Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians recently announced its 2026 Gold Award recipients, presenting the organization’s most prestigious honor to 24 girls across the region, one of whom is from Hamblen County.

Sarah Jarnigan of Morristown was determined to leave her high school’s greenhouse better than she found it.

The existing greenhouse tables were severely damaged with splintering wooden frames, exposed staples and nails and rusting wire tops.

“I attended West High School and David Tripucka was my Ag teacher,” Sarah said. “Mr. Tripucka is a wonderful teacher and always encouraged me in FFA. I love to plant and grow flowers as well as work with my dairy cattle. I have showed dairy cattle for over eight years. In my ag classes and working in the greenhouse, I noticed the condition of the tables were deteriorating and needed replaced. A few times I ripped shirts or pants on the nails on these broken tables.” Concerned about safety and usability, she partnered with Tripucka and local Girl Scouts to design and build 26 new greenhouse tables. After extensive planning and material gathering, she and her team completed installation in time for the 2025–26 school year, ensuring a safer and more effective learning environment for future agriculture students.

“I am proud to have grown up in south Hamblen County,” Sarah said. “Both my grandparents have farms and I spent a lot of time with my grandparents helping on these farms.”

Sarah is one of 12 Girl Scouts from East Tennessee to earn a Gold Award. The distinction is presented to girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate exceptional leadership and dedication. Gold Award recipients dedicate hours of hard work, planning and executing a sustainable project that addresses a need in the community.

The distinguished award is bestowed annually to just 6% of Girl Scouts across the country.

“Achieving the Girl Scouts Gold Award is a significant milestone in a Girl Scout’s career, and these young women have truly earned this achievement,” said Lynne Fugate, CEO of the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians (GSCSA). “Their hard work, compassion and leadership highlight what it means to be a Girl Scout. We celebrate their vision and hard work.”

Gold Award recipients were recognized for their achievements April 26 at a celebration at Rothchild Catering & Conference Center in Knoxville.

The Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians board of directors also presented $10,000 in Gold Award Scholarships.

Sarah joined Girl Scouts during her kindergarten year along with her older sister. Her mother, Renee Jarnigan, was the troop leader. As Sarah got older, she learned about the highest awards that can be obtained from the Girl Scouts: the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.

Sarah was able to complete all three of the high awards with projects important to her.

Her hobbies include showing dairy cattle, being in the Hamblen County 4-H organization, being a member of the Hamblen County Livestock Fair Board and Girl Scouts.

Sarah has also been a member of the South Hamblen County Volunteer Fire Department for almost a year.

“I love being able to help my community,” Sarah said.

Sarah is a sophomore at Walters State Community College and is majoring in Agriculture. She plans to transfer to the University of Tennessee to continue her path in Agriculture. Her goal is to become an Agriculture teacher in high school.

Since 1916, girls have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn, acknowledges the power behind each Gold Award Girl Scout’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others.

Only Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors are eligible for the Gold Award, and before they can pursue it, they must meet prerequisites, including completing a Take Action project or earning the Girl Scout Silver Award, which requires a project to improve the neighborhood or community. At a minimum requirement of 80 hours, most girls spend between one and two years on Gold Award projects.

Some universities and colleges offer scholarships unique to Gold Award Girl Scouts, and girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements.

Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, offering programs that give every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of entrepreneurship, adventure and success – whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike, advocate for community causes or make their first best friends.

The Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians has approximately 11,500 girl and adult members in 46 counties from southwest Virginia, through east Tennessee, and northern Georgia.

Membership is open to all girls from kindergarten through their senior year in high school.

Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors and millions of alums, Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

Those wanting to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate, visit girlscoutcsa.org or call 800-474-1912.