The Gold Award isn’t handed out – it’s earned.
It’s the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve, and it represents more than a single project. It’s the culmination of vision, persistence and community leadership. To earn it, a Girl Scout must identify a pressing issue, design a sustainable solution and dedicate 80+ hours to seeing it through.
This summer, we had the privilege of producing two videos highlighting the journeys of Ecco Crockett and Naomi Felleke – two San Diego Girl Scouts whose Gold Award projects reflect not only their passions, but their belief in lasting change.
Ecco has been an artist for as long as she can remember – but she knows that one of the biggest questions young creatives face is: Can I make a living doing this?
For her Gold Award project, Ecco designed and led a series of workshops across San Diego, inviting professional artists to share their career journeys with aspiring young creators. These sessions offered a realistic, inspiring look at what it takes to succeed in the art world – and gave participants the tools to envision their own paths.
Ecco says the Gold Award was one of the most important experiences of her life so far. It taught her how to communicate with professionals, motivate herself and bravely put her ideas out into the world. She also credits her troop leader, Miss Jenny, as a mentor who has supported her since kindergarten and helped their troop thrive through high school.
Watch Ecco’s story here
Naomi’s project began with an investigation into gentrification for her school magazine. But what she found went beyond housing – in many communities, there were few grocery stores, but plenty of fast-food chains and liquor stores. She decided to take action.
Her Gold Award project launched a free farmers market initiative that provided culturally relevant, nutritious foods at no cost – and in a way that preserved dignity. Rather than handing out pre-packed boxes, Naomi created an individualized shopping experience, paired with nutritional literacy flyers to help address diet-related diseases common in these communities.
The impact went beyond the food itself. Naomi heard from fathers wanting fresh groceries for their kids after baseball practice and grandmothers eager to cook healthy family dinners. She says the experience exposed her to “a world of strength, resilience and fortitude” she might never have encountered otherwise.
Watch Naomi’s story here
Both Ecco and Naomi show what’s possible when young leaders are given the space to design their own solutions and see them through. The Gold Award is not given – it’s earned through commitment, courage and a drive to make a sustainable difference.
We were honored to help tell their stories, and we know their impact will reach far beyond the boundaries of their projects.
