Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce 56 Girl Scouts as the 2021 recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award, and 33 Girl Scouts as 2021 scholarship recipients.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award in the world for girls, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” The project should fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities and she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade. For more information on the Gold Award, click here.

Below you will find all 56 Gold Award Girl Scouts for 2021 and their projects sorted by the county. Girls with an asterisk (*) by their name are also among this year’s scholarship recipients with additional details at the end of the post.

Chautauqua County

Erie County

Genesee County

Livingston County

Monroe County

Niagara County

Additionally, we are proud to announce the 2021 scholarships, which include girls who have earned the Girl Scout Silver Award, or were Gold Award recipients in prior years. For information on scholarships, please click here.

Girl Scouts of Western New York Educational Scholarship Recipients

The Girl Scout Educational Scholarship was established in 1997 and recognizes the achievement and character of graduating Senior Girl Scouts who have achieved their Silver and/or Gold Award. Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of academic achievements as well as Girl Scout involvement and accomplishments. 

$1,150 awarded per girl

• Lacie Castile, Buffalo
• Skylar Cich, Williamsville
• Chloe Conner, Penfield
• Haley Coombs, Grand Island
• Lauren Coon, East Amherst
• Chloe Heinrich, Hamburg
• Alicia Hensel, Grand Island
• Emily Hodge, Hamburg
• Danielle Jaeger, Lockport
• Jennifer James, Akron
• Paige Jegierski, Alden
• Alexis Kadlecik, Youngstown
• Hannah Kenefick, East Aurora
• Madeline LaGraves, Cheektowaga
• Alexa Monrad, Webster
• Rebecca Nagle, Kenmore
• Megan Quinn, Hamburg
• Abby Regan, Hamburg
• Jessica Roman, Orchard Park
• Rachel Rumschik, Buffalo
• Julia Schubbe, Hamburg
• Julia Sherwood, Williamsville
• Emma Smith, Pittsford
• Alayna Trautman, Lockport
• Sanna Rose Vollbrecht, Hamburg
• Julia Walker, East Amherst

The Kim Welsh Memorial Scholarship

The Kim Welsh Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1998 through the generosity of Carol and Allan Welsh in memory of their daughter, Kimberley.

$500 awarded per girl

• Hannah Kenefick, East Aurora
• Jessica Roman, Orchard Park
• Julia Sherwood, Williamsville
• Nicole Spiegel, East Amherst

Hans & Charlene Schoenenberger Golden Opportunity Scholarship

Hans and Charlene Schoenenberger offer one $1,000 scholarship to a Girl Scout who is receiving the Girl Scout Gold Award in 2021.

$1,000 awarded

• Ava Flores, Oakfield

Ralph & Mary McLean Wilson Scholarship

The Ralph and Mary McLean Wilson Scholarship offers two $1,000 scholarships to Girl Scouts who are receiving the Girl Scout Gold Award in 2021.

$1,000 awarded per girl

• Morgan Schaefer, Williamsville
• Sanna Rose Vollbrecht, Hamburg

About Girl Scouts of Western New York

Girl Scouts of Western New York (GSWNY) serves nearly 14,000 girls and 6,000 adult volunteers across the GSWNY jurisdiction, including Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties. The council’s administrative service centers are located in Buffalo, Jamestown, Lockport, Niagara Falls, and Rochester.

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls discover their personal best and prepare for a positive future, connect with others in an increasingly diverse world and take action to solve problems and improve their communities. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit http://www.gswny.org or call 1-888-837-6410.