Gold Award Ceremony

Highest Award for Girls in Grades 9-12
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador may earn. For many, the leadership skills, organizational skills, and sense of community and commitment that come from "going for the Gold" set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship. Colleges, employers and the military look favorably upon applicants with this credential. Someone once described the Girl Scout Gold Award as being "what you really want to be remembered for" in Girl Scouting.

Email the GSWNY Girl Experience Team for questions and to electronically submit Gold Award Paperwork.

The prestigious Gold Award is earned by a select group of Girl Scouts who have demonstrated a higher commitment to improving their communities and advocating for sustainable change. The Gold Award has gone by many names. Today we recognize all of these high awards as part of the Gold Award family.

Golden Eaglet (1916-1939) Curved Bar (1940-1963)
First Class (1964-1980) Gold Award (1980-present)

The Benefits of Going Gold
Girl Scout Gold Award recipients 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.

Higher education and career
Distinguish yourself in the college admissions process
Earn college scholarships
Enter the military one rank higher

Life skills
Be seen as a role model and distinguished leader
Master time management skills
Make the world a better place

Community
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

Source: Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, a report from the Girl Scout Research Institute, 2012