A Southern Pines teenager was awarded the top honor in the Girl Scouts for a community project.
Julia McLaurin P. earned the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, by taking meaningful action to address a pressing challenge in her community. Her impactful project focused on advocating for and promoting environmental sustainability.
Julia earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award for her environmental education project focused on protecting local wildlife. Through community sessions and educational signage at Reservoir Park, Julia raised awareness about the dangers of feeding aquatic birds improper diets. She also built and installed birdhouses to support the park’s ecosystem.
“Julia saw a need in her community and chose to be part of the solution,” said Lisa M.K. Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines, in a media release. “Her commitment to environmental sustainability reflects a deep sense of responsibility and forward-thinking leadership. By turning her passion into action, she’s not only protecting the planet—she’s inspiring others to do the same. We’re proud to celebrate her remarkable achievement.”
Gold Award Girl Scouts become innovative problem-solvers, empathetic leaders, confident public speakers, and focused project managers. They learn resourcefulness, tenacity, and decision-making skills, giving them an edge personally and professionally. As they take action to transform their communities, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they’re the leaders our world needs. The 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout class identified issues in their communities, took action, and found or created solutions to earn their Gold Awards, addressing real-life problems such as environmental sustainability, racial justice, mental and physical well-being, and gender inequality in STEM.
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