For Nerinx students, it’s important to instill key values of faith, community, justice, and respect. Knowing yourself and your world is another philosophy that Nerinx Hall teaches to every one of its students. Gold Award winner Laura Smith exemplified Nerinx’s values in this capstone Girl Scout service project; the result shows the impacts of Nerinx’s teachings of dedication and perseverance.

Press Release from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri about a Gold Award Winner from Nerinx Hall

 St. Louis, MO – September 19, 2018 ─ Laura Smith, an upcoming 2019 graduate of Nerinx Hall High School in Webster Groves, Mo., recently earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting. By earning the award, Smith exemplifies a leader who has transformed an idea for change into an actionable plan with a sustainable impact. Smith was among 53 Gold Award Girl Scouts recognized during a ceremony at Lindenwood University in St. Charles this summer.

Smith noticed many of her grandmother’s peers at Our Lady of Life don’t have driver’s licenses. Because they can’t drive, they have difficulties running errands like picking up groceries. To earn her Gold Award, Smith organized workshops covering technology topics like Facebook, smartphones, FaceTime and online shopping. She wanted Our Lady of Life residents to feel comfortable enough in the digital environment to be able to order their groceries online or communicate with a family member across the country. This G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)TM also did one-on-one sessions with individuals, helping ensure they stay engaged in a constantly-changing world.

The Gold Award represents the culmination of more than 80 hours of work on a project that is important to each girl. Approximately one million high-school aged Girl Scouts have earned the Girl Scout Gold Award or its equivalent since 1916.

A young woman who has earned the Gold Award is a community leader. Gold Award Girl Scouts report a more positive sense of self, are more engaged civically and in community service, have more confidence in their leadership abilities, and experience greater life satisfaction and success relative to their peers. Some of the benefits of becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout are:

• Immediately rising one rank when enlisting in the US Armed Forces
• Earning scholarships from colleges and universities
• Recognition from government and non-profit organizations

Earning the Gold Award is just one of the amazing things girls can do as part of Girl Scouts. To join Girl Scouts or learn more about volunteering, please visit girlscoutsem.org/join.