Hannah Huckleberry from Highland Designated a Gold Award Girl Scout
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois congratulates Hannah Huckleberry from Highland, Illinois for becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout—a designation she earned by honoring the final resting places of some of our country’s veterans.
Hannah has been interested in honoring veterans for a long time – her troop had even considered this theme while planning a Girl Scout Silver Award project. The group ended up going in a different direction, and Hannah was still motived to make a difference. So, when the time came to plan for her Gold Award, she knew exactly what she wanted to do.
Hannah mobilized the community to help clean and restore veterans’ headstones. She organized a workday at her local cemetery where she gave a demonstration on how to properly clean headstones. She also designed an informational brochure on this restoration method and delivered printed copies to local funeral homes. Once her project was complete, Hannah was able to facilitate the cleaning and restoration of 80 headstones at her local cemetery.
As they take action to transform their world, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they are the leaders our community and world need. The Gold Award is earned by girls in grades 9–12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national and global challenges. Since the highest award was established in 1916, Girl Scouts have answered the call to drive lasting, impactful change. The Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable.
Not only do Gold Award Girl Scouts better their communities through their projects, they often grow themselves through the process and learn skills they can take with them throughout their lives. “Throughout my time in Girl Scouts, I have learned a lot about leadership and the importance of volunteering. This project put those skills to the test,” said Hannah. “Before taking on this challenge, I never thought that I could make an impact on my community. Now, I can say that I made a difference through my own research, hard work, and dedication.”
Hannah is the daughter of Melissa and David Huckleberry. She is a recent graduate of Highland High School. She is currently attending Southwestern Illinois College where she is majoring in Art. Hannah is a Trifecta Girl Scout who has earned the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.
September 30, 2024
