Gold Award

Several organizations issue awards with this name:

Gold Award (Girl Scouts of the USA)

The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award.

History

Girl Scout's highest award was created in 1916, and has gone through numerous changes over the years.

Golden Eaglet of Merit - 1916 to 1918

This award was a pin of an eagle with its wings spread, on a red, white, and blue ribbon.

Golden Eaglet - 1919 to 1938

In 1919 the name of the award was changed to the Golden Eaglet. Requirements for the award ranged through the years from earning 14 out of 17 specific badges, earning the Medal of Merit, earning a different number of badges, and the acceptance of a letter of Commendation instead of the Medal of Merit. The award it self changed from the spread-winged eagle and ribbon to an eagle with half-furled wings and a "G" and an "S" on either side of its head.

In November of 1923, Juliette Low wrote: “The five requirements for winning the Golden Eaglet are character, health, handicraft, happiness and service, and that others will expect to find in our Golden Eaglet a perfect specimen of girlhood: mentally, morally, and physically.”