Danielle D. Homan receives the Girl Scout Gold Award; The highest individual achievement in Girl Scouting
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Danielle D. Homan of Chester has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, called "Enlisting All Children to March to a New Tune," Danielle planned and implemented a vacation Bible School program at her church. The program was a "Boot Camp" themed, week-long event where children in grades pre-school through 5th grade enjoyed a non-denominational, educational and safe environment to enjoy army-related crafts, music, skits, games and snacks.
"Girl Scouting has been such a large part of my life for so long," said Danielle, "and I feel that I am a better-rounded person that is much more aware of the difference I can make. Girl Scouting has helped me grow into the person I am today and I believe that the experiences I have had in Girl Scouting will continue to help me throughout my adult life."
Danielle is the daughter of Kevin and Mary Jo Homan and currently attends Chester High School. After graduation, she would like to attend Saint Louis University and earn a degree in Biology or Health Science.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl's community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.
Today, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. is the largest voluntary organization for girls in the world. Its sole focus is to meet the needs of all girls (ages 5-17) from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Today's Girl Scouts not only enjoy camping and crafts, but they also explore math and science and learn about diversity, good citizenship, leadership and teamwork. Girl Scouting is the place where girls experience the fun, friendship and power of girls together.
The Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization supported by various United Ways throughout the region. The Girl Scouts is a Proud Partner of United Way. For more information, please call Erin Johnson at 618.692.0692.