Gold Award Girl Scouts

Issues of the world, meet your match.

Due to COVID-19 we’re offering a national deadline extension through December 31, 2020 for all bridging Girl Scouts. Our focus is to give girls the time they need to adjust to all the changes and then to help them safely harness their creativity to brainstorm digital solutions that continue to meet community needs as we navigate this global pandemic.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Once achieved, it shows colleges, employers, and your community that you’re out there changing the world.

Join a century of women who have done big things. Learn about scholarships for Gold Award Girl Scouts, the history of the Gold Award, and the benefits of going Gold.

Begin Your Girl Scout Gold Award Journey Today!

There are two deadlines for Gold Award Final Reports:

Girls currently working on their Gold Award Project, if you would like to be included in this year’s Gold Award Ceremony (June 2021), you must submit your final paperwork by March 31, 2021.
Graduating Ambassadors (will be included in next year’s Gold Award Ceremony in June 2021), you must submit your final paperwork by December 30, 2020. (Due to extension for COVID-19)

Everything you need is here. View the requirements, register a user account and begin following the steps in the online application.

Download the
Gold Award guidelines

Get inspiration for your Girl Scout Gold Award project from our amazing Gold Award Girl Scouts from 2019 and 2018.

Our MarComm team is here to help! For branding questions please email jmagniccari@gswcf.org. For public relations/media questions please email arodriguez@gswcf.org.

Ask A Gold Award Girl Scout: Wondering how to start your Gold Award? As you tackle Step One in GoGold, the GoGold application system, the 2019 National Gold Award Girl Scouts are here to help. They’ll answer your most pressing questions about becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout.

How Do I Choose An Issue?

Go Above and Beyond

Prudential Spirit Awards honor outstanding youth volunteerism. Applications due Nov. 3 each year to awernicke@gswcf.org .

Scholarships

Below are some scholarship opportunities for Gold Award Girl Scouts. Some of these scholarships are through Girl Scouts and others are separate organizations. In that case, you would have to contact them to get more information.

Always ask the college or university you plan to attend if they offer scholarships for the Girl Scout Gold Award, leadership, or civic engagement. If your college is unsure, please have them contact Alison Wernicke at 813-262-1826 or awernicke@gswcf.org.

You can see more scholarship opportunities on GSUSA's Scholarship Website or on the College Scholarships Website.

Ann Hensler Scholarship

The Ann Hensler Scholarship is in honor of Ann Hensler, a past GSWCF Executive Director and a 1992 Woman of Distinction who was with GSWCF for approximately 10 years. She passed away from cancer in 1999, and in her will she donated funds to be used as a scholarship for Gold Award Girl Scouts in recognition of their acomplishments.

The first place recipient recieves $600 and the second place recipient recieves $500 to be used towards the next step in their education.

Learn more and apply.

GSWCF Scholarship

Funded by ad purchases in the Gold Award Ceremony program, the GSWCF scholarship is a scholarship opportunity for Gold Award Girl Scouts in the west fentral Florida area. This new scholarship provides Gold Award Girl Scouts with funds to help support their higher education.

Learn more and apply.

GTE Federal Credit Union

GTE offers scholarships up to $2,500 for high school students that have demonstrated leadership abilities, have work-related experience, and have shown a commitment to community service. Applicants should be prepared to submit an essay of up to 1,000 words to apply.

Learn More.

Hillsborough County Scholarship

Applications for the 2021 scholarships will be accepted through Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Recipients will be notified in writing prior to the start of the fall semester.

Applicants must meet these eligibility requirements to be awarded a scholarship:

Be between the ages of 16 and 24, and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent (16-year-olds may apply if they are graduating seniors)
Reside in Hillsborough County
Have a minimum GPA of 2.0
Household income must fall within 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

The following criteria will also be used to evaluate applicants:

Community service and school involvement
Application and letters of recommendation
Academic record (transcript)
Essay response
Panel interview participation

Application materials can be downloaded on the County’s scholarship application page. Detailed instructions on how to apply can also be found on the page. Students may submit completed applications online only. For questions, contact Irina White at (813) 272-5074.

Hiram College Scholarship

This scholarship is available for Girl Scouts attending Hiram College that have earned their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award. Gold Award Girl Scouts can earn up to 62% of their tuition and fees.

Learn more.

Moffitt Healthy KIDZ Program

The Moffit Healthy KIDZ Role Model Scholarship provides funds to graduating high school seniors to hlep contribute to their academic futures. A resume, reference letter, acceptance letter from a college, university, trade, or vocational school, and 500 word essay are among the requirements.

Learn More.

National Gold Award Girl Scouts

National Gold Award Scouts

Every year, ten exceptionally inspiring Gold Award Girl Scouts are chosen by GSUSA as National Gold Award Scouts.

This honor is given to Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors whose Gold Award projects demonstrated extraordinary leadership, had a measurable and sustainable impact, and addressed a local challenge related to a national and/or global issue. These young women are taking matters into their own hands, generating much-needed change!

How are the National Gold Award Scouts chosen?

The nomination process begins in March with each council nominating three Gold Award Girl Scouts before April 30. Councils select their top three Gold Award Girl Scouts using GoGold Online. Girl Scouts who would like their councils to consider nominating them as a National Gold Award Scouts are required to use GoGold Online.

GSUSA then ensures a rigorous review process, during which each application is thoroughly evaluated by GSUSA staff and an external panel of trusted partners. Once the list is narrowed, GSUSA's internal National Gold Award Scouts team selects the top ten.

Learn more.

Paul Smith College Scholarship

This scholarship is available to incoming Paul Smith’s College students.

Learn more.

Regions

Regions offers a scholarship essay contest for high school seniors and current college students. The essay is 500 words or less and is in response to a question posted on their website for a specific time frame. High School students can earn up to $5,000 and current college students can earn up to $3,500.

Learn More.

Tampa Bay Lightning Heroes of Tomorrow

The Lightning Community Hero program recognizes grassroots Heroes whose noble efforts make a positive impact of others.

Learn More.

Veterans of Foreign Wars

The Veterans of Foreign Wars offers a Scout of the Year program that provides Girl Scouts who display standout citizenship, patriotism and love of country with the opportunity to be rewarded with college scholarships of up to $5,000.

Learn more.