Girl Scouts of Connecticut Honor 86 Girl Scouts with Gold Award

Kimberly Thomson of Groton received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

Celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year, the Girl Scout Gold Award requires Girl Scouts grades nine through 12 to spend at least 80 hours researching issues, assessing community needs and resources, building a team, and making a sustainable impact in the community. A Gold Award recipient’s accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart as a community leader. Nationally, only 6 percent of older Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award.

Kimberly’s project focused on working with teens and young adults with intellectual disabilities in creating and painting a mural in a community room in her town. Kimberly’s aim was to expose the individuals to the fun and therapeutic benefits of art. Kimberly worked closely with each individual to help them find their own special and unique artistic ability. At the end of her project, Kimberly took a photo and shared it on a global website called “TakingItGlobal” for all to see. The mural will continue to be in the Teen Social Room for years to come.

“Since 1916, approximately one million Girl Scouts have made a sustainable impact in their communities,” said Mary Barneby, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “We are so thrilled to honor a record number of girls this year and we are excited to see how many more incredible young women will continue to change the world in the next 100 years!”

For more information about the Gold Award or how to become a Gold Award volunteer or mentor, visit http://www.gsofct.org/pages/goldaward.php.