Since 1916, Girl Scouting's highest award has had many names Golden Eagle of Merit, Golden Eaglet, Curved Bar, First Class, Gold Award and in 2016 we celebrated the accomplishments of every girl who has changed the world by earning it! Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro - Our Gold Award Spokesperson! See photos from the press conference event on our Facebook page. Events We held many celebratory events throughout the year! Past Events Lunch with your Legislators April 27, Hartford Girl Scouts from across the state came together to engage state public officials in celebrating the Gold Award Centennial with our alumnae, as we honored Gold Award recipients at the Connecticut State Capitol. Gold Award Reception June 5, Waterbury At an expo, girls shared their Gold Award projects with family, friends, and younger Girl Scouts working towards the highest awards. The Gold Award recipients were honored at a ceremony with a keynote speaker.
Gold Award Alumnae Reception November 6, Milford Alumnae who earned the highest award in Girl Scouting came together at Costa Azzurra in Milford to reminisce and catch up. The keynote speaker was Teresa Younger, President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, former GSOFCT Board President, and Gold Award recipient! See photos from the event on our Facebook page. History and Recipients The following women have earned the highest award in Girl Scouting! They either earned it in Connecticut, or have earned it elsewhere and are now living in Connecticut. The Golden Eaglet insignia, the highest award in Girl Scouting from 1916 to 1939, marked the beginning of a long tradition of recognizing the extraordinary efforts of extraordinary girls. From 1940 to 1963, the Curved Bar Award was the highest honor in Girl Scouting. From 1963 to 1980, the highest award was called First Class. Since 1980, the Gold Award has inspired girls to find the greatness inside themselves and share their ideas and passions with their communities.
1930s Earned Name 1936 Natalie Child Phillips Hartford CT 1937 Constance Stringer Mann Harrisburg PA 1938 Beatrice (Schea) Anderson Meriden CT 1940s Earned Name 1948 Marion Sadler Hazelhurst University Park MD 1950s Earned Name Town where earned 1951 Barbara Mahoney Sumner Pittsfield MA 1953 Susan Goodrich Motycka Glastonbury CT 1954 Lois Warner Windsor CT 1955 Joan McLaughlin Bouchard Ridgewood NJ 1955 Prescille Forest Yamamoto Sequim WA 1956 Pamela (Grotenhuis) Miller San Gabriel CA 1958 Patricia Simpson Perkins Fairfield CT 1958 Elsie Blackshear Chapman New York City NY 1959 Linda (Fenner) Zimmer Needham Heights MA 1959 Gerri Frankel Wilton CT 1959 Eileen (Sulkazi) Norkun Terryville CT 1959 Maureen (Richeimer) Francescon Bridgeport CT 1960s Earned Name 1960 Joyce (Thalman) Garrison Eastchester NY 1960 Jane (Golin) Strom Stamford CT
1961 Janet Ayer Bennett Castleton-on-Hudson NY 1961 Barbara (Mann) Lawrence Malvern PA 1961 Priscilla Perry Woyke Westfield NJ 1961 Sharon Ellsworth Johnson City NY 1962 Barbara (Block) Klein Pittsfield MA 1963 Paula Husar Fromm New Kensington PA 1963 Lisabeth Gustafson West Boylston MA 1963 Barbara (Block) Klein Pittsfield MA 1963 Diane (Blaner) Razzaia Milford CT 1963 Cynthia (Therrien) Sposito Lebanon CT 1963 Nancy (Abramson) Reznik Newtown CT 1964 Loretta (Whelan) Mele Harwinton CT 1964 Victoria (Boucher) Morley Merrick NY 1964 Linda Tiezzi Parrish Chester CT 1964 Nan (Butler) Bussmann Branford CT 1965 Kathleen Jackson Portland CT 1965 Carol Endriss West North Haven CT 1966 Ruth Ann (Schroder) Kowalski New Fairfield CT 1966 MaryLynn (McLemore) Santa Phoenix AZ 1966 Marita J. Repole Danbury CT 1966 Patricia McLellan Schaefer Los Angeles CA 1966 Lois Warner Windsor CT 1967 Linda (Wadsworth) Bresky Marblehead OH 1967 Elaine LaBella Middletown CT 1968 Mary Schaefer Badger Terryville CT 1968 Sarah Armstead Begina Glastonbury CT 1968 Susan Blanker Greenfield MA 1968 Paula J. Zuraw Ansonia CT 1968 Anne I. (Charest) Hayes Manchester CT 1968 Robin (Elmore) Stevens Milford CT
1970s Earned Name 1970 Deirdre Houlihan DiCara Winsted CT 1970 Alexandra (Wenzel) Thomas New Milford CT 1970 Kathleen (Willard) Cook Fanwood NJ 1970 Patricia Beyer Kelly Torrington CT 1971 Christine Taylor Bradshaw King of Prussia PA 1971 Sharon Chappuis New Milford CT 1971 Lynne (Benvie) Roberts Berlin CT 1971 Dana (Fisher) Sears Garden Grove CA 1971 Eileen (Mommsen) Wilkinson Pelham NY 1972 Cheryl (Emonds) McGuff Enfield CT 1972 Christine Caton Waterford CT 1972 Kathy (Florentino) Carroll Port Washington NY 1972 Lorraine (Ludwig) Westervelt Darien CT 1972 Margaret Hansen-Kaplan Bayshore NY 1972 Rosanna Smith Waterford CT 1972 Rose Mary (Emonds) Wheat Enfield CT 1973 Aggie Donch Long Island City NY 1973 Nancy A. DeLong Kutztown PA 1973 Ann C. King Guilford CT 1973 Anne (Sunega) Staebner East Lyme CT 1973 Virginia (Hill) Mahoney Oakland NJ 1974 Donna (Farrington) Pinney Kaiserslaturn Germany 1974 Laurie (Brichter) Kenny Monroe CT 1975 Carol Buchanan Southington CT 1975 Cathy Blaisdell Johnson Groton CT 1975 Jane Bielefield Torrington CT 1975 Diane (Parent) Minck Ridgefield CT 1975 Louisa (Chiodo) Okell Ridgefield CT 1975 Caren (Prescott) Ruocco Olympia WA 1975 Pamela G. Gilbert-Sugrue Milford CT 1976 Janet (Anderson) Greenwood Weston CT
1977 Cheryl Griswold-Conrod Bethel CT 1977 Christine (Zerba) Durant Plainville CT 1977 Regina LaRosa-Finch New Hartford CT 1977 Nancy (Fontanese) Schumann West Mifflin PA 1977 Diana (Foster) Shirback Milford CT 1978 Kathy (Chapman) Bakal Massapequa Park NY 1978 Hally (Henry) Whalen Wolcott CT 1979 Marjorie Aston Kansas City MO 1979 Donna (Roberts) Dione Clinton CT 1979 Sabra Gallo Tampa FL 1979 Laura (Santos) Lombardo Ramsey NJ 1979 Karen Nelson Shelton CT 1980s Earned Name 1980 Beth (Bria) Salvador Redding CT 1980 Dawn (Demianczyk) Ringes Pittsburgh PA 1980 Deb (Howard) Simonson El Cajon CA 1980 Lisa (Wood) Pruner Caldwell NJ 1980 Christine (Petrofsky) Wells Berlin CT 1981 Anna C. Freitag-Kedersha, M.D. Norwalk CT 1981 Karin (Hoover) Wells Manchester CT 1981 Laura (Karpowich) Taylor Stamford CT 1981 Lori Lynn (Przybyl) Baron Montville CT 1982 Christine (Culver) Keane Wolcott CT 1982 Melinda (Johnson) Towne Brookline MA 1982 Debbie (Bent) Ventre Brookfield CT 1983 Pamela (Meyers) McLaughlin Longwood FL 1984 Alison Bentley Poughkeepsie NY 1984 Suzanne Lauri Webb Brookfield CT 1985 Sharon Conners Stamford CT 1986 Rebecca A. Gallo-Anderson Bethany CT 1986 Debra Holcomb Simsbury CT
1986 Donna Stupak-Rider Trumbull CT 1986 Ruth (Jacobs) Todaro Columbia MD 1986 Joan (Kleros) Waters Westport CT 1986 Marie A. Yamamoto East Hartford CT 1987 Valerie (Colvin) Carterud Manchester CT 1987 Amy (Miller) Civiello Ridgefield CT 1987 Laurie Pomazi Redding CT 1987 Roberta (Daniolos) Salafia East Hartford/Marlborough CT 1987 Erin Regnier Bridgeport CT 1988 Lee Anne (Smith) Talbot Newark DE 1988 Heather (Burt) Martin Montville CT 1988 FlorenceMae Waldron Thompson CT 1989 Lori (Berry) Landers Westport CT 1990s Earned Name 1990 Tanya (Sines) Conway Manchester CT 1990 Maura Curran Baker West Hurley NY 1990 Laura Johannes Manchester CT 1990 Tara (Ashe) Remillard Rockville CT 1991 Noel Mary Elizabeth Chicoine-Normand Waterbury CT 1991 Charlene (Houle) Southworth Waterbury CT 1991 Kearsten Davis Westport CT 1992 Betsy (Hoats) Krauss Emmaus PA 1992 Gail Peterson Dalton Vernon CT 1992 Kara (Hoginski) Trosen Enfield CT 1992 Kimberly DiVirgilio Wolcott CT 1992 Meridith Bauer Hardisty Warminster PA 1993 Kimberly (Ritch) Gnerre Honesdale PA 1993 Christy Robertson Bloomfield CT 1993 Lynn Sosa-Bergeron Chicago IL 1993 Sara Pontillo Johnson Clinton CT 1993 Robyn Butler Clinton CT
1994 Tracy (Dering) Forstrom Milford CT 1994 Jennifer Moore Baltimore MD 1994 Mary Catherine (Tucker) Muenker Madison CT 1994 Melanie (Lengyel) DeGroot Bakdwinsville NY 1994 Michelle (Steider) Kijewski Brick NJ 1994 Elizabeth Yaney Darien CT 1995 Elizabeth (Peterson) Roth Somerset MA 1995 A. Tina Santana New Britain CT 1995 Leigh-Anne Sastre Milford CT 1995 Kimberly Field Mansfield CT 1995 Diana (Tesla) Robert Stratford CT 1996 Charlotte (Carter) Riley East Hartford CT 1996 Cheryl Robertson Cheshire CT 1996 Michele (Bradford) Hall Elmhurst IL 1996 E. Nicki (Morgan) Haataja Vernon CT 1996 Elizabeth Woyke New Canaan CT 1996 Elizabeth (Trottier) Monge Farmington CT 1996 Joanne (Dimenno) Gallagher Stratford CT 1997 Kristen Dingler Rowinsky LaCrescenta CA 1998 Katharine (O'Sullivan) Spadacenta Guilford CT 1998 Pam Neumann Portland CT 1998 Jaime (Dalton) Montville Hopedale MA 1999 Victoria (Roxo) Ericson Saint James NY 1999 Sarah (Lindenberger) Furr Ledyard CT 1999 Stefanie (Baldi) Phelps West Hartford CT 2000-2007 Earned Name 2000 Jillian (Vescovi) Seelig East Haven CT 2000 Ashley E. Speranza Wethersfield CT 2001 Andrea M. (Gaskin) Card Fairfield CT 2001 Jeannette Compton Hamden CT 2001 Victoria (Tori) (Meyer) Romeo Monroe CT
2002 Karen (Sforza) Fenn CT 2002 Emily Fromm Monroe CT 2002 Erin Grady Tolland CT 2003 Sarah Jane Compton Hamden CT 2003 Elizabeth (Salvo) O'Connell Trumbull CT 2003 Elizabeth (Papp) Putnam Worcester MA 2003 Rebecca Wright Monroe CT 2004 Erin Berg Monroe CT 2004 Jessica (DeMartino) Chidsey Hamden CT 2004 Jessica (Karkut) Nash Southbury CT 2004 Catherine "Annie" Osbach Dearborn MI 2004 Danielle Richtarich Monroe CT 2004 Nicole (Cappuzzo) Santora Southbury CT 2004 Erica (Pickett) Renfro Pittsburgh PA 2005 Desiree (Razzaia) Caporaso Milford CT 2005 Bethany Kanfer Mitchell Waterford CT 2005 Heather Bankowski Monroe CT 2005 Sarah Biglow Rocky Hill CT 2006 Michelle Little Pequannock NJ 2006 Elise Wilkinson Greenwich CT 2006 Emily Zemba Old Lyme CT 2007 Kathleen Henley Cromwell CT 2007 Sabrina Lewis Orangeville IL 2007 Sarah Perlman Ridgefield CT For Gold Award Recipients from 2008 to the present, see our Gold Award webpage.