Because no one can tell your story like you can, and your story matters.
Katharyn Herndon Stacey Newton Beth Stegemoller Dorena Taylor Edward Andrew Vondrak Mary Alice Vondrak Trudie Wanchow
If you know a Girl Scout member who passed away in the past year and is not on this list, please contact Meg Booth at mbooth@girlscoutsindiana.org so we may update our list.
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