Girl Scouts from Suffolk were recognized at a special celebration earlier this month by the Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast for earning their Girl Scout Gold Award — the highest award a Girl Scout may earn.

The celebration took place at the Oak Grove United Methodist Church in Chesapeake. Girl Scouts from other areas in Hampton Roads also attended and were recognized for earning their Gold Award.

Among those who attended was Girl Scout Megan Coston from Suffolk. Her Gold Award project involved beautification of the courtyard at Driver Elementary School.

Former Gold Awardee Darragh Dandurand Friedman, who was recognized by Girl Scouts of the USA as a 2012 National Young Woman of Distinction, was the guest speaker. She spoke about her Gold Award project, a 30-minute documentary that told the story of four Holocaust survivors. Another former Gold Award recipient, Commander Thurraya Kent, a Navy Public Affairs officer, served as the mistress of ceremonies. The Gold Award Celebration is held annually to recognize the accomplishments of Girl Scout Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast serves more than 16,000 girls, in grades Kindergarten through 12, and more than 6,500 adult volunteers in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. For more information, visit www.gsccc.org or call 1-800-77SCOUT.