Tag Archives: Awards

Girl Scout Zoe L. Named 2026 Spirit of Manatee Young Spirit Award Winner

by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

For more than twelve years, Zoe L. has lived the Girl Scout Promise through service, leadership, and a deep commitment to her community. That dedication has now been recognized beyond the Girl Scout Movement, as Zoe has been selected as the 2026 Spirit of Manatee – Young Spirit Award winner by the Manatee Community Foundation.

Girl Scout Zoe L. and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian wrap up filming at the Manatee Community Foundation for the 2026 Spirit of Manatee award video.
Girl Scout Zoe L. and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian wrap up filming at the Manatee Community Foundation for the 2026 Spirit of Manatee award video.

A resident of Lakewood Ranch, Zoe exemplifies what it means to lead with courage, compassion, and purpose. Her Girl Scout journey is marked not only by time and dedication, but by meaningful, lasting impact.

Leadership Through Girl Scouting

Zoe earned the Girl Scout Silver Award in 2022 by creating a Little Free Library at Summerfield Park, using materials donated by her and a fellow Girl Scout—funded through their own Cookie earnings. The project expanded access to books and encouraged literacy within the community.

In 2025, Zoe achieved the highest honor in Girl Scouting—the Girl Scout Gold Award—by designing and implementing a Beach Toy Borrow Bin on Holmes Beach. The sustainable project was created to reduce plastic waste and prevent beach debris from harming marine life, including sea turtles. Zoe personally funded the project and partnered with local organizations including Islanders 4 Clean Water, the City of Holmes Beach, the InWater Research Group, and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.

Zoe describes her Gold Award as her most life-changing work, requiring more than 80 hours of research, planning, and collaboration. Through the process, she developed leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills—and discovered a deeper passion for conservation that has inspired her to explore a future career in aquatic animal medicine.

Service Beyond the Troop

Zoe’s commitment to service extends well beyond Girl Scouts. She volunteers with South Florida Blood Cancer United and participates in her school’s Blood Drive Club. She has supported the Humane Society of Manatee County through kennel care, laundry assistance, and shelter improvements, and has volunteered with organizations including Manasota BUDS, Manatee Foster and Adoptive Services, All Faiths Food Bank, Magic of Mittens, TOP Soccer, and the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.

At Lakewood Ranch High School, Zoe serves as a member of the National Honor Society and as President of the Junior Advisory Board, continuing to demonstrate leadership among her peers.

A Spirit of Service Recognized

The Spirit of Manatee Awards honor individuals who go above and beyond to strengthen Manatee County. Zoe’s selection as the 2026 Young Spirit Award winner reflects her extraordinary dedication to service, environmental stewardship, and community leadership.

From building access to books, to protecting beaches and marine life, to supporting vulnerable populations, Zoe’s work reflects the very best of Girl Scouting in action.

We are incredibly proud of Zoe Lander and look forward to celebrating her at the 20th Annual Spirit of Manatee event on March 25, 2026. Her story is a powerful reminder of what girls can accomplish when they are given the opportunity to lead—and when they choose to serve with heart and purpose.

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413 Young Women of Distinction Honored at Annual Ceremony

by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF) honored 413 Girl Scouts with 576 awards during the 2025 Young Women of Distinction Ceremony on May 18 at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda. Awards recognized achievements in leadership, service, faith, academics, and entrepreneurship.

View the photos on Facebook, HERE

Gold Award alum and World Foundation for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Board Director Laura Robert-Rivera delivered the keynote, encouraging girls to stay involved and recognize the pivotal moments that shape them.

This year, GSGCF honored six Girl Scouts who earned the prestigious Gold Award—the highest achievement in Girl Scouting—recognizing extraordinary leadership and sustainable community impact. “The Gold Award is truly the mark of the remarkable,” said GSGCF CEO Mary Anne Servian. “We are here today to celebrate young women who have turned their passions into purpose through this prestigious achievement.”

GSGCF Class of 2025 Gold Award Girl Scouts:

  • Krysta Fowler (North Port): Built 26 bat habitats and launched a multi-county conservation campaign.
  • Olivia Trader (Cape Coral): Created a campus safety guide and led self-defense classes.
  • Victoria Morton (Port Charlotte): Established a pet food pantry and published resource guides.
  • Reagan Graham (Sarasota): Distributed 2,000+ pairs of socks and founded a permanent sock closet.
  • Harley Cross: Launched a 24/7 anonymous food pantry to combat hunger with dignity.
  • Dakota Partelow: Renovated a room at Valerie’s House and provided sustainable resources for youth mental health and bereavement support.

The event also celebrated 11 Silver Awards, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, and 74 Bronze Awards, the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn

65 Journey Summit Awards, and 77 Religious Recognitions. 31 girls received 10-Year Membership Pins, and 29 graduating seniors earned Bridge to Adult certificates.

244 Girl Scout Cookie Entrepreneurs were recognized for selling more than 1,000 boxes of cookies. Among them, 47 sold 1,500+ boxes, 29 sold over 2,000, seven exceeded 3,000, three surpassed 4,000, seven hit 5,000, and one exceptional Girl Scout, Grace Pabalan, reached a new council record of 8,060 boxes sold in a single season.

In total, GSGCF Girl Scouts sold over one million boxes of cookies this year and donated more than 41,000 boxes through the Gift of Caring program. A special Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Olivia Trader, who has sold over 50,000 boxes of Cookies during her 13-year Girl Scout journey.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.: Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and strive to make it better every single day. They explore their strengths, take on new challenges, and can always be themselves, regardless of background or ability. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida council has a membership of nearly 3,500 girls in grades K-12, and more than 1,500 adult members. GSGCF is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves girls in ten counties including: Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. The council is governed by a volunteer board of directors who represent the geographic, ethnic, and social demographics of the council’s jurisdiction. For more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida visit www.gsgcf.org.