Girls Scouts of Gateway Council honor 15 area recipients of prestigious Gold Award

Gold Award Girl Scout Miranda Van Zyl’s project focused on preserving the global rhino population. The Ponte Vedra Beach resident visited several zoos and preserves to learn more about the animals and how to advance conservation.

Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council recognized the recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award at the annual Young Women of Distinction ceremony on April 22. Fifteen girls earned the highest award in Girl Scouting, including Emily Matthews (from left), Kaitlyn Karnes, Hannah James, Danielle Oko, Amanda Higley, Katherine Dykstra, Miranda Van Zyl, Celina Johnson, Daria Burdette and Shreya Ravi.

Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

Katherine Dykstra focused her Gold Award project on connecting nonprofit organizations and stakeholders. The Ponte Vedra Beach resident created Carachute, an Android app, and partnered with Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry to pilot the app and better link organizations with donors and volunteers.

Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2018 12:00 am

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council has recognized 15 young women with the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award.

This year’s Gold Award recipients include young women from across Northeast and North Central Florida. They are:

■ Daria Burdette, Atlantic Beach

■ Brianna Dillard, Jacksonville

■ Katherine Dykstra, Ponte Vedra Beach

■ Jennifer Gordon, Bunnell

■ Amanda Higley, St. Johns

■ Hannah James, Orange Park

■ Celina Johnson, Jacksonville

■ Kaitlyn Karnes, Neptune Beach

■ Emily Matthews, Atlantic Beach

■ Danielle Oko, St. Johns

■ Emilie Pearson, Gainesville

■ Shreya Ravi, Jacksonville

■ Elena Sarabia, Gainesville

■ Miranda Van Zyl, Ponte Vedra

■ Jenni Wilson, Orange Park

“The Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award in the world for girls — and the most difficult to earn — and it’s only available to Girl Scouts,” said Mary Anne Jacobs, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. “The award acknowledges the power behind each Gold Award Girl Scout’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others.”

Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been planning and executing creative, impactful and sustainable “Take Action” projects in response to community needs. The Gold Award has inspired girls to find the greatness inside themselves and share their ideas and passions with their communities and the world.

Girl Scout Gold Award projects tackle a broad spectrum of important issues that occur locally and around the globe. Gold Award recipients represent the most successful and engaged Girl Scouts, actively achieving a sense of self and community service while sharing their ideas and passions with their communities.

“These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers,” Jacobs said of Gateway Council’s awardees. “They are our future, and it looks bright!”

To learn more about the benefits of going gold or to join Girl Scouts, visit girlscouts-gatway.org. For inquiries about the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Gold Award recipients and their projects, contact TriciaRae Stancato at tstancato@girlscouts-gateway.org or (904) 421-3484.