Alliance Award: This council award recognizes an organization or business that has developed a council-wide alliance that facilitates Girl Scouting on a significant level, i.e.  

• Co-sponsor council-wide activities 
• Provide substantial in-kind gift that impacts council services 

 

In addition to the nomination form, 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator). 

Circle of Empowerment Award: The award was created in honor and memory of Nancy Fox, former Executive Director of Legacy Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County.  She embodied the ideals of adult empowerment, support, and development, and Girl Scouting has grown stronger as each generation of leadership passes on skills and knowledge and empowers the future leadership of the organization to reach their full potential.    

 

Criteria: 

• The nominee is an active Girl Scout volunteer with a current membership and valid background screen or fingerprints on file.  
• Empower others to deliver the Girl Scout mission by providing support, guidance, and professional development to other Girl Scout adults 
• Serve as an exceptional role model, mentor and coach whose guidance enables others to realize their full potential in Girl Scouting 
• Shares her/his passion and vision for the Girl Scout movement in a way that lights a flame in others to serve girls 
• Demonstrate long-term commitment to the Girl Scout organization through at least ten years of service 

 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 3 additional signatures supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser). 

Dennis Chew Outstanding Fundraiser Award: This recognition has been named in honor and memory of former council board member (1991-1993), Dennis Chew, for expanding business and community support to Legacy Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area. 

 

Criteria: 

• Promote and expand business and community support to Girl Scouts of Northern California 
• Significantly contributed to a substantial increase in contributions received by the council 
• Perform at a level that exceeds the expectations of the position held 

 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 1 additional signature supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser). 

Eleanor L. Thomas Exemplary Leadership Award: This recognition has been named in honor of Eleanor L. Thomas, who was the program director of Legacy Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area from 1968 to 1979.  She had formerly been a staff member for Troops on Foreign Soil and a National Staff Member in the program department.  She also developed the Girl Scout Pocket Songbook.  Eleanor was deeply committed to the Girl Scout program and the girls. 

 

Criteria: 

• The nominee is an active Girl Scout volunteer with a current membership and valid background screen or fingerprints on file.  
• Have an extraordinarily profound impact on girls' lives through her/his empowerment of those girls as shown in the girls’ endorsement letters 
• Provide the girls with exceptional leadership opportunities through exemplary implementation of the girl led model for at least five years 
• Serve as an exceptional role model for girls and other adults 
• Be an active troop/group leader that has completed the required troop leadership courses 

 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by an adult other than the nominator) with 2 additional adult signatures supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser). Plus 3 additional letters of endorsement written by youth.  

Heritage Award: This recognition is for a volunteer promoting the history of Girl Scouts, through artifact preservation, restoration, sharing and/or by planning and attending heritage events/programs. 

Criteria: 

• The nominee is an active Girl Scout volunteer with a current membership and valid background screen or fingerprints on file.  
• Has been a Girl Scout member for 10 or more years 
• Promotes the history of Girl Scouts through artifact preservation, restoration, sharing and/or by planning and attending heritage events/programs 
• Is knowledgeable of the history of Girl Scouting and uses history to help the council reach its service delivery goals 

 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 1 additional signature supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser). 

Honor Pin: This national award recognizes a Girl Scout volunteer who has provided outstanding service to at least two or more geographic areas/communities. 

Criteria: 

• The nominee is an active Girl Scout volunteer with a current membership and valid background screen or fingerprints on file.  
• Service performed by the nominee is above and beyond the expectations for the position held 
• Service made an impact on two or more geographic areas within the council’s jurisdiction 

 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 2 additional signatures supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser). It is recommended that the endorsement comes from the second area of service. 

 

Maud Whalen Continued Exceptional Service Award:  This recognition has been named in honor and memory of Maud Whalen, who was the president of Legacy Girl Scouts of San Francisco Bay Area from 1963 to 1965.  Maud was actively involved in Girl Scouting since the early 1930’s and was a leader in San Francisco for many years.  She held numerous volunteer positions and was both a Regional Committee Member and a member of the National Board. 

 

Criteria: 

• The nominee is an active Girl Scout volunteer with a current membership and valid background screen or fingerprints on file.  
• Previously received the Honor Pin 
• 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 over a sustained period of time 
• Consistently perform at a level that exceeds the expectations of the position as outlined in the position description 

• Serve as an exceptional role model for other adults and girls 

 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 2 additional signatures supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser). It is recommended that the endorsement comes from the second area of service. 

Outdoor Trailblazer Award: The council award recognizes those who have provided girls and youth exceptional outdoor experiences.  

Criteria: 

• The nominee is an active Girl Scout volunteer with a current membership and valid background screen or fingerprints on file.  
• Provide experiences that inspire, are creative, and offer recreational and educational opportunities for girls through group interaction and self-discovery in the outdoors 
• Goes beyond a troop experience, making the outdoor experience possible for a wide number of girls through mentorship or facilitation of adults from numerous troops using the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in the outdoor program 

 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 1 additional signature supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser). 

Phyllis Jones Amistad Award: This recognition has been named in honor of Phyllis Jones, who made a significant effort to diversify girl membership and to bring Girl Scouting to under-served populations of girls. She started Camp Friendship in 1962 and was the director for many years. 

 

Criteria: 

• The nominee is an active Girl Scout volunteer with a current membership and valid background screen or fingerprints on file, if adult is working with youth. 
• Has demonstrated commitment to diversity by contributing to help the council reach its strategic goal of diversity and inclusion through significantly increasing the number of diverse Girl Scouts in a troop, service unit, outreach program, or camp over a period of time (not just one event) 
• Can be an individual or group of Girl Scouts (group can be a service team, group of teens, or group of adults) 

 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 2 additional signatures supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser). 

President’s Award: This National Award recognizes a service unit team or group who surpasses team goals to result in a significant, measurable impact toward reaching the council’s overall goals. 

 

Criteria: 

• Recognizes the efforts of a service delivery team or committee 
• Provided exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience 
• Surpassed team goals 
• Service resulted in a significant, measurable impact toward reaching the council’s overall goals 

Ruth Robertson Commitment to Excellence Award: This recognition has been named in honor of Ruth Robertson, Legacy Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County’s first Executive Director who retired in 1973 after serving 25 years.  Her lifestyle, like those who earn this award, reflected the values, inspiration and living commitments of Girl Scouting. 

 

Criteria: 

• The nominee is an active Girl Scout volunteer with a current membership and valid background screen or fingerprints on file.  
• Provide service that essentially changes the organization for the better 
• Actively recognize, understand, and practice the Girl Scout philosophy and values 
• Demonstrate a high level of volunteer commitment in various fields 
• Demonstrate long-term commitment to the Girl Scout organization through at least ten years of service 

 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 3 additional signatures supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser). 

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 3 additional signatures supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser)

Additional Requirements: 1 letter of endorsement (written by someone other than the nominator) with 3 additional signatures supporting the endorsement (different from the nominator and endorser)

Please list the names and contact information (if known) for the individual(s) writing the letter of endorsement. Check the award criteria for the number of required signatures on the letter of endorsement for this award.

In this section, make sure to include how the candidate met the award criteria, their specific accomplishments, the impact the candidate has had, and how they exceeded expectations for their role(s). Include as many details as possible. Click here for tips on how to write a strong nomination.

Tips for a great nomination 

• Give specific examples of their work and how you have seen it in action 
• Share personal stories 
• Share measurable impact 
• Show growth – nominee's new accomplishments & service since they last received an award  

Remember: Those who review the nominations may not know local acronyms or abbreviations. They also may not know the nominee and/or the great accomplishments they have contributed to Girl Scouts. This is your opportunity to let everyone know!