Ellis, Russell county residents receive Girl Scout awards

Pictured from left to right, back row: Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA; Kathy Rome, Hays; Teresa Lemon, Hays; Tammy Mitchell, Russell; Latisha Haag, Ellis; Laurie McQuade, Hays; Liz Workman, CEO of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. Front row: Primrose Hockersmith, Victoria; and Edie McQuade, Russell. Not pictured but present was Shanda Preston, Russell.

Five area residents have been recognized with special awards from Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland for their extraordinary service as volunteers.

Kathy Rome of Hays, Tammy Mitchell of Russell, and Primrose Hockersmith of Victoria are among 20 volunteers to receive the Appreciation Pin this year from Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland, which serves 80 counties in Kansas. The Appreciation Pin recognizes a volunteer who displays excellent service in delivering the Girl Scout mission to one or more geographic areas or communities.

Rome, a longtime Girl Scout volunteer, is a Service Unit Product Sales organizer who supports numerous Girl Scout troops in the region and works to “connect, mentor and guide the leaders of Ellis and Russell counties,” her nominator said.

Mitchell, leader of Girl Scout Troop 20702, also serves as her Service Unit’s event coordinator and has been instrumental in planning the Girl’s Night Out at The Mall in Hays.

Hockersmith, leader of Girl Scout Troop 10240, has also served in many roles for her Service Unit and has kept Girl Scouting alive in the town of Victoria. She led girls to reach their financial goals so they could travel to Costa Rica.

Laurie McQuade, leader of Girl Scout Troop 10070 in Hays, and Latisha Haag, leader of Girl Scout Troop 10020 in Ellis, both received the Volunteer of Excellence Award for displaying excellent service in delivering the Girl Scout mission as they work directly with girls in a troop.

Additionally, Victory Rock Service Unit 112, which serves Ellis and Russell counties, received the President’s Award for demonstrating a significant impact in reaching council goals by supporting Girl Scouts.

“Our dedicated volunteers encourage girls to raise their hands, to take action and make a difference in their community, and to set their sights on the stars,” said Liz Workman, CEO of Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland. “They prepare girls to lead successful lives and are key to our mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.”