Girl Scout Sierra Noonan, an Ambassador in the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council, has earned a national scholarship in recognition of her Gold Award project, the highest honor in Girl Scouting.
Through her Gold Award, Sierra created the Rainbow Bridge Memorial in collaboration with the Humane Society of Harrison County.
The memorial—a wooden bridge painted in vibrant rainbow colors—offers pet owners a place to honor and remember their beloved animals.
“It’s become a celebration of life for animals and a space for pet owners to move forward in peace,” said Sierra.
Sierra’s project also encourages the community to adopt pets and addresses overcrowding in animal shelters, supporting the national “Adopt, Don’t Shop” movement.
By earning the Gold Award, Sierra has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, dedication and community impact—qualities recognized by the national scholarship program.
“Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award is a remarkable achievement, and Sierra exemplifies leadership in all its forms,” said Beth Casey, Chief Executive Officer of the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council. “She identified a need in her community and took meaningful action. This scholarship recognizes her outstanding contribution and supports her continued growth and impact.”
The Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award Scholarship recognizes one outstanding Gold Award Girl Scout per council whose project exemplifies the core components of the Gold Award. Scholarship recipients receive:
- A $5,000 scholarship for post-secondary education
- National recognition on the Gold Award Class webpage
For more information about the Rainbow Bridge Memorial or to visit the memorial, contact the Humane Society of Harrison County at 304-592-1600.
For more information about the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council, visit https://girlscouts.info/Join.
