Area Girl Scouts receive honors at awards ceremony

A special ceremony to honor girls who earned the Girl Scout Gold Award or the Girl Scout Silver Award as well as graduating senior Girl Scouts was held recently at Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a young woman can earn in Scouting, requires Girl Scouts to plan and implement a project to benefit others. Otahki Council Scouts from Cape Girardeau Troop 290 and Jackson Troop 192 were recipients of the Girl Scout Gold Award.

Recipients of the Girl Scout Silver Award included Cape Girardeau and Jackson Scouts from Troop 335, Perryville, Mo., Scouts from troops 124 and 205 and Cape Girardeau and Jackson Scouts from Troop 113.

Gold Award

The Gold Award project for Rita Jo Dirnberger, Sarah Huber, Alison Martin and Whitney Ostendorf was at Tsalagi Day Camp. Recipients coordinated day camp activities based on a daily theme for girls in the Tsalagi Service Unit.

Dirnberger, a senior at Notre Dame Regional High School, is the daughter of Steve and Charlotte Dirnberger. She is involved in girls soccer, managing boys soccer, Students Against Drunk Driving, National Honor Society, "A" Honor Roll and campus ministry. She plans to major in psychology.

Huber, a senior at Notre Dame, is the daughter of Nick and Patty Huber. She is involved in cheerleading, Blue Crew, National Honor Society, weightlifting, arts and crafts and gymnastics. She also received the Christian Service Award. She would like to pursue a career working with children.

Martin, a senior at Notre Dame, is the daughter of Kris and Emilie Martin. Her activities include "A" Honor Roll, varsity Christian Service Award, basketball, volleyball, fall play, National Honor Society, peer helper, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. She plans to be a nurse practitioner.

Ostendorf, a senior at Notre Dame, is the daughter of Tammy and Richard Ostendorf. Her school activities include softball, baseball manager, FCCLA and Blue Crew. She has been awarded academic, athletic and Christian service varsity letters and is involved in 4-H. She plans to play softball in college and major in physical therapy.

Allison Essner, Kaitlyn Scheeter, Kelsey Scheeter and Rachael Weidenbenner also received the Gold Award for their work at a volleyball camp teaching basic skill development to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade girls at St. Mary's Grade School.

Essner, a senior at Notre Dame, is the daughter of John and Jill Essner. Her activities include National Honor Society, soccer, volleyball, "A" Honor Roll, Camp Re-New-All and yearbook committee. She is considering a career as an elementary school teacher.

Kaitlyn Scheeter, daughter of Toni and Vaughn Scheeter, is a junior at Notre Dame. Her activities include "A" honor roll, soccer, volleyball and basketball. Kaitlyn also received a service award, and plans a career in the medical field.

Kelsey Scheeter, daughter of Toni and Vaughn Scheeter, attends Notre Dame. Her activities include "A" honor roll, student council, volleyball and soccer. She also received a service award and academic letter, as well as served as a counselor at Camp Re-New-All. She plans to pursue a nursing career.

Weidenbenner, a senior at Notre Dame, is the daughter of Curtis and Stephanie Weidenbenner. She is a member of the National Art Honor Society and plays basketball and volleyball.

Laura Muir's Gold Award project was assisting at Helping Hands Clinic in Mexico while on a mission trip. She helped collect eyeglasses locally and, after training, fit appropriate prescriptions to individuals with impaired vision. She is the daughter of Tom and Dr. Karen Bangert-Muir. Muir attends Notre Dame. Her school activities include soccer, FCCLA and the Chamber of Commerce Student Leadership Academy. She also is employed at Sears, is active at La Croix United Methodist Church and paints.

Sarah McDonald's Gold Award project was organizing resources at the Cherokee Ridge staff room at Girl Scout camp. She is a senior at Notre Dame and is the daughter of Eugene and Pat McDonald. She is involved in Science Club, Backstage Blue, Thespian Honor Society, National Honor Society and FCCLA. She plans to pursue a degree in baking and pastry arts at Johnson and Wales University.

Morgan Ruppel's Gold Award project was landscaping work on the new Immaculate Conception school in Jackson. She is the daughter of Mike and Teresa Ruppel and a senior at Jackson High School. She is the vice president of FFA and a member of the Spanish Club. She plans to specialize in horticulture in college.

Silver award recipients included Katie Karnes, Maria Esswein, Amber King, Elizabeth Rozier, Lynn Zoellner, Nicole Cavins, Kailyn Petzoldt, Kristen Wengert, Jessica Zoellner, Lacie Ellsworth, Nicole Parks, Christianna Roche and Myca Rouse.

Graduating seniors included Mary Smith, Allison Jenkins, Celia England, Hallie Fieser, Darryl Jenkins, Sarah McDonald, Morgan Ruppel, Lori Williams, Alycia Schwartzkopf, Jennifer Miller, Amber Stepp, Sarah Elkins, Rita Dirnberger, Allison Essner, Sarah Huber, Alison Martin, Laura Muir, Whitney Ostendorf, Kelsey Scheeter, Rachael Weidenbenner, Mindy Boxdorfer, Tessa Brueckner, Rachel Comte, Laura Gremaud, Sierra Paulus, Crystal Rhoden, Jennifer Sutterer, Cierra Kennedy, Stacy Gipson, Tamara Gipson, April Nunnery, Teri Zahn and Kara Mabry.