Seven Girl Scouts receive Gold Award honors

Seven Girl Scouts received the Girl Scout Gold Award recently in a special ceremony.

The Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, helping girls develop skills in leadership, career exploration, self-discovery and service.

The Girl Scout Gold Award Project asks Scouts to plan a project to benefit others.

There were 56 graduating senior Girl Scouts and 34 Silver Award recipients.

Gold Award winners

Kendra Marie Beussink, a member of Troop 303 of Cape Girardeau, helped create a video showing other Girl Scouts what camp is about. A senior at Cape Central High School, she has been involved in Girl Scouts for 11 years and has attended camp sessions at Camp Cherokee Ridge either as a camper or staff member for the past nine years. She has completed her Counselor-In-Training certificate. At school, Beussink is active in the Red Dagger theater group. She plans to attend Shawnee Community College to study in the teacher's aide program.

Nicole Blair is a member of Troop 137 of Perryville and is a senior at St. Vincent High School in Perryville. Blair has been involved in Girl Scouts 12 years. Her interests include concert band, marching band, jazz band, Spanish club, S.A.D.D., Sodality, pep club, National Honor Society, drama club, Honor Roll, camping, baby-sitting, swimming, reading, exercising, drawing, golfing, singing and collecting Beanie Babies. Blair was selected to attend American Legion Auxiliary Girls State in 2001.

Stephanie Brown, a member of Troop 137 of Perryville, is a senior at Perryville High School. She has been involved in Girl Scouts 11 years and has been active in her school's chapter of D.E.C.A., serving as president. She enjoys playing softball. Her future plans include studying marketing and advertising.

Jessica Kirn, a member of Troop 137 of Perryville, is a senior at St. Vincent High School and has been involved in Girl Scouts 12 years. She is active in several school organizations including National Honor Society, pep club, Sodality, Spanish club, S.A.D.D. and team spirit, softball, basketball, choir and Honor Roll. She has received an academic athletic award from Jefferson County and the Christian Service Award. She plans to attend the University of Missouri at Kansas City's nursing school.

Shelly Miller, a member of Troop 222 of Anna, Ill., is a senior at Anna-Jonesboro Community High School. She has been involved in Girl Scouts 13 years. At school, she has participated in track, band, Beta Club, Honor Roll and has appeared in the Who's Who in Sports and All Stars. She has received the Band Director's Award and the Champion Showmanship Goat Award. Miller has been an Older Girl helper at Shawnee Service Unit Day Camp for the past five years and is active in 4-H Club.

Karamie Nave, a member of Troop 222 of Anna, is a junior at Anna-Jonesboro High School. She has been involved in Girl Scouts for 12 years. She is active in several school organizations, including concert choir, marching band, school musicals, basketball and softball. She enjoys caring for children and participates in 4-H Club. She acts as her church's co-music director. Awards she has received include the Who's Who Award, Honor Roll, the 4-H I Dare You Award, a superior at the state fair and being chosen as a 4-H leadership convention representative.

Katie Wengert, a member of Troop 137 of Perryville, is a senior at St. Vincent High School and has been involved in Girl Scouting for 12 years. School activities include basketball, volleyball, pep club, Sodality, National Honor Society, Spanish club, S.A.D.D. and team spirit. She has been on the A Honor Roll and is a Scholar Athlete. She has received the Christian Service Award and the Jefferson County Activities Association Athletic Academic Award. She plans to study at the St. Louis University School of Pharmacy.

Silver Award winners

Autumn Abernathy, Katie Acup, Sarah Porter, Lindsay Whitehouse of Troop 12 of Marble Hill.

Grace Michele Troyer of Troop 131 of Jackson:

Allison Jenkins of Troop 38 of Piedmont.

Hallie Anne Fieser, Darryl Ann Jenkins, Sarah McDonald, Morgan Ruppel of Troop 192 of Jackson.

Lelia Seabaugh of Troop 197 of Jackson.

Krystina R. Koerber, Natalie Trankler, Nichole Walter, Amy Wichern of Troop 208 of Jackson.

Amanda Craven, Stacy Estes, Charly Fausett, Barbara Gillard, Elizabeth Johnson, Becky Koeller, Ashley Miller, Jennifer Miller of Troop 213 of Jackson.

Emily Hendricks, Katie Wolz, Jessica Yarbro of Troop 218 of Cape Girardeau.

Amber Stepp of Troop 221 of Bell City.

Mindy Boxdorfer, Tessie Brueckner, Rachel Comte, Laura Gremaud, Sierra Paulus, Crystal Rhoden, Jennifer Sutterer of Troop 311 of Perryville.