Gold Award Scholarship Winner Recognized
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT
Emily Roethle
(414) 443-3930 eroethle@gswise.org
Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast Honors Local 2023 Gold Award Girl Scout Scholarship Recipient Kathleen Krautheim Earns National Scholarship for “Living Healthy Through Lax” Project MILWAUKEE – (July 27, 2023) – In May, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast proudly honored 20 members of the 2023 Girl Scout Gold Award class who earned the highest award in Girl Scouts: the Gold Award. Gold Award Girl Scouts make positive impacts on our local communities by addressing some of our most pressing issues, including environmental efforts, mental and physical health challenges, educational access, and poverty. Today, Gold Award Girl Scout Kathleen Krautheim was also announced as a recipient of a $10,000 scholarship for her work bringing health education to a youth sporting club in southeast Wisconsin. Kathleen is among just 110 Gold Award Girl Scouts across the nation receiving the $10,000 scholarship from Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), made possible in part by the Kappa Delta Foundation in addition to funds from GSUSA and its National Board.
In addition to Girl Scouts, Kathleen is a longtime member of her local lacrosse community. Throughout her time in the lacrosse club, she observed that there are dozens of recreational options for children but a lack of accessible educational health resources. At the same time, she became aware of the alarming increase in children who suffer from physical and mental health concerns. In response, Kathleen created a Little Scoopers program for first and second graders that taught healthy habits and a new sport. Kathleen worked alongside the Boys & Girls Club and the Oconomowoc Lacrosse Club’s board to launch the program. Through the five-day camp, Kathleen taught children about healthy eating, the value of a healthy lifestyle, hydration, emotions, and healthy relationships. She also created health information cards to extend her impact. The Little Scoopers program enrolled 42 participants, and the lacrosse club will be bringing the program back for future summer sessions.
“Receiving the Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarship means more to me than words can describe. Not only does it help significantly with the financial aspects of college, it completes my Girl Scout journey full circle. I have been a part of Girl Scouts since kindergarten and receiving this award proves to my younger self that I can do incredible things,” said Kathleen Krautheim. “Girl Scouts has taught me to break through barriers and achieve the unthinkable. With this scholarship money, I will be able to continue my success in a field designed around the Girl Scout principles and Girl Scout Law." Nationally, GSUSA is recognizing nearly 3,200 members of the 2023 Gold Award Girl Scout class who identified issues in their communities, took action, and found or created solutions to earn their Gold Awards. This year’s class of world-changers raised $2.5 million in funding and invested over 300,000 hours to address real-life problems such as environmental sustainability, racial justice, mental and physical wellness, and gender inequality in STEM.
The 2023 Gold Award Girl Scouts demonstrate the breadth of issues American teens feel are most prevalent in society today. Kathleen was among the recipients addressing these issues and making lasting change.
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. According to recent research, Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to fill leadership roles at work and in their personal lives and are more civically engaged than their non-Girl Scout peers. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Gold Award Girl Scouts agree that earning their Gold Award gave them skills that help them succeed professionally. Seventy-two percent (72%) said earning their Gold Award helped them get a scholarship. Changing the world doesn’t end when a Girl Scout earns her Gold Award. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of Gold Award Girl Scout alums take on leadership roles in their everyday lives.
“Earning my Gold Award taught me that I can accomplish any and every goal I put my mind to. I also learned valuable lessons on perseverance and determination that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Girl Scouts has engraved the skills for leadership, communication, and empathy into my life,” said Kathleen. “The beauty of it all is that I know I will always have a special connection to my fellow Girl Scout peers. Even better, I got the opportunity to be recognized among a group of talented, intelligent, and beautiful sisters.”
To view the list of the nearly 3,200 outstanding 2023 Gold Award projects, visit girlscouts.org/goldawardclass.
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About Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE) Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. We serve approximately 11,500 girls in grades K5-12, and 5,500 adults who believe in our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. With programs in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties, we give every Girl Scout in our council the chance to reach their full leadership potential. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit gswise.org, email customercare@gswise.org, or call 800-565-4475
