2014 Gold Award Celebration

On Sunday, June 8, Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast hosted a celebration at Norfolk State University for the 40 local young women who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award during the past year. The Gold Award is the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

2014 Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast Gold Award recipients

Guest speaker Kirsten Talken-Spaulding
 with Gold Award recipient
Jasmine from Newport News.

Kirsten Talken-Spaulding, superintendent of Fort Monroe National Monument, was the guest speaker for the celebration. Talken-Spaulding, who was honored by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast as a Famous Former Girl Scout last year, is a Girl Scout alumna and a former recipient of the Gold Award. During her keynote address, she spoke to the girls about the impact of their accomplishments and the importance of understanding the traits of good leadership. 

“What you have done is truly outstanding,” Talken-Spaulding said to the Gold Award recipients. “Make no mistake that you will be leaders in the future because you are already leaders today.”

The girls also received congratulations from Pam Northam, wife of Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam, who recognized the work that the girls have already done to make the world a better place.

Each girl received a letter of congratulations from Senator Mark Warner. They were also presented with certificates from the Marine Corps League by David Hord, commandant of Marine Corps League Detachment 322 and Don Coons, senior vice president of Marine Corps League Detachment 322.

Gold Award recipient Stephanie from
Virginia Beach with Shannon Kendrick,
congressional district director for
U.S. Representative Scott Rigell.

Shannon Kendrick, congressional district director for U.S. Representative Scott Rigell, Dottie Holtz, member of the Virginia Beach School Board, and Denise Goode, Hampton Roads regional director for U.S. Senator Mark Warner, were also in attendance to offer congratulations to the Gold Award recipients.

Each recipient of the Gold Award was recognized on stage, and her project was shared with all of those in attendance. This year’s projects addressed a number of issues in the community, including low literacy rates among children, pollution in local waterways, bullying among youth athletes and more. To complete her project and earn the Gold Award, each girl created a sustainable solution to an issue in the community.

Gold Award recipient Meredith from Virginia Beach with guest
speaker Kirsten Talken-Spaulding and Pam Northam, wife of
Lt. Governor Ralph Northam.

The Gold Award celebration is held annually to recognize the girls who earn the top award in Girl Scouting. Nationwide, less than 6 percent of eligible Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award, adding these 40 young women to an elite group of female leaders from across the country with the honor.

View more photos from the celebration here.