Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF) proudly celebrated 483 Girl Scouts during the 2026 Young Women of Distinction Ceremony on May 17 at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda. The event highlighted achievements in leadership, service, faith, academics, and entrepreneurship, showcasing the powerful impact Girl Scouts make across our communities every day. View the photos on Rallyhood, HERE

Our Guest Speaker Takes the Stage

This year’s Young Women of Distinction celebration came alive with guest speaker Blair Bloomston, who led a fun, high energy activity that encouraged everyone to step outside their comfort zones, spark new conversations, and see how one simple connection can lead to unexpected opportunities. As the founder and CEO of Leaders Uplifted, Blair Bloomston has built an impressive career as a consultant and instructional designer, and she brought that experience to the room making the session feel welcoming, engaging, and genuinely inspiring. She is also a lifetime Girl Scout, embodying the values of leadership, courage, and service that continue to guide her work today.

Gold Award Class of 2026

Sixteen Girl Scouts were honored with the Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and a symbol of extraordinary leadership and sustainable community impact. GSGCF CEO Mary Anne Servian shared that “the Gold Award is truly the mark of the remarkable,” celebrating young women who transformed their passions into purpose.

GSGCF Class of 2026 Gold Award Girl Scouts:

• Alice B.- Gold Award Project – Sensory Room
• Maddie C.-Gold Award Project – A Hope for Kittens
• Audrey C.-Gold Award Project – Identifying Bad vs. Good Bugs
• Reese G.-Gold Award Project – Trails of Hope
• Catelyn H.-Gold Award Project – Operation Hometown Heroes
• Kaylee J.-Gold Award Project – Hope for the Hopeless
• Zoe L.-Gold Award Project – Beach Toy Borrow Bin
• Anna O.-Gold Award Project – Scripture for Seekers
• Alexa P.-Gold Award Project – Coding a Brighter Future
• Julianne P.-Gold Award Project – Enrichment Matters
• Evelin R.-Gold Award Project – Blankets for Children
• Angelica E.-Gold Award Project – Tapping with Love
• Siddalee R.-Gold Award Project – Maximus Derba’s Mission
• Anna S.-Gold Award Project – Athletic Zen: Building Mindfulness in Sports
• Ava W.-Gold Award Project – Threads of Comfort
• Corrin Z.-Gold Award Project – Garden Beds & Lifeskills for ESE Students

Recognizing Excellence at Every Age

Throughout the afternoon, Girl Scouts were recognized across multiple categories, reflecting dedication at every level of the program. Honorees included seven Dr. Elinor Crawford College Scholarship recipients, one Lyndi Cyphers Memorial Scholarship recipient, 26 Silver Award Girl Scouts, 91 Bronze Award Girl Scouts, 52 Journey Summit Award recipients, and 67 Religious Recognitions. Additional recognitions included 13 Program Aide Pins, seven Counselor in Training awards, 62 graduating seniors, 70 10‑Year Girl Scouts, and 36 Fall Product/Mags & Munchies Stars.

Entrepreneurship shined brightly as 205 Cookie Entrepreneurs were celebrated for selling more than 1,000 boxes of cookies. Many surpassed major milestones, including 47 selling over 1,500 boxes, 29 selling more than 2,000, seven exceeding 3,000, three surpassing 4,000, and seven reaching 5,000. One exceptional Girl Scout set a new council record with an incredible 8,060 boxes sold. In total, GSGCF Girl Scouts sold more than one million boxes this year and donated over 41,000 boxes through the Gift of Caring program, demonstrating generosity and community spirit at its finest.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida serves girls and adults across ten counties — Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. Girl Scouts explore their strengths, embrace challenges, and lead with confidence, always striving to make the world a better place. Every badge earned, project completed, and box of cookies sold reflects the mission at the heart of the movement: Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and make it better every single day.

Mark your calendars for 2027! Next year’s ceremony will take place on May 16, 2027. We can’t wait to see what our council’s Girl Scouts will accomplish over the next year.