Awards & Recognitions

Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, girls are standing up, standing out, and standing tall in all aspects of their lives. Each year, we recognize adult volunteers for exemplary service and for going above and beyond expectations to support the Girl Scout Mission. 

There are two types of awards & recognitions for volunteers: those earned for years of service and those for which a volunteer must be nominated. Check out the options below! All nominations are due annually on March 5 to acknowledge contributions from the previous Girl Scout year (October 1 - September 30).

Adult Achievement Award recipients are invited to receive their award at our Annual Celebration.

Volunteer of Excellence

This award recognizes volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through use of the National Program Portfolio, or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.

Hard Copy Form | Online Nomination Form | Online Endorsement Form

Appreciation Pin

This pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience primarily within one geographic service area.

Hard Copy FormOnline Nomination Form | Online Endorsement Form

Honor Pin

This pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This support has had measurable impact on two or more geographic areas.

Hard Copy FormOnline Nomination Form | Online Endorsement Form

Thanks Badge

This pin honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout movement.

Hard Copy Form | Online Nomination Form | Online Endorsement Form

Thanks Badge II

This pin honors a previous Thanks Badge recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role which resulted in a measurable impact benefitting the entire Girl Scout movement.

Hard Copy FormOnline Nomination Form | Online Endorsement Form

Heart of Gold Award

This award recognizes volunteers who have given outstanding long-time service to Girl Scouts by being a registered member for at least 10 years and by providing exemplary service in a leadership role that has significantly enriched the members of GSNI-M. Four endorsement letters are required for an individual nomination. 

Hard Copy FormOnline Nomination Form | Online Endorsement Form

Community Award

This award recognizes members of your local community who have provided a service to Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana at the troop, community or council level.

Hard Copy Form | Online Application

NEW Outstanding Cookie Volunteer

This award recognizes volunteers who provide exemplary service in the cookie program, support the entrepreneurial spirit of Girl Scouts, and teach skills essential to leadership, success, and life. 

Online Nomination Form | Online Endorsement Form

NEW Rookie of the Year

This award recognizes a volunteer from each geographic area (East, Central, West) of the council for outstanding leadership and service in their first year as a registered co-leader.  The new co-leader may be part of a new troop or join an existing one. 

Online Endorsement Form

NEW Sister in Science Award

This award recognizes volunteers who have made outstanding contributions while directly partnering with girls to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, with a particular focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) program initiatives.

Online Endorsement Form

NEW Eco Advocate Award

This award recognizes volunteers who have made outstanding contributions while directly partnering with girls to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, with a particular focus on Outdoor program initiatives.

Online Endorsement Form

NEW Logan Legend Award

This award recognizes volunteers who have made outstanding contributions while directly partnering with girls to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, with a particular focus on Life Skills, such as civic engagement, healthy living, and communication skills.

Online Endorsement Form

Volunteer Years of Service

Recognizes total years of volunteer service to Girl Scouts. Add-ons are acknowledged in five-year intervals. Pins 20 years or higher will be presented at the GSNI-M Annual Celebration. 

Hard Copy Form | Self Submission Form

Membership Year Pin

Recognizes total years of membership for both girls and adults. Add-ons are acknowledged in five-year intervals. Pins 20 years or higher will be presented at the GSNI-M Annual Celebration. 

Hard Copy Form | Self Submission Form

Trained Leader ID Pin

We offer online training courses and other great resources to help leaders become their best. This service pin recognizes volunteer commitment to completing all essential learning in gsLearn.

Hard Copy Form | Self Submission Form

NEW Council Trainer Pin

Each year, we rely on our volunteers to help us administer programs and activities to our Girl Scouts, some requiring specialized training. This service pin acknowledges those volunteers certified as Trainers by GSNI-M Staff; add-ons are acknowledged in five-year intervals.

Self Submission Form

NEW Graduating Leaders

This award acknowledges co-leaders stepping down from their leadership role and whose continued service has impacted their troop, helping support Girl Scouts graduating from the program. 

Self Submission Form

As a Girl Scout volunteer, we want to show our appreciation and honor you for your time and talents as a Girl Scout volunteer. We know you spend countless hours striving to share the Girl Scout mission with girls and families in our council. Earning the Presidential Volunteer Service Award is a unique way to set yourself apart from your peers, take your volunteerism to the next level and inspire girls to take action. Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana is a Certified Organization and it would be our privilege to present you with a pin and certificate when your hours are completed and verified.

The Presidential Volunteer Service Award recognizes United States citizens and lawfully admitted, permanent residents of the United States who have achieved the required number of hours of service over a 12 month time period.

By performing eligible service, unpaid acts of volunteer service benefiting others, there are various levels that you can achieve a PVSA. Eligible hours are those that are volunteered through being a Girl Scout volunteer. Hours for other organizations cannot be verified by GSNI-M. Eligible hours do not include donating funds or serving only family members.

To qualify for the PVSA, GSNI-M asks that you begin logging your volunteer hours at the start of the new Girl Scout year, October 1st and hours must be completed by September 30th of the following year, unless you are pursuing the Lifetime Achievement Award. Turn in your hours to GSNI-M when you reach your goal or at the end of your 12 consecutive months no later than October 15th, whichever comes first. The Lifetime Achievement Award can be submitted whenever you have acquired the 4,000 hours.

If you have additional questions, please email us at frontdesk@gsnim.org.

Tracking Excel Sheet

Age Group Bronze Silver Gold Lifetime Achievement Award
Young Adults (16-25) 100-174 hours 175-249 hours 250+ hours 4,000+ hours
Adults (26+) 100-249 hours 250-499 hours 500+ hours 4,000+ hours

Please remember to include your first and last name, phone number, e-mail, troop number, service unit number, award year, age group and your total number of hours on the PVSA hours log sheet. Submit you PVSA hours log sheet to frontdesk@gsnim.org to have your pin and certificate ordered.  We will reach out to you when we receive your award. Awards must be picked up in person from one of our offices and will not be mailed.

The Volunteer of Excellence is a National Award that is given to volunteers that have given outstanding, above and beyond service, either in direct partnership with girls or in supporting our mission delivery goals. This year’s recipients are:
The Appreciation Pin is a National Award given to adult members that have given outstanding above and beyond service to at least one geographic area or Service Unit. This year's recipients are:
The Honor Pin is a National Girl Scout award recognizing adult members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, whose service has had an impact on two or more service units in support of the council’s goals.
The Thanks Badge is the highest National Girl Scout award an adult can receive in Girl Scouting. This award honors Girl Scout adult members whose outstanding service has impacted the entire council or national movement.
The Heart of Gold is unique to Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana. It is a council award for adult members that honors their long-standing service that has been outstanding in leadership while enriching the lives of girl and/or adult members. It celebrates those that embody the Girl Scout mission by leading through example and have given significant contributions to the organization’s success.
The Volunteer of Excellence is a National Award that is given to volunteers that have given outstanding, above and beyond service, either in direct partnership with girls or in supporting our mission delivery goals. This year’s recipients are:
The Appreciation Pin is a National Award given to adult members that have given outstanding above and beyond service to at least one geographic area or Service Unit. This year's recipients are:
The Honor Pin is a National Girl Scout award recognizing adult members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, whose service has had an impact on two or more service units in support of the council’s goals.
The Thanks Badge is the highest National Girl Scout award an adult can receive in Girl Scouting. This award honors Girl Scout adult members whose outstanding service has impacted the entire council or national movement.
The Thanks Badge II honors a previous Thanks Badge recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role which resulted in a measurable impact benefitting the entire Girl Scout movement.
The Heart of Gold is unique to Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana. It is a council award for adult members that honors their long-standing service that has been outstanding in leadership while enriching the lives of girl and/or adult members. It celebrates those that embody the Girl Scout mission by leading through example and have given significant contributions to the organization’s success.
The Volunteer Years of Service pin recognizes an adult member for years of active volunteer service at five-year intervals.
The Membership Year pin recognizes tenure in Girl Scouting. Numeral guards are available in five-year intervals to recognize total girl and adult membership years.
The Trained Leader ID Pin recognizes Leaders who have completed all essential learning.
The Community Award recognizes members of our local community who have provided a service to Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana at the troop, community or council level.
The Volunteer of Excellence is a National Award that is given to volunteers that have given outstanding, above and beyond service, either in direct partnership with girls or in supporting our mission delivery goals. This year’s recipients are:
The Appreciation Pin is a National Award given to adult members that have given outstanding above and beyond service to at least one geographic area or Service Unit. This year's recipients are:
The Honor Pin is a National Girl Scout award recognizing adult members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, whose service has had an impact on two or more service units in support of the council’s goals.
The Thanks Badge is the highest National Girl Scout award an adult can receive in Girl Scouting. This award honors Girl Scout adult members whose outstanding service has impacted the entire council or national movement.
The Thanks Badge II honors a previous Thanks Badge recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role which resulted in a measurable impact benefitting the entire Girl Scout movement.
The Heart of Gold is unique to Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana. It is a council award for adult members that honors their long-standing service that has been outstanding in leadership while enriching the lives of girl and/or adult members. It celebrates those that embody the Girl Scout mission by leading through example and have given significant contributions to the organization’s success.
The Volunteer Years of Service pin recognizes an adult member for years of active volunteer service at five-year intervals.
The Membership Year pin recognizes tenure in Girl Scouting. Numeral guards are available in five-year intervals to recognize total girl and adult membership years.
The Trained Leader ID Pin recognizes Leaders who have completed all essential learning.
The Community Award recognizes members of our local community who have provided a service to Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana at the troop, community or council level.