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GIRL SCOUTS OF HAWAIʻI AMBASSADOR SCOUTS RECEIVE PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD

HONOLULU (FINAL) – Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi Ambassadors Elizabeth Coleman and Leanna Thesken have been honored for their exemplary volunteer service with a President’s Volunteer Service Award. This award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered a significant amount of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program on behalf of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi nominated Coleman and Thesken for national honors this fall in recognition of their volunteer service. “We’re proud to recognize Elizabeth and Leanna for their outstanding volunteer service,” said chief executive officer Shari Chang. “These scouts display a remarkable dedication to serving the community, and we are so pleased to witness everything they’ve done to make both Hawaiʻi and the world a better place.” Coleman, a senior at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama, received a Girl Scout Gold Award in 2016 for her project titled, “Perpetuating Native Culture through Music, Dance and Regalia.” She also served as a member of the Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi’s Girl Advocate Board of Directors. Outside of Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi, Coleman serves as Kamehameha National Honors Society president and Key Club president. She is also the recipient of the University of Pennsylvania Book Award, awarded to a student who exemplifies the qualities of the institution’s founder, Benjamin Franklin, by embodying his character, scholarship, and innovative approach to leadership and service. Thesken, a junior at Kauai High School, acts as the historian for her Girl Scout troop. She also brought Threads for Teens, a nonprofit organization designed to provide new clothing to underprivileged teenagers, to the island of Kauai. In her role as a Threads for Teens Kauai team leader, Thesken designed and executed a “Pop Up” event to empower less fortunate girls through education and clothing. Thesken is also active with Kauai High School, where she serves as historian of both Student Government and the National Honor Society. The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), recognizes middle level and high school students across America for outstanding volunteer service.

“The recipients of these awards demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities,” said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. “By recognizing these students and placing a spotlight on their volunteer activities, we hope to motivate others to consider how they can also contribute to their community.” “Demonstrating civic responsibility through volunteerism is an important part of life,” said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. “These honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate.” About Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi Supporting almost 5,000 girl and adult members statewide, Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi (GSH) builds girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place. GSH’s headquarters is located on the island of Oʻahu, with three neighbor island service centers on the islands of Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi and Maui. GSH is chartered by the national office, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and is responsible for the leadership, administration and supervision of Girl Scout programs in the state of Hawaiʻi. For more information about GSH, visit www.gshawaii.org or call (808) 595-8400.

# # # Caption: Girl Scouts of Hawaiʻi Ambassadors Elizabeth Coleman and Leanna Thesken recently received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.