Local Girl Scouts receive group's highest honor

Three students from Jackson High School earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, Brittany Hastings, Amber Julian and Katie Stephens each completed at least 65 hours of research, preparation, service and evaluation for a project that serves a need in their community. Hastings directed her church's vacation Bible school, based on "The Wizard of Oz." Julian and Stephens worked together on "Cases for a Cause," a project in which they created care packages to be given to children staying at the Safe House for Women in Cape Girardeau. The girls were honored at a Young Women of Distinction event recently held in Columbia, Mo., and were recognized locally at an event honoring teen Girl Scout achievement. For more information about Girl Scouts, call 877-312-4764 or visit www.girlscoutsmoheartland.org.