Girl Scouts honored with Gold, Silver award pins

The Girl Scout Older Girl Recognition Ceremony was held recently at the Elks Lodge in Cape Girardeau. Gold and Silver award pins were purchased by the Elks Lodge 639, who also sponsored a dinner for the graduating senior Girl Scouts and their parents. Sen. Jason Crowell presented resolutions to the award recipients. Other certificates and letters were given by VFW Post 3838 Ladies Auxiliary, President Bush, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Military Order of the World Wars and Girl Scouts of the USA.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouts, focuses on a 14- to 17-year-old Girl Scout's interests and personal journey through leadership skills, career explorations, self-improvement and service. Recipients must meet requirements that help them prepare for and complete a special project benefiting their communities.

Gold Award recipients from Troop 24 Shawnee Service Unit in Anna, Ill., were Ashley Holshouser, Mary Katherine Meadows and Callie Yates. The group held a volunteer fair in conjunction with Children's Fest at the Anna Park. They invited organizations to set up booths to connect potential volunteers with needs. They compiled a volunteer directory listing contact information and distributed the directories.

Gold Award recipient Kendy Doolen, a member of Troop 38 in Patterson, Mo., produced a musical CD to inspire young people not to give up on their dreams. Elizabeth Silvey of the same troop presented her local elementary school with a conga drum set and gong. She held a class for fourth-graders to aid in the advancement of musical knowledge and demonstrate how music affects their learning abilities.

Gold Award recipients from Troop 141 of Cape Girardeau, Rachel Cain and Rachel Burnett, made two flag carts for Grace United Methodist Church Boy and Girl Scout American flag displays on special holidays. They also collected donations to purchase the five branches of military flags and a POW flag to add to the display. Sarah Ressel, Cape Girardeau Troop 150 member, founded a community support group for families of children with Down syndrome, the Heartland Down Syndrome Association. She also created informational folders for hospital distribution to new parents of infants affected by Down syndrome.

Rachel Cain

Gold Award recipient Shanda Steinnerd, a member of Troop 203 in Leopold, Mo., cleaned brush from an old cemetery in her community. The fence she erected required her to learn welding skills.

The Girl Scout Silver Award symbolizes an 11- to 14-year-old Girl Scout's accomplishments in Girl Scouting and community activities as she matures and works to better her life and the lives of others.

Silver Award recipients from Troop 6, Cape Girardeau were Tori Pfau; from Troop 85, Perryville were Elizabeth Brueckner, Mackenzie Buehler, Allison Ernst, Courtney Gremaud, Elizabeth Martin, Kristin Mattingly, Hannah Mudd, Carissa Prost, Danielle Prost, Kaitlyn Pruett, Chelsea Schaaf, Noel Schremp, Megan Sutterer, Angelia Thieret, Rachel Webb, Haley Welker and Amanda Wengert; from Troop 120, Perryville, Mo., were Lexie Daume, Michele Dobbelare, Oliva Duvall, Savannah Kiefer, Mia Kramer, Evan Martin, Tara Martin, Ashley Wingerter and Emilee Wood; from Troop 148, Tsalagi Service Unit were Brittany Hastings, Amber Julian and Katie Stephens.

Graduating senior Girl Scouts were Ashley Holshouser, Callie Yates and Mary Katherine Meadows of Troop 24, Shawnee Service Unit; Carissa Thierest, Chelsea Robinson, Kate Guyot, Kayla Schmer, Kayli Wibbenmeyer, Lindsay Prost, Miranda Holmes and Rachel Darin of Troop 32, Perryville Service Unit; Elizabeth Silvey and Kendy Doolen of Troop 38, Wayne County Service Unit; Katherine Kasten of Troop 124, Perryville Service Unit; Rachel Cain and Rachel Burnett of Troop 141, Cape Service Unit; Ariel Kitche, Kassondra Hess, Sarah Ressel and Stephanie Soltys of Troop 150, Cape Service Unit; Kendra Mizell, Nicole Market and Lauren Ressel of Troop 178, Tsalagi Service Unit; Jennifer Vandeven and Shanda Steinnerd of Troop 203, Rolling Hills Service Unit; Amanda Craven, Barbara Gillard, Rebecca Koeller, and Stacy Estes of Troop 213, Tsalagi Service Unit; Michelle Brooks of Troop 296, Wayne County Service Unit; Teresa Troncale of Group 2003, Perryville Service Unit and Kelsey Eidson, Group 2011, Shawnee Service Unit.