Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons proudly recognizes local Girl Scouts who are part of the 2026 Girl Scout Gold Award class, who earned the highest award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award. Gold Award Girl Scouts make positive impacts on our local communities by addressing some of the most pressing issues. We congratulate Aliyah Sorby of Fargo, ND, for earning her Gold Award.
Aliyah earned her Girl Scout Gold Award by completing her Books for a Cause project. To help increase awareness around mental health, she wrote and illustrated a children’s book titled My Friends in Mrs. Wolf's Class. The book introduces characters whose brains work a little differently than their peers. Through her story and relatable characters, Aliyah hopes children learn to recognize signs of mental health challenges and feel comfortable reaching out for help if needed. She donated copies of her book to teachers in the Fargo School District and shared the book with students at her local middle school.
Aliyah is in her junior year of high school. Once she graduates, she plans to attend college to learn about criminal justice. She will receive her award at the council’s Honoring Excellence recognition event to be held on June 14, 2026.
According to recent research, Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to fill leadership roles at work and in their personal lives and are more civically engaged than their non-Girl Scout peers. Eighty-seven percent of Gold Award Girl Scouts agree that earning their Gold Award gave them skills that help them succeed professionally. Seventy-two percent said earning their Gold Award helped them get a scholarship. Changing the world doesn’t end when a Girl Scout earns her Gold Award. Ninety-nine percent of Gold Award Girl Scout alums take on leadership roles in their everyday lives.