Additional Awards | Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan

Accomplished something wonderful? Let's celebrate.

There are many ways for Girl Scouts to earn awards and honors.

It's important to recognize and support the accomplishments of our girl members. Girls may earn certain awards by meeting the requirements. Other honors require nominations, either by peers or an adult who's familiar with how a girl exemplifies courage, confidence, and character in everyday life.

Council Awards

The Jennifer Barnum Spirit and Tammie Murray Awards recognize outstanding Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors who have exemplified Girl Scout spirit through leadership, actions, and involvement.

Council Award Scholarship toggle arrow

GSSEM is proud to offer a $500 scholarship to our Jennifer Barnum Spirit and Tammie Murray Award recipients to fund their futures. We hope they continue to spread Girl Scout spirit and give outstanding service to their communities.

Nomination Requirements & Deadline toggle arrow

Each award is given annually in memory of two exceptional Senior Girl Scouts: Jennifer Barnum and Tammie Murray, who led by example and were committed to the values embraced by the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Nomination information

Each nominee must be a registered Cadette, Senior, or Ambassador who has been a member of Girl Scouts for at least two years.
Nominations for both awards must be received by February 1, 2027. Date Coming Soon
Nominations can come from an individual or group familiar with the candidate.
Girl Scouts may be nominated by a family member, but endorsement letters should come from non-family members.
Applications must be completed by the nominator, who must 1) explain the candidate's worthiness and 2) include letters of endorsement from non-familial individuals who know the candidate well.
For the Jennifer Barnum Spirit Award, one of the recommendation letters must come from a Cadette, Senior, or Ambassador Girl Scout.
Nomination forms are available under each award's respective section below.

If you have any questions, please email Kaylyn Borucki at kborucki@gssem.org.

Jennifer Barnum Spirit Award toggle arrow

The Jennifer Barnum Spirit Award is presented to a Cadette, Senior, or Ambassador who has demonstrated true Girl Scout spirit.

Nominees must show the courage and enthusiasm needed to embrace the Girl Scout spirit, not only during Girl Scout events but in their day-to-day activities. Girls must demonstrate the highest ideal of character, conduct, patriotism, and personality in interactions with others.

Recipients should be the embodiment of this quote by Juliette Low: “We shall make scouting so much a part of our life that people will recognize the spirit and say, 'Why, of course, she is a Girl Scout!'"

Nomination Example

Sally Scout is a Girl Scout Ambassador who truly embodies the modern version of Juliette Gordon Lowe's vision for Girl Scouts. Sally fully embraces the Girl Scout Law, using it as her North Star in all things.

Sally is always the first to volunteer to help others—both as a Girl Scout program aide who has earned her Service to Girl Scouting bar at every level and in her school and community. Sally is a true patriot who believes in the ideal of serving her country by serving others.

Sally is an active peer mentor at her high school and volunteers to tutor elementary school students three days a week through her church. She organizes and runs an annual card campaign to distribute holiday cards to Veterans in her community.

Within Girl Scouting, Sally regularly volunteers to help two local Brownie troops with their meetings and badgework. She has earned not only her PA pin but also her CIT I and CIT II pins. She regularly attends council programs as a volunteer and has led several community badge workshops. She organizes an annual camping trip for younger troops in our service unit, teaching other Girl Scouts that anyone can enjoy nature.

Sally respects and teaches other Girl Scouts about the importance of Girl Scout traditions like flag ceremonies, rededication ceremonies, SWAPS, and even greets Girl Scouts she hasn't previously met with the Girl Scout Handshake.

Sally enthusiastically embraces all things, even tasks or activities she is not personally interested in. Sally inspires her sister Girl Scouts to make the most of every opportunity and actively participates in and assists with badgework. She encourages her peers to give their personal best in all things and supports them when they need it.

Sally Scout is truly the personification of the Girl Scout spirit, spreading it wherever she goes and to everyone she meets. I can think of no one better suited or more deserving of the Jennifer Barnum Spirit Award.

Tammie Murray Award toggle arrow

The Tammie Murray Award is given to a Cadette, Senior, or Ambassador who is actively involved in Girl Scouting and personifies the Girl Scout Law throughout all of her activities.

She must have given outstanding service to others and her community, and she must have served as a role model and mentor to younger girls. She also must have demonstrated leadership and commitment to her goals, such as academics, sports, or mentoring younger girls.

Nomination Example

Gertrude Girl, a Girl Scout Senior, has been active in Girl Scouts since first joining in kindergarten. In Girl Scouts, Gertrude has found an organization that provides countless opportunities to explore and develop her passion for serving her community and mentoring others.

Gertrude's Girl Scout resume reads like a list of awards, her accomplishments include: Junior Aide, Leader in Action, Program Aide, Counselor-in-Training I, Summit Awards at every level, Cadette and Senior Torch Awards, Cadette and Senior Community Service bars, and Cadette and Senior Service to Girl Scouting Bars. I have no doubt she will continue this record of excellence into her years as a Girl Scout Ambassador.

Gertrude's favorite part of being a Girl Scout is working with the younger Girl Scouts. She readily volunteers to assist with community and service unit events for younger Girl Scouts. She creates, organizes, and leads at least two badge workshops or social events for Daisy and Brownies in our community each year.

Gertrude is extremely active in the planning and running of our community's annual day camp each summer. She is currently working on her Gold Award, with a project focused on helping girls foster interest in STEM through the mentoring of high school and college students.

Gertrude Girl, through her participation in Girl Scouts, discovered a true passion that has driven her focus. She plans to eventually attend college and earn a degree in elementary education, turning her passion for mentoring into a career. I can think of no Girl Scout more deserving or that better exemplifies the Girl Scout Law in everything she does—with the commitment to mentoring and acting as a role model—than Gertrude Girl.

Meritorious Service Awards

Reserved for Girl Scouts who have performed heroic acts beyond the degree of maturity and training to be expected at their age, these awards are only given out by GSUSA through a council nomination.

Lifesaving Awards toggle arrow

Lifesaving Awards are national awards given to a registered Girl Scout who has saved or attempted to save human life under circumstances that indicate heroism or risk to her own life.

These awards are reserved for those Girl Scouts who have performed heroic acts beyond the degree of maturity and training to be expected at their age.

Medal of Honor
Given to a Girl Scout who has shown presence of mind and true Girl Scout spirit in an emergency.

Bronze Cross
Given to a Girl Scout who has shown extraordinary heroism or risked her life to save another's.

Lifesaving Award application »

President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) toggle arrow

GSSEM is a certifying agency for the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA), which is issued by the Corporation for National Community Service on behalf of the President of the United States.

The PVSA recognizes Girl Scouts and adult volunteers who have achieved a certain standard, which is measured by the number of service hours during a 12-month period.

Award Details

GSSEM's award period runs from March 1 to March 1 every year.
To log your hours during the time period, please download and use the sample spreadsheet linked on the PVSA website.
To be eligible, you must email your completed log to Volunteer Experience at volunteerexp@gssem.org prior to the yearly March 1 deadline.

Award Requirments

To qualify for the PVSA, you must meet the hour and service requirements. The PVSA award level achieved varies based on age and hours logged. The different levels of the award are bronze, silver, gold, and the President's Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who complete over 4,000 hours of service in their lifetime.

Age Group	Bronze PVSA	Silver PVSA	Gold PVSA	Lifetime Achievement
Youth 5–10 yrs	26–49 hours	50–74 hours	75+ hours	4,000+ hours
Teens 11–15 yrs	50–74 hours	75–99 hours	100+ hours	4,000+ hours
Young Adults* 16–25 yrs	100–174 hours	175–249 hours	250+ hours	4,000+ hours
Adults* 26+ yrs	100–249 hours	250–499 hours	500+ hours	4,000+ hours

We'll notify you when your earned certificates and pins have arrived, and then you must pick them up at your local service center.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Wendy Peace at wpeace@gssem.org or 586-464-2414.

Individuals who are 18 years or older and/or have graduated high school must be registered as GSSEM volunteers to receive this award.

Other Awards

Community Service Bar toggle arrow

Older Girl Scouts who make a difference in their community and honor Girl Scout values may earn the Community Service Bar for their level.

The Community Service Bar is also a great way for girls to get involved with a cause they care about.

Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors must:

Choose an organization for which they'd like to volunteer.
- The organization must then provide instructions or a detailed scope of the volunteer work that needs to be completed.
Complete at least 20 hours of service.

Service to Girl Scouting Bar toggle arrow

Older Girl Scouts who volunteer at Girl Scouts for at least 20 hours may earn the Service to Girl Scouting Bar for their level.

Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors should collaborate with their local Girl Scout organization to determine how and where they'll volunteer.

For example, girls could:

Volunteer at a special event for younger girls.
Be a council or service unit office assistant.
Help with special projects.

Safety Awards toggle arrow

The Girl Scout Safety Awards invite girls in grades K–12 to follow a five-step process for staying safe, tailored to each Girl Scout level, from Daisy to Ambassador.

Girls learn how to stay safe on their Girl Scout adventures and earn this national award pin when they complete the five steps for their Girl Scout level.

Safety Award topics | Safety Award directions »

Safety Awards by Level

My Promise, My Faith Pin toggle arrow

Girl Scouts' My Promise, My Faith (MPMF) pin invites girls in grades K–12 to experience a faith journey through exploration of the Girl Scout Law and teachings from their faith.

Girl Scouts recognizes the religious diversity that exists within our communities. Often, girls in the same troop represent a diverse range of faiths. Troop leaders help girls develop respect and appreciation for each other's individual beliefs. Girls can earn this national pin each year.

MPMF pin details »

Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin toggle arrow

Bring the whole family together for tons of fun and learning with our Girl Scout Cookie Program pin collection!

With the Cookie Entrepreneur Family (CEF) pin, the requirements for each grade level help families guide their Girl Scout as she runs her cookie business year after year. Girls may earn all 13 pins in the collection—one unique pin for every year they participate.

CEF pin flyer »

Requirement Sheets