Nineteen Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska members earned the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, the prestigious Gold Award. Gold Award Girl Scouts are high school activists who change the world through extraordinary leadership and passion by tackling local, national or global issues.
This year’s Spirit of Nebraska Gold Award Girl Scouts made meaningful, lasting change in childhood literacy, declining bee populations, suicide awareness, vaping risks and more.
“We are so proud to have 19 Girl Scouts earn their Gold Awards this year,” said Fran Marshall, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska. “Even during a pandemic, Gold Award Girl Scouts step up, select an issue that is important to them, and work diligently to overcome obstacles and accomplish a sustainable and impactful project in their communities.”
The 2021 Gold Award Girl Scouts are: Chloe Blumanthal of Alliance; Sydney Correll of Bellevue; Bailey Klanderud of Bennington; Hailey Baker of Blair; Bristyn Cummings of Chadron; Zoe Kraus of Crete; Kristen Rohrer of Edgar; Isabelle Claus of Elkhorn; Olivia Longmore of Gering; Elizabeth Caldwell of Glenwood, Iowa; Emma Bitterman and Genavieve Henry of Gretna; Rebecca Wulf of Hooper; Elise Benson of Lincoln; Laura Stehlik of Nebraska City; Bernice Hilker and Rebecca Liebsack of Omaha; Brynnleigh Weaver of Papillion; and Crystal Craft of Roca.
Using strategic thinking, collaboration, problem solving and time management, Gold Award Girl Scouts address pressing issues and become the future leaders the world needs.
Blumanthal’s life was changed when she learned her uncle had taken his own life. After learning that one in four people will be affected by mental or neurological disorders and that discrimination and lack of information keep people from getting treatment, Blumanthal was inspired to take action. She organized a mental health conference, developed a self-care kit for Girl Scouts and designed a booklet identifying mental health resources in the Nebraska panhandle, thanks to a grant from Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska.