Girls from GSCSNJ talk to leaders on Capitol Hill about important issues
June 15 was a historic and exciting day on Capitol Hill for Girl Scouts. Girls from Central and Southern New Jersey (GSCSNJ) were given an opportunity to highlight their Gold Award projects and talk to leaders on Capitol Hill about important issues impacting the world at a celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of the highest award in Girl Scouts: The Gold Award. Throughout the country, Girl Scout troops and councils are "Celebrating 100 Years of Changing the World" through the Gold Award, recognizing a century of girls who have created meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the globe.
During the Capitol Hill celebration, more than 300 leaders from government, the military, and academia came together to recognize and honor the amazing girls and women who have earned the Gold Award over the past century. They were joined by Girl Scouts' National CEO Anna Maria Chavez and National Board President, Kathy Hopinkah Hannan. Speakers included Brigadier Gen. Diana Holland, commandant of cadets at the United States Military Academy, and Patricia McGuire, President of Trinity Washington University, which awards Gold Award recipients scholarships.
GSCSNJ was well-represented at the event, as five local Girl Scouts attended and spoke to various New Jersey leaders, including the offices of Sen. Robert Menendez, Sen. Cory Booker, Congressman Donald Norcross, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, and more. The Gold Sponsor for the event was Toyota Financial Services, whose financial literacy partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has helped empower 26,000 underserved Girl Scouts across the country to become financially savvy leaders, and take on Gold Award projects that transform their communities and impact the world.
Girl Scouts from Central & Southern New Jersey, Sarah Golobish of Princeton, Angela Ebbert of Glendora, Nerys Muller of Vineland, Rhea Kanwar of Edison, and Ruhi Kanwar of Edison attended and had the opportunity to share their Gold Award projects and related impact with leadership. Sarah and Rhea spoke about the importance of STEM for the underprivileged and underrepresented, Angela shared her project's goals, which focused on the physical health of the elderly, Ruhi raised funds and created a brand new library in India, and Nerys highlighted the importance of safety on social media and shared that her book of the topic is soon to be published!
Known today as the Gold Award -- and in the past as Golden Eaglet, First Class, and Curved Bar Award -- Girl Scouts' highest award has been earned by approximately 1 million Girl Scouts since 1916.
This item submitted by the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern N.J.