Girl Scouts Who Lead the Way Girl Awards Celebration
On June 7, 2025, Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast recognized and celebrated the achievements of more than 200 Girl Scouts at the annual Girl Scouts Who Lead the Way Celebration. This year’s ceremony was held at the L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center in Norfolk on the campus of Norfolk State University. More than 200 guests gathered to honor the Girl Scouts who have guided our community toward a more promising future by earning the prestigious Girl Scout Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards, along with the Girl Scout Medal of Honor, the highest honors in Girl Scouts. Their service efforts have exemplified that no challenge is too great and no need too small for a Girl Scout to address.
The opening flag ceremony was presented by Girl Scouts from Troop 305, and the National Anthem was sung by Girl Scout Ambassador Gabriella “Bella” of Troop 305. Opening remarks were given by Norfolk State University’s Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Tarrye Venable and by Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander. Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast’s Vice President of Member Engagement Terri Washington and Sarah Peterson, Program Partnerships and Events Manager, emceed the event.
Two lifesaving awards were presented during the celebration. The first lifesaving award recipient was Girl Scout Cadette Cora who exemplified true courage, quick thinking, and quiet leadership during a pool party when she noticed a child struggling in the deep end. She was recognized with the Girl Scouts Medal of Honor for her heroic actions. Girl Scout Junior Vada from Troop 44 was home alone with her father when she recognized that he was experiencing signs of cardiac arrest. She called 911, and began chest compressions—putting into action the very skills she had just learned as part of earning her First Aid badge eleven days prior. Vada was originally pinned with the Medal of Honor by GSUSA earlier this year and was repinned at the celebration.
During the celebration, we recognized eight Gold Award Girl Scouts, nine Silver Award Girl Scouts, and 24 Bronze Award Girl Scouts. Made possible by the Helen Kattwinkel Lifetime Membership Endowment fund, each Gold Award Girl Scout was honored with a lifetime Girl Scout membership, as a “thank you” for a job well done, as well as a reminder that they will always be part of the Movement.
Gold Award Girl Scout Ambassadors Janelle, Justina, Maureen, and Sarah were recognized as finalists for GSUSA’s 2025 National Gold Award Girl Scout Scholarship Program. From those finalists, Gold Award Girl Scout Maureen was selected as one of the 111 Gold Award Girl Scouts, one from each Girl Scout Council, to receive the national GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship of $5,000. In addition to this national recognition, GSCCC was especially proud to share that, thanks to the generosity of passionate Girl Scout alums and former board members in our council, this year our council’s GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship winner received an additional $5,000 scholarship, and each of our council’s finalists was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Following congratulatory remarks from GSCCC Board Chair Carolyn Pittman, she announced several special Council recognitions.
Girl Scout Senior Lily of Troop 53 received the Buck Harris Award; Girl Scout Ambassador Justina of Troop 15 received the Maylea Beasley Love & Laughter Scholarship; Girl Scout Ambassador Lydia of Troop 1579 received the She Believes She Can, So She Does scholarship; and Girl Scout Ambassador Gabriella of Troop 305 received the Girl Scouts of Courage, Confidence, and Character Scholarship.
Girl Scouts celebrating their graduation from high school participated in a special bridging ceremony, symbolizing their growth, achievements, and readiness to take on new leadership roles within the Movement.
This year’s program celebrated young leaders committed to making the world better for everyone. Achieving the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Award demonstrates a Girl Scout’s dedication and capability to create positive change now and in the future. Congratulations to those honored, and a heartfelt thank you to all volunteers supporting Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast.
Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast would like to offer their thanks to Gold Sponsor Norfolk State University, Silver Sponsor Publix Super Market Charities, and Bronze Sponsor Capital Group for supporting this special celebration.
View the event program online for more details on these amazing Girl Scouts, and view more photos from the event on our Facebook page.
