01 Aug 2022 Girl Scouts awards three college scholarships

LITTLE ROCK — Girl Scouts – Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas selected Lana McCorkle of Little Rock as its recipient of the Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award Scholarship. Girl Scouts – Diamonds has also awarded Haley Draeger of Sherwood; Lindsey Garrettson of Fort Smith; Claire Green of North Little Rock; Blair King of Scott; and Mackenzie Jackson of Rogers its Diamonds Graduating Senior Scholarship. Jackson is also the recipient of the 2022 Today’s Cookie CEO Scholarship. 

Recipient of the Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award Scholarship 

McCorkle, daughter of Ginger and Grady McCorkle and member of Troop 6499, has been a Girl Scout for 13 years. McCorkle will be attending Hendrix University in the fall majoring in Biology. 

The Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award Scholarship recognizes one outstanding Gold Award Girl Scout per council whose project exemplifies the core components of the Gold Award. McCorkle was chosen for her outstanding Gold Award project, Letʹs Volley! Volleyball Guidance for Youth, a volleyball camp program established through Life Skills for Youth (LSY), an organization that offers after-school and summer programming for underprivileged young people. McCorkle found they offered a variety of activities for children but not enough staff training. By teaching staff about volleyball, fundamentals, and specific skills and drills, this volleyball camp program will ensure the sport’s future at LSY. 

The project must demonstrate measurable and sustainable impact and address an issue of local, national and/or global significance, proving that Girl Scouts of courage, confidence, and character truly do make the world a better place. McCorkle’s accomplishments will endure for generations to come and serve as a powerful example of Girl Scouting in action. The $2,100 GSUSA scholarship is funded by Insight Global, the Coca‐Cola Foundation and the Kappa Delta Foundation. 

Recipients of the Diamonds Graduating Senior Scholarship 

Draeger, daughter of Justin and Paula Draeger, has been a Girl Scout in Troop 6577 for 12 years. Draeger will be attending Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO, in the fall majoring in materials science and minoring in leadership development. 

Garrettson, daughter of Dwight Garrettson, has been a Girl Scout in Troop 4372 for 15 years. Garrettson will be attending University of Arkansas in Fayetteville in the fall majoring in environmental engineering and minoring in Spanish. 

Green, daughter of Jason and Jennifer Green, has been a Girl Scout in Troop 6577 for eight years. Green will be attending Mississippi State University in the fall majoring in biochemistry with a concentration in entomology. 

Jackson, daughter of Deborah and Sean Jackson, has been a Girl Scout in Troop 5851 for 12 years. Jackson will be attending Southern Methodist University in the fall majoring in mechanical engineering. 

King, daughter of Wanda and John King, has been a Girl Scout in Troop 6659 for 13 years. King will be attending Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA, in the fall majoring in biology. 

Girl Scouts – Diamonds established the Diamonds Graduating Senior Scholarship Program to advance leadership opportunities for its girl members after high school. The education scholarships are available for graduating senior Girl Scouts who epitomize the Girl Scout mission. 

The number of scholarships available is based on current funding for the scholarship program. In 2022, Girl Scouts – Diamonds awarded five $1,000 scholarships. Recipients will be honored during the Gold, Silver and Graduating Seniors Ceremony of the Diamonds Award Ceremony on July 23, 2022. 

Recipient of the 2022 Today’s Cookie CEO Scholarship 

Jackson also received the Today’s Cookie CEO Scholarship of $1,250, funded by the 2022 Today’s Cookie CEOs and is awarded to a Girl Scout who has demonstrated excellence as a Girl Scout and as a leader in her community. The 2022 Today’s Girl Scout Cookie CEO class comprises five Girl Scout alums who are leaders in their respective fields and represent the culmination of the skills, confidence and experiences that girls gain in Girl Scouts. 

The 2022 Today’s Cookie CEOs are Anna Dickinson, owner and lead designer, Perception by Anna Dickinson; Ebonye Green, Lead APP for Inpatient Neuroscience Service Line, UAMS; Cathy Owen, chairman, president and CEO of State Holding Company and chairman of Eagle Bank and Trust Company; Dequisha Prude-Wheeler, attorney at law, Prude Legacy Law Group; and Michelle Van Schenck, executive director of Total Rewards, Arvest Bank. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate, call (800) 632-6894 or visit girlscoutsdiamonds.org.