Emily Cole of Simsbury Earns Highest National Girl Scout Honor

Emily Cole of Simsbury, CT received her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a girl can receive in Girl Scouting.

In order to earn the Gold Award, Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts between grades nine through 12 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.

Emily’s project created an afterschool program, “Unified Art”, at her high school to help bridge the gap between special education students and students enrolled in the standard education program. At Unified Art, students with or without special needs gathered to spend time together and create artwork in a judgment-free environment.

Unified Art will continue next year with five new student leaders and a new faculty advisor. Emily plans to study women and gender studies and communications and wants to pursue a career in public relations and advocate for women’s rights.

“On a national level, only four to six percent of Girl Scouts earn this prestigious honor, and I am beyond proud of our girls,” said Mary Barneby, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “By earning the Gold Award, Girl Scouts set themselves apart as top achievers, and are incredible women of confidence, courage, and character, who make the world a better place. Next year, we are excited to celebrate our 100th year of encouraging girls to Go Gold!”

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.