If you need assistance in filling out your application online, please email scholarship@girlscoutsrv.org.

Purpose:

This merit-based scholarship is intended to provide a stepping-stone to higher learning for currently registered Gold Award Girl Scouts: diverse young individuals who represent the highest ideals in Girl Scouting.

Eligibility: 

• Applicants must have their Gold Award final reports approved by the scholarship deadline to be considered for the current year scholarship.
• Applicants must be a current Girl Scout or adult member of the Girl Scouts River Valleys. If you need to check your membership status, please contact scholarship@girlscoutsrv.org. Financial assistance is available.
• Recipients of the Gold Award may receive the scholarship two times total and must submit a new application each year for consideration.
• Applicants must be at least a senior in high school, or freshman/sophomore in post-secondary college, university or trade school.

Award Amount:

Up to 10 scholarships will be awarded in the range of $500 - $2,000 each.

Amount can be prorated by semester for tuition, campus housing, and/or books, however the scholarship must be sent directly to the institution. Note: Scholarships and grants may affect other student aid programs. See your financial aid officer for details. 

Application Requirements:

• Formatting:
  • If you are not using the online application form, please use APA (American Psychological Association) style or use the following criteria:
    • Times New Roman, Arial, or similar font
    • 12-point font
    • 1.5 or double space
    • Must include name and page number on each page
• Applicant Information, Girl Scout & Community Activities and Essay Questions must be submitted together.
• Transcripts and letters of recommendation may be sent separately but must be postmarked by the application deadline of May 1.

Tips for a great application:

• It is often difficult to speak about yourself; this is your opportunity to reflect on your experiences as a Girl Scout, what you have accomplished and learned, and what your next challenges will be.
• Answers for each Essay Questions should be a maximum of 300 words.
• Proofread: Spelling, grammar, and style are critical. Read your application out loud and have someone else (your English teacher, parent, troop leader, etc.) read your application as well.
• Avoid jargon and clichés. Explain terms and briefly describe specific examples.
• Answer each question completely and honestly. Give specific examples. Talk about what you learned, what was challenging and what was most rewarding.

Application Checklist:

You must submit the following items for your application to be considered complete. 

• Applicant Information
• School, Work and Community Involvement
• Essay Questions (3 total)
• One Letter of Recommendation

  • Must come from a non-Girl Scout and non-family reference. Letters can be sent to the Girl Scouts River Valleys Saint Paul office at the below address, or by email at scholarship@girlscoutsrv.org.

    • Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
      Attn: Gold Award Scholarship Committee
      400 Robert Street South Saint Paul, MN 55107

  • You may also request your recommenders to fill out the online Gold Award Scholarship Recommendations Form.

• Transcript from the high school or post-secondary institution you are currently attending.
  • Check with your school’s records office to request an official transcript. An official transcript will often come in a sealed envelope and have a raised seal, authorized signature, or be printed on special paper. An unofficial transcript may be submitted with the application; however an official transcript must be provided prior to releasing scholarship funds.  

Deadline: 

All materials, including Letters of Recommendation, must completed online, emailed or postmarked by 11:59 pm (CST) May 1.

Please check the boxes to acknowledge you understand and agree to the following terms. If you do not agree to these terms you will be unable to contunue with the application. 

If you need to check your membership status, please contact scholarship@girlscoutsrv.org. Financial assistance is available.

In this section you are asked to list your school and/or community activities in which you are involved. Examples of items to include are:

• Service/activities while in Girl Scouts, including dates.
• Activities outside of Girl Scouts: list the organization, place, date(s) and position held, if applicable.
• Work experience – either paid or unpaid
• Other honors and awards earned; include name of honor or award and date earned.

Requirement:

Each Girl Scout candidate must provide one letter of recommendation from a non-relative or a non-Girl Scout reference. Choose a reference who know you well and can speak honestly about your individual achievements and leadership skills. Ask them to give specific examples about how they have seen you help others, and how you have grown. Letters can be sent to the Girl Scouts River Valleys office at the above address, or by email at scholarship@girlscoutsrv.org.

To simplify the process, you may also request your contact to fill out the online Gold Award Scholarship Recommendations Form.

Note: Do not use relatives as references. Your letter of recommendation must come from a non-Girl Scout reference.

We have also provided the following information for you to share with recommenders:

Background: Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship

Each year, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys awards exceptional young women who are members of Girl Scouts River Valleys with scholarship awards. All scholarship candidates will have earned or are in the process of earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship, recipients must provide strong letters of recommendation and demonstrate exceptional leadership and service. They must also show the positive impact of the Girl Scout Promise and Law in their lives.

What is the Girl Scout Gold Award?

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a girl can achieve in Girl Scouting. To earn this prestigious recognition, Girl Scouts in grades 9–12 must meet prerequisites that encompass leadership and skill development, career exploration, and self-assessment. They must also design, plan, implement, and evaluate a significant leadership project involving at least 80 hours of community service over four months or longer.

The Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country, 
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

*Members may choose a substitute for the word "God" in accordance with their spiritual beliefs.

The Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be:
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong,
and responsible for what I say and do,
and to respect myself and others,
respect authority, use resources wisely,
make the world a better place,
and be a sister to every Girl Scout.