(GILBERT, Ariz. – June 24, 2017) – Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) is pleased to announce that two Gilbert residents, Stephanie Carriere and Donna Pocano, were honored with Girl Scout High Achievement Awards. The criteria for these awards is established by Girl Scouts of the USA and are nationally recognized. The High Achievement Awards are granted annually to volunteers who have distinguished themselves by their outstanding service in furthering the Girl Scout mission.

“Volunteers are truly the backbone of our organization,” said Tamara Woodbury, GSACPC CEO. “They are the heartbeat and the heroes of Girl Scouting and play one of the most important roles in our girls’ lives—providing them a space for each girl to be herself.”

Each year, GSACPC holds a special recognition ceremony to honor these volunteers, who are nominated by their peers and selected by the nominating committee.  The honorees usually have served as a Troop Leader for several years and volunteer at the neighborhood level.  GSACPC’s jurisdiction is broken into 48 geographic areas called neighborhoods.  The neighborhoods are run by volunteers and support the Girl Scout troops in their area.

This year, the ceremony was at GSACPC’s newest facility, The Bob & Renee Parsons Leadership Center for Girls and Women at Camp South Mountain. The following awards were presented:

• The Appreciation Pin is given to volunteers who have gone above and beyond the expectations of their position in at least one neighborhood.
• The Honor Pin is given to adult volunteers who have delivered outstanding service in two or more neighborhoods.
• The Thanks Badge is the highest honor in Girl Scouts and recognizes an adult Girl Scout whose ongoing commitment, leadership and service have had an exceptional impact on the goals and mission of the entire Council.
• The Thanks II Badge is given to those volunteers who have already received the Thanks Badge but continue to provide exemplary service in a leadership role to the entire Council.

Carriere was presented with the Appreciation Pin for her efforts within GSACPC. This year, Carriere served as Cookie Manager, was a presenter at the Council Cookie Conference, and a Council Boothing Committee member, in which she helped to secure booths at grocery stores for the entire council. She has been a Troop Leader, Service Team member, Neighborhood Cookie Manager and Council Cookie Team member.  During her first year as Cookie Manager, she increased the number of adult volunteers on the Cookie Product Team by 40 percent, enabling them to have a very successful cookie season.

Pocano, who was awarded the Honor Pin, not only holds multiple positions in her Girl Scout Service Unit, she is an archery instructor, a Getting Started volunteer coach and a delegate to the GSACPC annual meeting.  As an Authoring Your Own Life trainer, she has helped girls and women grow as they explore their own leadership stories. She is always willing to step in and lend a hand wherever she is needed. She lives the Girl Scout commitment of inclusion and diversity.

About Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)

GSACPC is Arizona’s leading organization preparing girls with the skills and experiences they need to empower themselves for life. Given the opportunity, every girl can become a leader, act confidently on her values, and connect with her community. We know that girls built of courage, confidence and character make the world a better place. GSACPC serves 22,000 girls, grades K-12, across central and northern Arizona, in partnership with more than 10,000 adult volunteers.  For more information, visit our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.