North Carolina Coastal Pines has awarded Rebecca Rena’ Arnold of Middlesex the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouts. A young woman who “goes for the Gold” must have dedication and determination in order to attain this honor. The award symbolizes outstanding accomplishments and a significant time investment in the areas of leadership, career planning, personal development and community service.

For her Gold Award project, Arnold held three car maintenance workshops to help women learn more about their vehicles. She taught them 10 car maintenance steps and provided them with a booklet to help them remember what they learned.

Arnold is the daughter of Cecil and Carol Arnold and is a senior at Southern Nash High School. She has been in Girl Scouts since 1996 and is in Girl Scout Troop 436, led by Carol Arnold and Amy Parker. In addition to Girl Scouting, Arnold is a member of Beta, Key Club, competitive cheerleading and her church youth group. She also enjoys golf, swimming and dance.

The Girl Scout Gold Award has evolved from a long line of Girl Scout leadership awards going back as far as 1919. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout between the ages of 14 and 18 can earn. Currently 5.4 percent of eligible Girls Scouts earn the Gold Award annually. The Gold Award recognizes the work of Girl Scouts who demonstrate leadership culminating in 50 hours or more, dedicated toward a service project that has lasting effects in their community. Girls who earn the Girl Scout Gold Award are eligible for a variety of scholarships for their education. Recipients who choose a career in the Army may enter at the E-2 level, which is equivalent to having 30 college credits.

North Carolina Coastal Pines serves more than 32,000 girl members and nearly 10,000 adult members in 41 Central and Eastern North Carolina counties. The council’s administrative headquarters is located in Raleigh, with additional program and service centers located in Fayetteville and Goldsboro. For more information on membership or volunteer opportunities, call 919-782-3021 or visit www.nccoastalpines.org.