Susan: Giving Back to the Movement That Shaped Her

August 03, 2026

For Susan, Girl Scouts has been a lifelong thread connecting every stage of her life.

Growing up in the small farming community of Uehling, Nebraska, Girl Scouts opened doors she never imagined. Through camp, travel, community service, and the Girl Scout Cookie Program, she discovered new places, built lifelong friendships, and developed leadership and business skills that would stay with her long after childhood.

Those experiences inspired Susan to give back. As a high school senior, she stepped up to lead a troop of girls who needed a volunteer. Years later, she watched her own daughter discover the same adventures through Girl Scouts. Then, in 2008, six different people encouraged her to apply for a job with Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska; a place she's proudly called home for more than 17 years.

Looking back, Susan realizes Girl Scouts never stopped shaping her life. From a second-grade Girl Scout in a town of just 250 people to a troop leader, parent, staff member, and Lifetime Member, each chapter has been connected by opportunities to grow, lead, and serve others.

"I am grateful that I have the opportunity to help create meaningful Girl Scout experiences for others and to give back to an organization that has given so much to me. I am living proof of what a century of Girl Scouting can do."

That's the power of Girl Scouts. The experiences girls have today can shape a lifetime of leadership, service, and giving back to the next generation.

100 years. Countless stories. One lasting legacy.