Gold Award Girl Scouts

Our Gold Award Committee members review and approve Girl Scout Gold Award proposals to provide constructive feedback and guidance to Girl Scouts working on their Gold Award. The committee’s goal is to work with each Gold Award applicant to ensure she has a positive experience.

Kristin Ageton

A Beatrice native, I started Girl Scouting in the second grade. I have fond memories of being our town’s “cookie drop off location” (a huge semi-truck unloaded cookies into our garage), and of staying in Indian Village at Camp Catron near Nebraska City, with creeking, wall climbing, and cooking over a campfire. I completed both Silver and Gold Awards, then quickly found a troop to lead once I entered college. Meetings were held in a conference room at my college residence hall, and I spent summers leading camps at Catron. I also led Lincoln Day Camp for two summers. Girl Scouting taught me how to speak, lead, be confident, and work with others. I joined the Gold Award Committee in August 2017.

Now in Lincoln, I oversee the statewide middle school programming at Education Quest Foundation. Prior to that, I was a high school social studies teacher in Omaha. In my free time, I love to do yoga, garden, invest in my own personal growth, and spend time with my husband and two sons – you can find us on the first Saturday of every month at the Home Depot kids building workshop.

Kate Baker

I participated in Girl Scouts in elementary school but was unable to continue after changing schools. Many years later after completing my degree in elementary and special education, I worked in a special education classroom in Lawrence, Kansas, for several years. A fellow teacher and I started a troop for the girls in our classroom who could benefit from the Girl Scouts but hadn’t been able to join a troop. After starting my own family, I volunteered in different capacities with my daughter’s troop from second grade through her senior year of high school, when she completed her Gold Award. I began my second generation of Girl Scouting with my granddaughter and led that troop for 14 years, with the last girl graduating from high school in 2015.

Throughout my involvement with Girl Scouts, a huge highlight for me was going to Our Chalet in Switzerland in 1989. What an incredible experience for everyone involved.

I honestly can't remember when I first became a member of the Gold Award Committee, but it has been several years. I truly enjoy being involved in the committee, and I'm always surprised at some of the project ideas. The young women who are working toward the Gold Award are very busy with so many other interests, and it's exciting to see their creativity and ingenuity as they complete their award. I enjoy learning from the others on the committee, too. I'm grateful that I'm able to continue to contribute in this way.

Joleen Conway

I participated in Girl Scouts from Brownies to Senior, even earning my Gold Award. My father was military, so Girl Scouts was an option to still socialize at every move. My mother was usually my leader, but I met many friends, some of whom I still know today.

A few years ago, my daughter wanted to join Girl Scouts as a Daisy. She loved it! But when she bridged to Brownies, her leader decided to quit. So, I volunteered with my mom to co-lead her Brownie troop. We survived the year and my daughter still loves the Girl Scouts!

I have owned an in-home preschool/day care for the past 10 years and earned my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education in 1995. I love working with children and enjoy the challenge of engaging with older girls through their pursuit of their Gold Awards. I look forward to learning more about the Gold Award process and hope to be a mentor one day.

Michelle Chambers

Growing up in a military family, I moved quite a lot both inside and outside the United States. The only time I was in Girl Scouts as a girl was in Germany, and I remember going to the mountains for day camp and there were BEARS there! Pretty cool! When my first daughter wanted to be a Girl Scout, I signed her up, and when her leader quit the next year, I signed up and have been a leader ever since! That was 25 years ago, and my five daughters have all been Girl Scouts; all earned their Silver Award and two earned their Gold! I have been a leader for nine troops and have had 10 of my girls earn their Gold Award. 

I love watching young women feel empowered by the planning, dedication, perseverance, and time it takes to complete their awards, and look forward to encouraging YOU as you complete the process. You can do it – and the first step is to APPLY!

Ashley Eisert

I began my Girl Scout journey as a Brownie and graduated from Papillion La Vista South High School as an Ambassador. Today, I am a lifetime member, Honor Troop co-leader, and in April 2019 I completed a three-year term on the Spirit of Nebraska Board of Directors.

Before starting my career in Omaha, I worked as a brand ambassador for Oscar Mayer driving the famous Wienermobile around the United States on a one-year tour! Let me just say, it was a “bun-derful” experience! I earned my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Nebraska Omaha, graduating in 2019. Today, I work at Loup Logistics Company (a subsidiary of Union Pacific), leading a small team of individuals who support our industrial chemicals customers with logistics and data support. I also enjoy the opportunity to give back to others and volunteer. I volunteer for several organizations including Girl Scouts, Susan G. Komen, FITGirl, Inc., First Responders Foundation, and the Women’s Center for Advancement.

In my free time I enjoy the outdoors, hiking, playing board games, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and thrift shopping to look for my next “do-it-yourself” project. A more recent “hobby” I have picked up in the past year is planning a wedding. My fiancée and best friend, Jesse, and I will be getting married in September!

In September 2019, I was humbled by the opportunity to serve on the Gold Award Committee where I have the chance to mentor and support Girl Scouts working to achieve their Gold Awards. As a 2009 Gold Award Recipient, I understand the excitement, commitment, and resources needed to ensure a project has a lasting impact and will provide many “heart hugs” along the way.

Sooky Marks

As a Mullen resident, I have led a Girl Scout troop of some age level since 1982. Since 1985, I have held an annual Girl Scout day camp that is four days long every spring in Mullen. We go to a pasture next to the river and have a great time without electricity, running water, etc. I love it! Some of my many Girl Scout memories include a graduation trip to New York City, hiking in the mountains last year, many ski trips and all the outrageous falls, and a council trip to Ten Sleep Wyoming with a group of girls when the Girl Scouts still owned a camp there. Red dust everywhere, but good memories!

I taught elementary school for 31 years, but I have been retired for two. I stay busy though! I am the TeamMates coordinator for the high school, sponsor our church youth group, and am an emergency edical technician. Our ambulance runs take a minimum of 3 hours; it's quite a commitment. I love to ride horses, go skiing, and hike in the mountains. I have four children and nine grandchildren. The kids and families live in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Washington State, and Grand Island. We all get together once a year in the summer, so we don't forget what each of us looks like!

I have been on the Gold Award Committee since Guiding Star Council existed! Earning your Gold Award is a huge commitment, especially for girls who are in sports, have other activities, and work hard at their summer jobs. I commend the girls that have the stamina to hang in there and get it done. 

Libby McGill Riley

Born and raised in Omaha, I was a Girl Scout Brownie for one year. I absolutely loved my leader and dreamt of returning to Girl Scouts the next year, but when we moved the new school did not offer free Girl Scouts. Without financial assistance, I unfortunately could not participate. As an adult, I rejoined Girl Scouts as a co-leader for my daughter’s troop. In my first Troop, 11 girls, including my daughter Erin, earned the Silver Award, and five, including Erin, the Gold Award. I went on to co-lead my youngest daughter’s troop for 13 years, and my three granddaughters’ troop for eight years.  

Throughout the years, I have also held numerous other positions such as a camp consultant, delegate, service unit manager, product sales manager, and more.   

Personally, I pursued a career as a professional painter, learning a great many “old school” techniques and skills that are now becoming a lost art, and became the first female painter in the Omaha area Painters Union #109. Some years later I became a chemical dependency counselor. Additionally, I have managed our family business for 35 years.  Besides my involvement in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, I have served on the board of many non-profit organizations including 12 Step House, Francis House, Adult Children of Alcoholics in Omaha, and Koreans for International Adoption, Iowa.

As of January 2020, I continue in roles as a member of the Gold Award Committee, Spirit of Nebraska Program Planning Committee, GSAG volunteer, delegate, SU event coordinator, and the council’s Girl Scout Camp Planning Committee. My husband and I also just taught two different artVenture collaborations. I am now semi-retired, and a part-time student at Bellevue University. 

Ethel Mount

I first joined the Girl Scouts as an adult in 1980. I have volunteered in a variety of positions. I have lived in Lincoln since 1988 and have been proud to tell people that we have no relatives here, "Yes, living in Nebraska was our choice." I have always enjoyed my garden, and since retiring we have traveled more. I also belong to the Lincoln smocking guild.

Maria Reiter

When I was a kid growing up in New York, I always wanted to be a Girl Scout. I remember that my mother had to put my and my sister’s names on a waiting list. Week after week, we would ask mom if she heard anything back. It took a couple of months for my sister and me to start Girl Scouts, and I remember how excited we felt when Mom finally got that call saying there was room for us to join. Now, I feel so fortunate to be part of the Spirit of Nebraska Council. Here, the door is always open, and girls have so many wonderful and exciting opportunities to look forward to as Girl Scouts.

I am a retired United State Air Force officer, have advanced emergency management certification from the state, and worked for several years as an emergency response coordinator. I have served and continue to serve in several different capacities, including troop leader, trainer, event coordinator, delegate, awards committee member, product program warehouse staff volunteer, and Honor Guard coordinator. 

I have so many favorite memories from Girl Scouting activities, but the ones that are the most special are watching my girls challenge themselves – from scuba diving to tree climbing – to watching how they translate their passion into action, like raising awareness on issues they care about and performing acts of kindness through community service – to watching them blossom through national and international travel experiences. I think being able to make a positive difference in the lives of girls and help them realize their potential is what most motivates me.

Rachelle Rice

I am a lifetime member of Girl Scouts and have been a member of the organization since kindergarten as a Daisy. I have earned the Girl Scout Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards in my time as a Girl Scout. As a girl member, I served as a state council delegate, was a member of GSAG, and attended all of the YWE programs. During my first year at university, I worked at the Omaha office as a Trainee and rotated among many different departments within the council.

Currently, I am a student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I am majoring in business administration, concentrating in human resources management and marketing, and secondarily concentrating in management. Also, I am studying as a member of the College of Business Administration Scholars Academy and hold two employment positions on campus

Katie Schueths

A Lincoln native, I have been a Girl Scout since age seven and earned my Gold Award in 2006. For my Gold Award project, I pioneered a two-size shoe exchange program for individuals with polio and foot orthotics. I went to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and have a master of business administration degree. I’ve been on the Spirit of Nebraska Gold Award Committee since 2012. I now own an event production company based in Austin, Texas, and join our meetings by phone each month.