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  1. Members
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  3. Awards and Recognitions

Awards and Recognitions

Each year, Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains celebrates Girl Scout adult volunteers, Service Units, and Troops with achievement awards. With GSTOP Council and GSUSA awards available, this is the time to shine the light on amazing Girl Scout volunteers.

Criteria for the GSUSA, GSTOP Council, and Service Unit Awards toggle arrow
  1. Troop Leadership, volunteers within the service unit, troops, girls, and Girl Scout families may nominate and endorse volunteers. Family members are discouraged from nominating or endorsing a member of their own family unit. Girls are encouraged to nominate and endorse volunteers by following the submission criteria. We encourage staff to participate in the awards process. 
  2. Submissions must effectively explain how the nominee meets the criteria for the specific award.
  3. Read the requirements to make sure that the nominee demonstrated the criteria of the award for the required amount of time. Required times are listed in each award category.
  4. Nominees must be active GSTOP background checked volunteers.
  5. National Awards nominees must wait at least three years between National Award recognitions. National Awards are progressive in nature. (Example: A volunteer was recognized in 2023 for the GSUSA Volunteer of Excellence Award. The volunteer will be eligible for the Appreciation Pin in 2026.)
  6. A Service Unit may nominate up to four people for any specific award. Nominating more than four people will automatically disqualify additional nominees based on the time of submission.
  7. It is the nominator’s responsibility to ensure the correct number of endorsements are completed by application deadline at 11:59 p.m. 
  8. When asking for endorsements, always ask for more than needed to ensure the correct number of endorsements are completed on time.
  9. A nominee is only eligible to receive one award per year.
  10. Nominators and endorsers for each nominee must be different individuals.
  11. Nominations and endorsements will not be accepted after the deadline.
  12. Incomplete nominations and endorsements will not be reviewed. 
Awards Committee Responsibilities toggle arrow
  1. The Awards Committee is comprised of diverse individuals from throughout the council.
  2. The Awards Committee uses a specific rubric for each award.
  3. The Awards Committee abstains themselves from voting or influencing other members of the committee, if a nominee is from their direct service unit.
Nomination Schedule toggle arrow

GSUSA Awards:

  • Nominations and Endorsements accepted December 15, 2025-February 9, 2026.
  • Honorees will be recognized at the Volunteer Leadership Summit and Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

GSTOP and Service Unit Awards:

  • Nominations and endorsements accepted annually, April 1-30.
  • Honorees will be recognized in late summer/early fall at local celebrations.

 

The deadline for nominations and endorsements for GSTOP and Service Unit Awards has been extended to June 15, 2026.

GSTOP Council Awards
Bobbie Heckathorn Cookie Sale Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who have service including service unit and/or council leadership during the Girl Scout Cookie Program; planned, promoted, and/or carried out a new or unique cookie program beyond the troop level or financial and inventory management that carries out the purpose of the cookie program; have performed service for more than two previous membership years. 

Two endorsements required.

Glenella Scarborough Outstanding Volunteer Facilitator Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who have displayed a positive attitude and had a positive influence in dealing with adult volunteers; are experts in subject matter and council policy as it applies to adult learning opportunities provided; display facilitation skills that are outstanding, above and beyond the expectations for the position; have performed service as a learning facilitator over an extended period of time or have been instrumental in the development and use of new instructional services or programs. 

Two endorsements required.

Marian Hardy Service to Volunteers Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who have provided consistently remarkable high-caliber service in the areas of recruitment, development, and/or retention of adult volunteers (e.g. positively affected recruitment and retention in adult membership through ongoing commitment and service) and have been instrumental in retaining adults through the quality of support provided year after year. 

Two endorsements required.

Sandy Kautz Excellence in Membership Development Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who have innovated through new recruitment projects, collaborations with other groups, or new recruitment methods, resulting in increased diversity in membership; have participated in a unique service unit outreach project that increased membership and retention; have enhanced the diversity of the service unit's racial, ethnic, age, geographic, socioeconomic, and/or religious or cultural makeup; demonstrate understanding, respect, and appreciation of other cultures, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds; are sensitive to diverse backgrounds; have realized improved recruitment, retention, and improved diversity that impact the entire council or Girl Scout organization, providing an example for other individuals or groups. This award can be given to an individual Girl Scout volunteer or a group from the same service unit.

Two endorsements required.

GSTOP Service Unit Awards
Camping Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who planned, promoted and/or carried out a new or unique camping program beyond the troop level that carries out the purpose of Girl Scouting, were instrumental in the development and use of camping facilities, and have completed the following outdoor education classes:

  • Outdoor 101
  • Cabin/Tent Training

Required Time: at least the past two membership years.

Two endorsements required.

Courage in Adversity Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who have displayed courage by overcoming adversity and have given back to their community in an inspiring way; inspired others to make a difference by strengthening community-based nonprofit organizations and the progressive movement through national and global philanthropy; created a positive impact on people's lives in ways that honor and promote human rights, economic justice, and a healthy, sustainable environment. 

Required Time: the past membership year.

Two endorsements required.

Emerging Star Award toggle arrow

Honors new leaders with six months to two years of experience. The nominee has completed the New Leader Learning Path, at least three additional GSLearn modules, participated with their troop in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, and completed at least three badges/petals during the year. 

Required Time: a new leader between six months and two years.

Two endorsements required.

Family Involvement Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who live within the same family unit and have actively contributed to the growth and enrichment of the Girl Scout Movement. 

Nominations should explain how the family coordinated or participated in a service project, cookie program, and/or been on the service unit team. Nominations should also include how the family has contributed to Girl Scouts programs in at least one of the following areas:

  • Entrepreneurship 
  • Life Skills
  • Outdoor
  • STEM    

Required Time: the past two membership years.

Two endorsements required.

Going Green Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who have planned, promoted, and carried out a new or unique STEM program for girls beyond the troop level, as in service unit or council level. The honoree has been instrumental in one of the STEM areas to educate and develop girls’ interest in STEM Career Exploration. The volunteer has partnered with a STEM expert or organization to create unique STEM opportunities that have the ability to grow and sustain for at least three years fulfilling the purpose of Girl Scouting. 

Required Time: the past membership year.

Two endorsements required.

Program Service Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who planned, promoted, and carried out a new or unique program activity beyond the troop level that fulfills the purpose of Girl Scouting at the service unit, multiple service units, or council level.

Nominations should include how the volunteer promoted the program or event, as well as explain the sustainability of the program or event.

Required Time: the past two membership years.

Two endorsements required.

Troop Cookie Chair toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who have served at least two years as the Troop Cookie Chair during the Girl Scout Cookie Program. The nominee develops and reaches personal troop goals, ends the program with no outstanding balance in the troop, develops a cookie team plan within the troop, and develops a volunteer communication plan for the cookie program. 

Required Time: the past two membership years.

Two endorsements required.

Unsung Hero Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who are hard-working, passionate, and dedicated to Girl Scouts and who actively recognize, understand, and practice the values of inclusive behavior. 

Required Time: the past membership year.

Two endorsements required.

Special Recognitions

These special recognitions showcase volunteers through their time and talent with Girl Scouts of Texas Oklahoma Plains.

Community Supporter toggle arrow

Do you know a Girl Scout community partner who goes above and beyond?

Did a business help your troop or service unit during the current year by offer meeting room space or other items?

Then that partner is the perfect candidate for a Community Supporter special recognition.  Nominate a community partner today.

Years of Service and Numeral Guard toggle arrow

The Volunteer Years of Service Pin recognizes an adult member registered with GSUSA for her/his years of active volunteer service at five-year intervals.

The Membership Numeral Guard  recognizes the individual for combined years of membership both as a girl and adult member at each five-year interval.

Please complete the form to receive your Years of Service Pin and/or Membership Numeral Guard.

These are presented at annual GSTOP and Service Unit Award ceremonies.

Nominations and endorsements for GSUSA Awards are currently closed.

GSUSA Awards
Volunteer of Excellence Award toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through use of the National Program Portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council's mission delivery to girl and adult members in one or more of the following functional areas: membership development, community cultivation, volunteer relations and support, program, leadership and governance, fund development, council support service (e.g. information technology, customer service, merchandising); actively recognize, understand, and proactive the values of inclusive behaviors. 

Three endorsements required.

Appreciation Pin toggle arrow

Honors volunteers who have previously received the Volunteer of Excellence Award who have provided outstanding service, above and beyond the expectation for the position, to at least one geographic area within the council; have significantly contributed to meeting one or more council goals in membership growth and retention, fund development, or increased community visibility; actively recognize, understand, and proactive the values of inclusive behavior. 

Nominees must have already received the Volunteer of Excellence Award.

Three endorsements required.

Honor Pin toggle arrow

Honors adult members who have significantly contributed to meeting one or more council goals in membership growth and retention, fund development, or increased community visibility in two or more geographic areas within the council; actively recognize, understand, and practice the values of inclusive behavior. 

Nominees must have already received the Appreciation Pin.

Three endorsements required.

Thanks Badge toggle arrow

Honors adult members who have provided service that is truly outstanding and that benefits the total council or the entire Girl Scout organization; have provided service so significantly above and beyond that no other award would be appropriate; have taken a leadership role at the council level in one or more of the following areas during the previous four years: increasing membership growth and retention; increasing the percentage of adult-generated funding in the total council income; increasing innovative program opportunities council-wide; development broad participation in policy-influencing through the democratic process; ensuring inclusive behavior is recognized, understood, and practiced at all levels. 

Nominees must have already received the Honor Pin.

Four endorsements required.

Thanks Badge II toggle arrow

Honors adult members who have previously been recognized with the Thanks Badge who have taken a leadership role in developing a model that has been replicated at the national level in one or more of the following areas during the previous three years: membership, program, fund development, pluralism, marketing communication, strategic leadership, and/or human resources. 

Nominees must have already received the Thanks Badge.

Four endorsements required.

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