Recognize the Volunteer in Your Life.
There are many ways to show appreciation for a Girl Scout volunteer. Whether you send a homemade card from a troop or nominate a volunteer for a formal award, your recognition can have a big impact.
Informal Recognition 
Recognizing volunteers is easy and doesn’t have to take a lot of time! Consider the following informal ideas to recognize volunteers:
- Share their story with us (Kindness Counts Nomination)—we may feature them on our blog, social networks, or other publications!
- Send a thank you note or card.
- Give a simple, verbal thanks or high five.
- Give a gift—small, homemade gifts can be very meaningful.
- Provide mentoring opportunities, help develop their leadership skills, or be a professional reference.
- Give a shout-out on your troop’s, group’s, or personal social media account(s)
- Recommend and endorse them for skills on their professional LinkedIn page.
- Recommend them for a new volunteer role.
- Start with these resources from GSUSA as a simple way to say thanks!
Formal Recognition
Formal awards are designed by Girl Scouts of the USA to recognize exemplary volunteer service that goes above and beyond expectations. All volunteers, Girl Scouts, their families, and Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma staff can nominate volunteers for a formal award. Nominees must be a registered Girl Scout member to be considered eligible (except for Heart in Hand awards). Submit this form to nominate an adult volunteer for a formal recognition award.
Psst! Please don’t tell the nominee about an award nomination until it is approved by the Adult Award and Recognition committee.
Nomination Deadlines
Nominations for GSUSA awards (Appreciation Pin, Honor Pin, Thanks Badge, and Thanks Badge II) should be submitted at least two months prior to your recognition event.
Appreciation Pin
The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience that has had a measurable impact in one geographic service area. Honorees are acknowledged at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Shine Event, and nominator(s) may choose to have the awards presented at a local event. Adults may earn this award multiple times, but only every three years.
Honor Pin
The Honor Pin recognizes an individual’s exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience that has had a measurable impact in two or more geographic service areas. Honorees are acknowledged at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Shine Event, and nominator(s) may choose to have the awards presented at a local event. Adults may earn this award multiple times, but only every three years.
Thanks Badge
The Thanks Badge honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission delivery goals and priorities of the entire council or the entire Girl Scout Movement. Honorees are acknowledged at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Shine Event.
Thanks II Badge
The Thanks II Badge honors a previous Thanks Badge recipient who has continued to provide exemplary service in a leadership role which resulted in a measurable impact benefitting the entire Girl Scout Movement. Adults can earn this award multiple times, but only every three years. Honorees are acknowledged at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Shine Event. The nominators or recipients may choose to have the awards presented at a local event.
The President's Award
The President’s Award recognizes the efforts of a service delivery team or committee whose exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, surpassed team goals, and resulted in significant, measurable impact toward reaching the council’s overall goals for the previous membership year.
Criteria includes excellence in membership growth, programming and volunteer training and support, a strong, effective Service Unit Team that exemplifies the Girl Scout Law.
To apply for this award, complete and submit the 211F Presidents Award Application by February 15th, 2026.
Years of Service and Membership Numeral Pins
Volunteer Years of Service Pin
This pin recognizes an adult member for years of active volunteer service at five-year intervals. Five, ten, and 15-year pins may be purchased from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma store or online at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Shop. No form or proof is needed to purchase.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma provides 20+ Years of Service Pins, free of charge. To obtain one, please use this form: Request for Years of Service Pin.
Membership Numeral Pins
This pin recognizes tenure in Girl Scouting. Numeral guards are available in five-year intervals to recognize total youth and adult Girl Scout membership years. Membership Numeral Pins are available for purchase at Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma store or online at the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma Shop. No form or proof is needed to purchase.
Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma provides Membership Numeral Pins for years 20+ years, free of charge. Please use this form: Request for Membership Numeral Pin.
Service Unit Awards
Troop Leader Award
This Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma award recognizes leaders who fulfill the Troop Leader Agreement (form #210F), which contains commitments to quality leadership and troop program.
Criteria:
- The nominee is a registered Girl Scout adult.
- The nominee has fulfilled all terms of the Troop Leader Agreement.
- The nominee demonstrates competence in girl/adult partnership, communication, membership development, pluralism, and program delivery.
Approval:
The service unit manager and/or service unit recognitions committee confirms the troop leader has fulfilled all aspects of the Troop Leader Agreement and submits the Troop Leader Awards List (216T) to adultrecognitions@gseok.org.
Form of recognition: A unique pin is awarded each year at the Service Unit’s end-of-school-year meeting.
GSUSA Volunteer of Excellence Award
The Volunteer of Excellence Award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through use of the National Program Portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the council’s mission delivery to girl and adult members.
Criteria:
- The nominee is an active, registered adult Girl Scout.
- The nominee has successfully completed a term of service and all requirements for the position.
- The nominee has performed beyond expectations for the position to deliver the GSLE to girls using the National Program Portfolio, or
- The nominee’s performance has been beyond the expectations of the position and has supported GSEOK’s mission delivery goals in one or more of the following functional areas: Membership Development/Community Cultivation, Volunteer Services and Support, Program, Leadership and Governance, Fund Development, and Council Support Services (such as IT, Customer Service, Merchandising, and MarComm).
- The nominee actively recognizes, understands, and practices the values of inclusive behavior.
Based on the nominee’s position (council, regional, or local level), the service team or recognition committee reviews the nomination documentation, then approves or denies it. The service unit is responsible for submitting Service Unit Award Recognition Nomination Form (#472) to the council and purchasing the award.
Form of Recognition: The Volunteer of Excellence Award is a silver-tone round pin depicting the Girl Scout logo trimmed with the words “Volunteer of Excellence.”
Rookie of the Year Award
The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes adult volunteers new to Girl Scouting and to Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma. The presentation is at a Service Unit Recognition Event. Girls from the troop/group should be included. A maximum of two awards may be awarded per year.
Criteria:
- The nominee is a registered Girl Scout volunteer adult or staff member who has been a volunteer for more than 6 months but less than two years.
- The nominee has inspired girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service.
- The nominee may be a troop leader, service unit manager, or exceptional board of directors member.
The service team or service unit recognition committee reviews the nomination documentation, then approves or denies it. The service unit is responsible for submitting Service Unit Award Recognition Nomination Form (#472) to the council and purchasing the award.
Form of Recognition: The Rookie of the Award is an oval shaped Juliette Low pin.
Green Knight Award
The Green Knight Award recognizes an adult male member who has given extraordinary or uncommon service in his community or in the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma jurisdiction. The presentation is at a Service Unit Recognition Event. Girls from the troop/group should be included. A maximum of two awards may be awarded per year.
Criteria:
- The nominee is a registered adult male in the jurisdiction of Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma.
- The nominee has gone above and beyond in helping with a troop, service unit, or group.
- The nominee has performed at a level that exceeds the expectations of the position and is of the quality that warrants area wide recognition.
The service team or service unit recognition committee reviews the nomination documentation, then approves or denies it. The service unit is responsible for submitting Service Unit Adult Recognition Nomination Form (#472) to the GSEOK Store and purchasing the award.
Form of Recognition: The Green Knight Award is in the shape of a standing green knight.
