Adult Awards

Volunteers make Girl Scouting possible. Our adult volunteers help Girl Scouts unleash their incredible talent and make fun and exciting experiences possible for all Girl Scouts. The time and talent they devote to enriching girls’ lives is truly remarkable. Volunteers make a lasting impact on the lives of girls, our local communities and the world.

Congratulations to our most recent Adult Award recipients!

Nominate a Volunteer for an Adult Award

To help honor the amazing women and men making a difference through the Girl Scout movement, please consider nominating a fellow volunteer(s) for a Girl Scout adult award to be celebrated at the annual Recognition of Excellence ceremony. Learn more about the awards below.

Please note that all the awards are for service within
the previous membership year!

We are currently accepting Adult Award nominations for outstanding volunteer service for the 2025-2026 program year! The nomination window will close on November 1, 2026. Nominations for the Spotlight Award continues to be open and awarded throughout the year.

Office Hours

Get assistance with your Adult Award nomination or endorsement! If you have questions, need help determining which award would fit your nominee best, or want an extra set of eyes to review your submission, this virtual gathering is the space for you. GSofSI staff and Adult Awards committee members are ready to help you tackle the nomination process! These events are free, but please RSVP.

None scheulded at this time - check back soon!

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People volunteer for countless reasons but, underneath it all, most volunteers are motivated by the quality of their experience. When volunteers know their time and energy are appreciated and that they are valued by Girl Scouts, they commit themselves to the organization. Volunteers also want to know that their service is helping the greater good – that together we make a difference in girl’s lives and, through our mission, make a difference in the world. Therefore, volunteer recognition is one of the most powerful tools for retaining the invaluable adult members who volunteer for Girl Scouts.

You can show your appreciation in many ways. An ideal volunteer recognition system includes a mixture of informal and formal methods to acknowledge all accomplishments, regardless of role or length of service.

Informal recognition is the day-to-day appreciation—the intangible benefits and heartfelt ways of saying “Thank you.” Our formal recognitions are the official GSUSA and Council Adult Awards that are presented annually.

Best Practices for formal award recognitions:

The desire to recognize all dedicated volunteers must be balanced with an obligation to preserve the value of the recognition. It is recommended that a volunteer be recognized when their service efforts have grown or their impact has shown growth from the work of their previous award. Sometimes this increased impact can take some time in between awards. Please consider using informal recognitions between awards to encourage great volunteers to continue serving while they grow in the Girl Scout organization.

As a general rule, a volunteer can receive each of our awards only once during their time with GSofSI. Exceptions may include the Volunteer of Excellence award, President's award, and the Spotlight award.

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Key Terms

Girl Scout Leadership Experience: The engine for everything girls do in Girl Scouting. The experience identifies all the elements that need to be in place for Girl Scouting to achieve its mission; Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. When Discover, Connect, and Take Action activities are combined with the Girl Scout Processes of Girl-Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning, girls achieve the desired and expected short-term leadership outcomes, ultimately resulting in Girl Scouting achieving its mission.

Inclusion: Girl Scouts has a strong commitment to inclusion and diversity, and we embrace girls of all abilities and backgrounds into our wonderful sisterhood. Inclusion is at the core of who we are; it’s about being a sister to every Girl Scout and celebrating our unique strengths. Part of the important work you do includes modeling friendship and kindness for your girls and showing them what it means to practice empathy. Girl Scouts welcomes all members, regardless of race, ethnicity, background, disability, family structure, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status.

Mission Delivery Goals: Relate to goals set with regards to membership, volunteer development, program, leadership and governance, fund development, and council support services (IT, customer service, merchandizing, marketing and communications).

Measurable Impact: Evidence that the service was successful. Examples: Specific feedback from those involved; increased retention of bridging girls; outside recognition (e.g., news outlets).

National Portfolio: The National Program Portfolio has two main parts, the National Leadership Journeys and the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting. Complemented by the Girl Scout Cookie program, Girl Scout travel and Girl Scout awards, the National Program Portfolio is designed to help girls develop as leaders and build confidence by learning new skills. It also ensures that Girl Scouts at every level are sharing a powerful, national experience of girls together changing the world!

Tips from our Adult Award Committee

Be sure to share how the nominee has delivered incredible volunteer service that went “above and beyond expectations” of what is included in their volunteer position description.
For nominations of past award winners, make sure you describe to the committee how the nominee has grown in their involvement and commitment since receiving their last award.

Be detailed! Let our committee know why the nominee is doing a great job with specific examples. For example: “She stepped up to volunteer with a second troop when it needed a leader and did such a great job that all 12 girls renewed their membership!” vs. “She is doing a great job!” OR “He volunteered to run stations at six of our Service Unit’s events this year, as well as co-hosted a Cookie Cupboard.” vs. “He helps a lot at events.”

Council Awards (Presented Annually)

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Living Her Legacy

Requires only a nomination
The Living Her Legacy award recognizes a leader, co-leader and/or member of the leadership team (Troop Treasurer, Troop Product Program Manager- Fall, Troop Product Program Manager - Cookies) that started a troop as kindergarten Daisies and continued the same troop until the girls became graduated Ambassadors. This award is presented annually.

Criteria

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout in good standing.
The nominee has been in a trained leadership role with the same troop for the entire 13 years.

*This award only requires a nomination. Please make sure all members of the troop’s leadership team that qualifies are nominated for this award.

Click here to download a copy of the award description & criteria!

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Sustained Service Award

Requires only a nomination
The Sustained Service Award recognizes a long-term Girl Scout volunteer who has continued to provide exemplary service at the service unit level for at least 10 years. This award is presented annually.

Criteria

Has provided outstanding service beyond their troop level for their service unit
Volunteer is an integral member of their service unit
Provides consistent service as needed or directed by the service unit
Is a good role model who is dedicated to the Girl Scout Movement
The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout in good standing

Click here to download a copy of the award description & criteria!

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The Heart of Gold Award

Requires a nomination and two endorsements
The Heart of Gold award recognizes the long-term impact a volunteer has had on girls and adults in his/her community through involvement in Girl Scouting. The service of this volunteer has been an integral part of maintaining and recruiting new girls and/or adults in one or more areas of the council. This award is presented to one recipient annually.

Criteria

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout.
The nominee has been involved in Girl Scouts as an adult for a minimum of 20 years.

Click here to download a copy of the award description & criteria!

President's Volunteer Service Award (Presented Annually)

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Please note: This award is temporary on pause as of May 27, 2025. Please follow the link for more information: https://presidentialserviceawards.gov

Maximize the power of being a Girl Scout! In 2003, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation founded the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the important role of volunteers in America’s strength and national identity. This award honors individuals whose service positively impacts communities in every corner of the nation and inspires those around them to take action, too.

Interested girl and adult members of Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois are encouraged to apply for the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). Interested members should use GSofSI's President's Volunteer Service Award Log sheet to record hours of service. Since eligibility and service restrictions apply, each interested member must read and understand the terms and award opportunities as listed here. Only one award can be issued during a single 12-month period.

Once required service hours have been achieved, submit the completed log sheet(s) through our online application. Once the log sheet(s) are received and reviewed by council staff, the member (or parent/caregiver if girl member) will be contacted through email by council staff.

For completed service during the October 1 through February 28 timeframe, the awardee will be recognized and issued their award during the Recognition of Excellence ceremony during that membership year. Service achieved during March 1through September 30 will be recognized during the ceremony the following membership year.

Questions? Contact Customer Care at 800-345-6858 or customercare@gsofsi.org.

GSUSA Awards (Presented Annually)

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Volunteer of Excellence

Requires a nomination and endorsement.
The Volunteer of Excellence Award recognizes volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) through the use of the National Program Portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council's mission delivery to girl and adult members. This award is presented annually.

Criteria

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout in good standing.
The nominee has successfully completed a term of service and all requirements for the position.
The nominee has performed beyond expectations of the position to deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) to girls using the National Program Portfolio, or has been above and beyond the expectations of the position and has supported the council's mission-delivery goals in one or more of the following functional areas: Membership Development/Community Cultivation, Volunteer Relations and Support Program, Leadership and Governance, Fund Development or Council Support Service.

Possible candidates may include: Troop Leader, Co-leader, Troop Product Manager, Troop Treasurer, registered adult support member, etc.

Examples may include, but not limited to: A leader whose troop is earning many badges, creating excitement in the troop thereby increasing the retention and membership of the troop each year; A volunteer that has accomplished a variety of training to enrich the troop’s experiences outdoors; Troop product program volunteer helping the troop implementing ideas to increase their product sales each year; A leader who accepted the girls from a troop when a leadership team wasn’t established; a volunteer who stepped up as the product program person when there was a vacancy for this role; leader and troop held a Jr. Badge workshop for other troops in service unit, etc.

Click here to download a copy of the award description & criteria!

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Appreciation Pin

Requires a nomination and endorsement.
The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individual's exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). This service, which has had measurable impact on at least one service unit, contributes to expanding the council's reach and surpassing its mission-delivery goals for that area. This award is presented annually.

Criteria

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout in good standing.
The service performed by the nominee is above and beyond the expectations for the position held and has made an impact on at least one service unit within the council's jurisdiction.

Possible candidates may include: Any registered volunteers who hold a role within the service unit or who support the activities of a service unit such as Service Unit (SU) Managers, SU Registrar, SU Product Program Managers, SU Treasurer, Day Camp Volunteers, Delegates, troop level volunteers, registered adult support members, etc.

Examples may include, but not limited to: SU manager whose leadership has increased volunteer participation and satisfaction in their service unit; SU Product Program Manager who had a highly successful product sale due to their leadership; Day Camp Director’s outstanding program resulted in an increase in participation of girls and volunteers over time; SU Registrar held registration events which increased membership and retention above council goals, etc.

Click here to download a copy of the award description & criteria!

Honor Pin

Honor Pin

Requires a nomination and endorsement.
The Honor Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE), and has had a measurable impact on two or more service units, contributing to the goals of the council to reach and surpass its mission-delivery. This award is presented annually.

Criteria

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout in good standing.
The service performed by the nominee is above and beyond the expectation for the position held and has made an impact on two or more service units within the council’s jurisdictions.

Possible candidates may include: Any registered volunteers who are involved with supporting 2 or more service units such as Day Camp Directors, Cookie Cupboard Managers, members of a short-term council committee, outdoor trainers, Service Unit Delegate, etc.

Examples may include, but not limited to: An Event/Day Camp Director who implements a series of events and activities that bring girls together from different parts of the council; Volunteer who serves on a task force committee; a council trainer who serves their service unit and adjacent service units; Cookie Cupboard Manager whose stock of product is available for all the service units in their region of the state.

Click here to download a copy of the award description & criteria!

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Thanks Badge

Requires a nomination and two endorsements.
The Thanks Badge honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service has had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout Movement. This award is presented annually.

Criteria

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout in good standing.
The outstanding service performed by the nominee resulted in outcomes that benefited the total council or the entire Girl Scout Movement and is so significantly above and beyond the call of duty that no other award would be appropriate.

Possible candidates may include: Any registered volunteer that supports the entire council or the Girl Scout Movement such as Council Trainers, Council Committee Members, Council Delegates, etc.

Examples may include, but not limited to: Canoe certified volunteer who provides support at all council events that offer canoeing; a volunteer who is involved with fund development for our council; a Council Trainer who offers training throughout the council; a Delegate who represents the council at the GS National Convention; a volunteer who has served on the Gold Award committee for many years, etc.

Click here to download a copy of the award description & criteria!

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Thanks Badge II

Requires a nomination and two endorsements.
The Thanks Badge II honors a previous Thanks Badge recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role resulting in a measurable impact that benefits the entire Girl Scout Movement. This award is presented annually.

Criteria

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout in good standing.
The nominee has received the Thanks Badge.
The outstanding service performed by the nominee resulted in outcomes that benefited the total council or the entire Girl Scout Movement and is so significantly above and beyond the call of duty that no other award would be appropriate.

Possible candidates may include: Any registered volunteer that has continued to support the entire council or the Girl Scout Movement such as Council Trainers, Council Committee members, Council Delegates, etc.

Examples may include, but not limited to: A volunteer who continues serving on council committees over time; a volunteer who has added to their training certifications to give more support to the council training needs; an experienced volunteer whose leadership and participation has developed programs which were implemented council wide to increase membership and retention, etc.

Click here to download a copy of the award description & criteria!

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President’s Award

Requires a nomination and endorsement.
The President's Award recognizes the efforts of a service unit team whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience surpassed team goals and resulted in significant, measurable impact toward reaching the council's overall goals. The Trifecta achievement, which includes a $100 gift card to our shop, is awarded to any service unit earning this award for three consecutive years. This award is presented annually.

Criteria

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout in good standing.
All service team members have met all requirements and expectations of the position held.
The Service delivery team has significantly contributed to meeting one or more of the council's mission-delivery goals.
The service delivery team reflects the diversity of the target audience or area it serves, in girl and adult membership, in all pathways offered.
The service delivery team actively recognizes, understands, and practices the values of inclusive behavior.

Click here to download a copy of the award description & criteria!

Awards Presented Monthly

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Requires a nomination letter.

The Spotlight award recognizes multiple GSofSI volunteers per month. Any volunteer can nominate a fellow volunteer when you see them shining in the “Spotlight” doing something outstanding for the girls, troop, service unit or council. Please make sure you express to us in a few sentences in your nomination why you want this volunteer to be recognized.

Criteria

The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout in good standing.

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Requires a nomination.

GSofSI Service Units (SUs) are always hosting amazing events, doing service projects, helping their communities, and so much more. To show our appreciation for these amazing efforts, we've created an opportunity for volunteers to submit one of their Service Unit's activities, events, service projects, or other Girl Scout opportunity to be entered to win a $50 GSofSI Council Shop gift card and have their submission shared on social media and the Volunteer Newsletter! GSofSI will randomly select a different Service Unit from the nominations submitted between the first and last day of each month. The winner will be drawn on the first of the next month, and the Service Unit Manager of the winning SU will be notified via email. The submitted activity/event needs to have been held no more than three months prior to submission. Click on the nomination form to learn more.

Meet Your Adult Award Committee