Local Girl Scout Earns Gold Award

Girl Scouts Heart of the South is proud to announce that Sadie Claiborne has earned Girl Scouting’s highest award, the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Sadie set out to address the issue of declining mental health for middle school students.  By conducting research, Sadie identified the top issues in mental health for students and created pocket-sized “zines” on anxiety, bullying, eating disorders, depression and suicide.  A zine is a small magazine or informational booklet that usually has stories about a particular subject.  By formatting the information into small and easy-to-digest resources, she effectively created beneficial sources of information that will be readily available for students at Martin Middle School.

The Girl Scout Gold Award requires a girl to investigate needs in her community, seek out more information and partner with those who can help make lasting change, while devoting a minimum of 80 hours to completing the project. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable - proof that not only can she make a difference, but that she already has.  Only 5% of Girl Scouts persevere to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award.

“Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place,” said GSHS CEO Venus Chaney. “Sadie’s accomplishment reflects leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.”

Sadie was also awarded an $8,000 scholarship from the Girl Scouts Heart of the South West Tennessee Endowment Advisory Committee.  The committee annually offers scholarships to graduating Girl Scouts in the West Tennessee area through an application and essay process based on achievement in Girl Scouting, academics, leadership, and extracurricular activities.  Five girls were awarded the scholarship this year:

Sadie Claiborne – Martin, TN

Layce Garrett – Medina, TN

Emily Kelley – Martin, TN

Amelia Langford – Dyersburg, TN

Cayla Williams – Jackson, TN

“Girl Scouts in West Tennessee are doing great things in their communities,” said Jenny Jones, Director of Higher Awards for the local council. “We are excited about the opportunities for girls to connect with their community and learn about the importance of taking action and giving back at every Girl Scout grade level.  The skills and connections girls make through Girl Scouting opens doors for their future education, careers and community involvement.”

About Girl Scouts Heart of the South

The mission of Girl Scouting is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts Heart of the South encompasses 59 counties in east Arkansas, north Mississippi, and west Tennessee.  The headquarters is in Memphis, TN and regional service centers are located in Jackson, TN, and Tupelo, MS.  To find out more, visit them online at www.girlscoutshs.org.