The Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) just celebrated a new wave of trailblazers — the 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout Class. Nearly 3,000 young women have earned the organization’s highest honor this year, dedicating themselves to creating meaningful, lasting change in their communities and beyond.
Collectively, these young leaders poured more than 287,000 volunteer hours into projects that tackled critical issues ranging from mental wellness and STEM education to sustainability and civic engagement. Their efforts also helped raise more than $2 million, demonstrating that passion paired with action has the power to transform communities.
“The 2025 Gold Award Class clearly demonstrates what it means to drive lasting change in communities,” said GSUSA CEO Bonnie Barczykowski. “Gold Award Girl Scouts harness the skills they’ve developed throughout their Girl Scout journey and prove that making a big impact begins with individual action.”
The Making of a Gold Award Girl Scout
Earning the Gold Award is no small feat. Each recipient dedicates a minimum of 80 hours to developing a project that addresses a root cause of a national or global issue they care deeply about. The process involves research, team-building, problem-solving, budgeting, and presenting their plan for approval before putting it into action.
The results are not only measurable but sustainable — from initiatives improving mental health access for teens, to innovative STEM mentorship programs, to local environmental campaigns with long-term impact.
Along the way, these Girl Scouts gain invaluable leadership skills while also unlocking tangible benefits: scholarship opportunities, expanded professional networks, and even higher pay grades if they enlist in the military.
Investing in the Future
This year, GSUSA also awarded 110 scholarships to Gold Award Girl Scouts across the country, thanks to the generous support of partners including DHL Supply Chain, the Kappa Delta Foundation, National Board members Robyn Ratcliffe Manzini, Aldo Manzini, Erika Rottenberg and Diane Tipton, as well as GSUSA’s own funding.
These scholarships highlight a vital truth: when we invest in girls, we invest in the future of our communities.
Lasting Change, Girl Scout Strong
From nearly 3,000 voices comes one powerful message — young women are not only ready to lead, they’re already reshaping the world we live in. The 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout Class proves that leadership, courage, and compassion know no age.
To learn more about the incredible projects making a difference nationwide, visit girlscouts.org/goldawardclass
Lisa Radoo is a Long Island native with Trinidadian Indo roots, a passion for gardening, and a love for cooking. When she’s not exploring new destinations or tasting her way through different cuisines, she’s sharing fresh takes on Food & Drink, Tourism, and Lifestyle for OMG Culture.
Leave a Reply