SALT LAKE CITY — Girl Scouts of Utah will recognize 108 Girl Scouts and dozens of adult volunteers during its annual Recognition of Excellence Awards Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Viridian Event Center in West Jordan.
The ceremony will honor Girl Scouts who earned Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, along with scholarship recipients and adult volunteers recognized for their leadership, service and contributions to their communities.
Among this year’s honorees is Katelyn Talbot, who will receive a $5,000 Gold Award Scholarship for developing a program designed to help elementary school students express their feelings and seek support for mental health challenges.
Talbot introduced “Worry Monsters” into elementary schools, providing children with a creative way to communicate their worries to trusted adults.
“I struggled with anxiety when I was younger, and I didn’t have the words to help the adults in my life understand what I was experiencing,” said Talbot. “I wanted to help students have a tool I didn’t have so they could get help more easily.”
The Gold Award is the highest honor available in Girl Scouting. It recognizes high school Girl Scouts in grades 9-12 who identify community problems and develop sustainable solutions.
Younger Girl Scouts can earn the Bronze Award in grades 4-5 by working together on community improvement projects, while those in grades 6-8 can earn the Silver Award by researching issues and implementing plans to address them.
Nationally, more than 50,000 Girl Scouts earn Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards annually, contributing more than 1 million hours of community service.
Four additional Girl Scouts will receive $1,500 Cornelia Benton Scholarships, recognizing their leadership, community involvement and achievements. The scholarships honor a longtime Girl Scout and recognize service through scouting, schools, churches and other organizations.
Two Girl Scouts will also receive Debbie Nielson Lifetime Membership Scholarships, recognizing their contributions to organizational governance. The scholarships honor Nielson’s years of service as chair of the Girl Scouts of Utah Board of Directors and as a member of the Girl Scouts of the USA National Board.
The ceremony will also recognize 52 adult volunteers nominated by their peers for outstanding service to Girl Scouting and their communities. Many have previously received council and service unit awards for their continued dedication to the organization.
The Nov. 7 ceremony will celebrate the achievements of Girl Scouts and volunteers from across Utah, highlighting their efforts to strengthen communities through leadership, mentorship and service.