Gold Award Scholarship | Girl Scouts (2025)

Apply between March 14-April 15, 2025. All applicants will receive status updates in June 2025.

In addition to providing demographic information, a headshot with photo release, and confirmation of Gold Award status, each applicant will answer four questions in either video or written format about their Gold Award.

In either video (3 minutes or less) or written(500 words or fewer)format, answer four questions about your Gold Award:

1. Please summarize your Gold Award project. Summarize your project in a narrative describing the root cause, how your project addresses it, the resources you leveraged, and how you achieved your goal. Be sure to indicate how you displayed leadership, detailing 1) how you led a team to accomplish your goals and 2) how you involved appropriate community members in your solution.
2. Please describe how your project had measurable and sustainable impact. Share the information or data you collected throughout your project and how you used it to measure your project’s impact on your issue. Be sure to share your actual results. Then, share how your project carries on or continues to have impact beyond your involvement.
3. Please describe how your project had a local connection to a national or global issue. Why does your project matter? Explain how your project meaningfully addressed an issue that is relevant nationwide and/or worldwide. Be sure to include your research and cite any sources.
   
4. Please describe the impact completing your Gold Award project has had on you. Be sure to include what new skills you may have gained, what qualities you have learned about yourself, and how these discoveries will help you in the future.

Complete applications will be evaluated using GSUSA’s national rubric on the degree to which the applicant/their Gold Award project:

• Identified and addressed a root cause of their issue with a robust project plan.
• Had measurable and sustainable impact and a connection to a larger national or global issue.
• Used the resources available to them to increase their project’s reach or expand its impact.
• Led a team and engaged the community they served in their solution when relevant.
• Reflected on the impact completing their Gold Award project had on them.

An independent selection committee will narrow down each council’s applicants to up to three finalists, then each council will nominate their finalist to Girl Scouts of the USA for approval. One Gold Award Girl Scout per council and from USA Girl Scouts Overseas (up to 112 total) will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Decisions are final and are not subject to appeal. No application feedback will be given.

Scholarship recipients will receive a notification email in June instructing them to complete their online acceptance form. The form will confirm the enrollment info for their academic institution (accredited institution of higher learning) for scholarshipdisbursement. Recipients will also select their preferred dispersal year: July/August 2025 or July/August 2026.

Note: Scholarship award funds will be sent directly to the recipient’s college/university via check.

When selected, scholarship recipients agree to:

• Sign and return all required documents.
• Respond to requests to represent Girl Scouts through public relations, web/social, speaking engagements, or other related opportunities.
• Represent Girl Scouts to the best of their abilities and uphold the Girl Scout Promise and Law at their accredited institution of higher learning.