Girl Scout Neela Earns Gold Award
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 Neela Sand of Garrison, ND, for earning her Gold Award.
Gold Award Girl Scouts become innovative problem-solvers, empathetic leaders, confident public speakers, and focused project managers. They learn resourcefulness, tenacity, and decision-making skills, giving them an edge personally and professionally. As they take action to transform their communities, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they’re the leaders our world needs. The 2026 Gold Award Girl Scout class identified issues in their communities, took action, and found or created solutions to earn their Gold Awards, addressing real-life problems such as environmental sustainability, mental and physical well-being, and gender inequality in STEM.
Neela earned her Gold Award with her Story Trail Project. She created a mile-long Story Trail featuring displays that showcase the pages of a storybook, paired with fun activity prompts that inspire exploration, exercise, and critical thinking along the path. Designed for readers of all ages, the trail encourages her community to get outside and experience the joy of reading together. Motivated by her love of literature and her desire to help others discover the magic of books, Neela dedicated 85 hours over eight months to bring her Gold Award project to life—creating a space that will inspire curiosity and a lifelong love of reading for years to come.
Her accomplishments reflect leadership, citizenship, and foundational skills built through Girl Scouts. “I feel so honored to be able to receive this award. It has been a goal for almost a decade of my life, and finally completing it has been one of the most special experiences ever,” said Neela.
Neela is currently a freshman at Valley City State University. She is pursuing a major in English and a minor in library media and information science. She will receive her award at the council’s Honoring Excellence recognition event to be held on June 14, 2026.
