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COLFAX — Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont has announced that Emily Courson, of Clemmons, has earned her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting.

Courson, daughter of John and Dawn Courson and a member of Girl Scout Troop 40408, organized a coding club at Friedberg Elementary School. The club was open to grades 3-5 who met on a monthly basis. Courson wrote lesson plans and activities for the club and also created a Coding Club Starter Kit so that other schools or organizations in the area can begin their own club.

The Gold Award represents the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, recognizing girls in grades nine through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take Action projects. Each girl must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to planning and carrying out her project, which must benefit the community and have long-lasting impact.

“Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award designation is truly a remarkable achievement. It is the culmination of so many things- from a girl’s self-discipline and leadership abilities to time management and the creativity, initiative and mastery of skills it takes to complete these kind of projects,” said Gayle Rose, chief operating officer of Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont. “Every girl who earns this prestigious award is making a difference not only in her community, but her own life as well. The skills gained through the Gold Award process are ones that will be used often in her future endeavors.”

Started in 1916 as the Golden Eaglet, thousands of Girl Scouts earn the Girl Scout Gold Award each year. Earning the Gold Award opens doors to scholarships, preferred admission tracks for college and career opportunities — as well as skills that set girls up for success, like strategic thinking, communication, collaboration, problem solving and time management.