Adult Awards | Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians

Contributing to a girl's development of courage, confidence, and character is one of the many rewards associated with being a Girl Scout volunteer. Another is the honor of your contributions being recognized by your peers! Nominate a fellow volunteer for their outstanding service, and encourage girls and parents to do the same.

The nomination window for service performed in 2026 or 2027 closes May 1, 2027.

2026 Award Recipients

Outdoor Trailblazer Recipients toggle arrow

Alice Barry
Caroline Chestnut

Rising Star Recipients toggle arrow

Amy Narron
Anna Williamson
Bethany Forbes
Chelsea Owten
Danielle Keasling
Elissa Fleming
Ginger Keller
Jennifer Riley
Kelsey Sloan
Kristi Page
Lindsey Williams
Lisa Smith
Madison Keen
Mandy Davis
Megan Jacks
Megan Tipton
Rachel Burke
Sarah Callan
Sarina Winters
Shannett Riley
Stephanie Smith-Comer
Taina Gingras
Teresa Scott
Tosha Wyatt

Volunteer of Excellence Recipients toggle arrow

Amanda Johnson
Annmarie Rinaldi
Bethany White
Cary Hammond
Chandra Wilson
Donna Wolff
Heather Alexander
Karen Jones
Kendal Merrill
Kiersten Carson
Kristin Ricciuto
Linda Kurzenberger
Lynda Greenfield
Lynn Claiborne
Melissa Nerey
Sandra Townsend
Staci Hamilton
Stephanie Faulkner
Stephanie Madison

Commitment to Excellence Recipients toggle arrow

Angelina Carney
Elizabeth Shelton
Rachel Capiz

President's Award Recipients toggle arrow

Service Unit 608 Woodland Oaks
Theresa Shaw
Brianna Shaw
Nicole Robinson
Dana Lily
Alicia Gwaltney
Angelina Carney
Amy Wahlquist

Appreciation Pin Recipients toggle arrow

Kathy Akard
Melissa Stansberry
Patricia Morris

Honor Pin

Gaoib Deri

Honor Troops toggle arrow

Troop 45
Troop 60
Troop 257
Troop 339
Troop 388
Troop 503
Troop 973
Troop 20040
Troop 20147
Troop 21158
Troop 22135
Troop 40180

Award Descriptions

Outdoor Trailblazer toggle arrow

The GSCSA Outdoor Trailblazer award recognizes volunteers who have gone beyond the troop experience to provide excellent outdoor experience that are creative and offer recreational and educational activities for the girls. This could also be an outdoor trainer who shares their passion and knowledge of the outdoors with girls and/or adults.

Scope of Impact: One troop, group, program site, or council department

Example of Candidate: A volunteer takes the troop on a hike and incorporates what the girls have learned about First Aid by "having an accident and spraining their ankle and needing care”. Or says, "A storm is coming, we need shelter, what should we do?"

Basic Requirements for Award:

Registered adult member of Girl Scouts
Current background check on file with GSCSA
Has completed training for the position held
Is in good standing with GSCSA finance department
Role models the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Letter of support from area Relationship Manager

Rising Star toggle arrow

The GSCSA Rising Star award recognizes newer volunteers who have served girls with dedication while partnering directly with girls in any pathway, to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE).

Scope of Impact: One troop, group, program site, or council department

Example of Candidate: A new volunteer seeks to add girls and other volunteers to the troop and is involved in Council programs and activities when possible. They embody the Girl Scout Promise and Law and represent Girl Scouts positively in their community.

Basic Requirements for Award:

Registered adult member of Girl Scouts
Current background check on file with GSCSA
Has completed training for the position held
Is in good standing with GSCSA finance department
Role models the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Letter of support from area Relationship Manager
Has volunteered less than three years
Has NOT received the Volunteer of Excellence award

Volunteer of Excellence toggle arrow

The Volunteer of Excellence award recognizes volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway, to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) through use of the National Program Portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.

Scope of Impact: One troop, group, program site, or council department

Example of Candidate:
A volunteer program advisor works over the course of the year with a teen advisory committee of 30 current Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors who plan and deliver four performance day camps, using content from the aMuse journey, targeted to girls in underserved areas in the council. As a result, those areas had a combined total of 210 new Junior girl members and 16 new adult volunteers; 92 percent of the girls at camp also signed up for other opportunities during the year.

Basic Requirements for Award:

Registered adult member of Girl Scouts
Current background check on file with GSCSA
Has completed training for the position held
Is in good standing with GSCSA finance department
Role models the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Letter of support from area Relationship Manager

Commitment to Excellence toggle arrow

The GSCSA Commitment to Excellence award recognizes volunteers who have served girls with dedication while implementing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) over a period of at least 5 years with GSCSA. This person shares their ideas and enthusiasm for the Girl Scout Mission and looks for ways to include resources from the community to enhance the troop experience.

Scope of Impact: One troop, group, program site, or council department

Example of Candidate: A volunteer program advisor looks for new ways to bring activities and principles to life for the troop. This may include meeting with another troop for special activities/ meetings, inviting guests from the community to share, or mentoring a new troop leader.

Basic Requirements for Award:

Registered adult member of Girl Scouts
Current background check on file with GSCSA
Has completed training for the position held
Is in good standing with GSCSA finance department
Role models the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Letter of support from area Relationship Manager
Has volunteered with GSCSA for at least five years
HAS received the Volunteer of Excellence award already

President's Award toggle arrow

The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a service team, committee, or volunteer team whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) surpassed team goals and resulted in significant, measurable impact toward reaching the council’s overall goals.

Scope of Impact: Surpassing team goals that impact council’s overall goals

Example of Candidate:
A service delivery team saw the need to better communicate information and opportunities with girls and adults in their area, so they organized a group of 15 teens and five volunteers, representing all communities in their jurisdiction to create new communication strategies using social media. As a result, 36 percent more girls attended their local events, 90 percent of open service team positions have been filled, and they have 1,350 friends on Facebook.

Basic Requirements for Award:

All service team members are registered adult members of Girl Scouts
Current background check on file with GSCSA
All service team members have completed training for the position held
All service team members are in good standing with GSCSA finance department
All service team members role model the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Letter of support from the area Relationship Manager

Appreciation Pin toggle arrow

The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This service, which has had measurable impact on one geographic area of service, helps reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the area.

Scope of Impact: One geographic area of service, such as a service unit

Example of Candidate:
At an event, a troop administrator noticed that the diversity of the girls did not match the diversity of the community. She talked with her council staff and found that they had identified a potential for membership increase among the Hispanic communities in her area. She partnered with the service-delivery team to create and implement recruitment strategies to reach both girls and adults and new ways of work to support new members. As a result, Hispanic girl membership rose by 14 percent and adult membership by 15 percent last year. While those new members participated in series and camps, 78 percent of them participated in troops.

Basic Requirements for Award:

Registered adult member of Girl Scouts
Current background check on file with GSCSA
Has completed training for the position held
Is in good standing with GSCSA finance department
Role models the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Letter of support from a member in the impacted geographic area

Honor Pin

The Honor Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, to reach and surpass the mission delivery goals of the council.

Scope of Impact: Two or more geographic areas of service, such as service units

Example of Candidate:
A facilitator realized that although the council created online courses and resources on the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE), at volunteer meetings she heard comments indicating that many volunteers still were hesitant to use Journeys to deliver the GSLE to girls. She worked with the Volunteer Management department to develop a GSLE Coach role, which would support all direct-service volunteers as they implemented what they learned in the courses and put Journeys into action. This role was piloted in four service delivery teams where, after the first year, Journey sales increased by 30 percent; girls shared the impact of 14 new Take Action projects via the council’s website; and the volunteer satisfaction scores increased by 12 percent.

Basic Requirements for Award:

Registered adult member of Girl Scouts
Current background check on file with GSCSA
Has completed training for the position held
Is in good standing with GSCSA finance department
Role models the Girl Scout Promise and Law
One or two letters of support from members in the impacted geographic areas

Thanks Badge toggle arrow

The Thanks Badge honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Scope of Impact: Two or more of the council's regions (AppHigh, EastTN, TNV&NGA) or the entire Girl Scout Movement

Example of Candidate:
A volunteer saw an opportunity to use Journeys to increase membership in one of the council’s target markets through the camp pathway. She helped the council partner with local companies and groups to provide in-kind, financial, and volunteer support to build a Take Action Tree House at each camp. She led a task group of girls to design and develop progressive programming, based on girl-led processes and Journey content, which culminated in take-action projects. The three- year project brought in 300 new Girl Scouts, a 5 percent overall increase in camp registrations the following year, 90 new volunteers, and new partnerships with 11 local organizations.

Basic Requirements for Awards:

Registered adult member of Girl Scouts
Current background check on file with GSCSA
Has completed training for the position held
Is in good standing with GSCSA finance department
Role models the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Two letters of support from members in 2 or more areas of the council

Thanks Badge II toggle arrow

The Thanks Badge II honors a previous Thanks Badge award recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role, resulting in a measurable impact that benefits the entire Girl Scout Movement.

Scope of Impact: Two or more of the council’s regions (AppHigh, EastTN, TNV&NGA) or the entire Girl Scout Movement

Example of Candidate:
After receiving the Thanks Badge, the volunteer from the Thanks Badge example was motivated by the success of the Take Action Tree House project and submitted to present this best practice at a GSUSA conference. She then served for two years on a national task group to help educate and support all 111 other councils to create long-term plans that integrate all council departments to implement the camp pathway to grow membership and deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through Journey use.

Basic Requirements for Award:

Registered adult member of Girl Scouts
Current background check on file with GSCSA
Has completed training for the position held
Is in good standing with GSCSA finance department
Role models the Girl Scout Promise and Law
Two letters of support from members in 2 or more areas of the council

FAQs

What if I'm not sure about which award to nominate someone for? toggle arrow

Begin the nomination form above, and the form will guide you towards the correct selection. You can also call us at 800-474-1912 or email info@girlscoutcsa.org for more assistance, if needed.

How are selections made? toggle arrow

Nominators will complete an online nomination form that provides required information for the nomination rubric. Regional Directors will monitor submitted nominations and confirm the basic requirements for all adult awards (as stated in rubric). Regional Directors will remind nominators of required letters of support that have not yet been received, one week prior to submission deadline.

Annual submission deadline is May 1.

The committee reviewing all nominations will be composed of:

Three Regional Directors
Two to Four Volunteers

This committee will determine whether each nomination meets the award criteria using the adult awards rubric applicable to the award.

When will nominees know of the decision? toggle arrow

The recognitions committee will approve or deny nominations for the Volunteer of Excellence and President’s Award by June 1.
The recognitions committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors or deny nominations for Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge, and Thanks Badge II by June 15.
The Board of Directors will approve or deny nominations for Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge, and Thanks Badge II at the July Board Meeting.

When/Where will awards be presented? toggle arrow

Approved awards will be presented at the next GSCSA Volunteer Awards Luncheon (August 2026). Award recipients will receive the pin and/or certificate appropriate for their award received.