Photo: Erica Schwear ’26 (right) poses with MMI’s Head of School, Mrs. Theresa Long.

Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania is honored to announce Erica Schwear ’26 from Luzerne County has earned the highest award in Girl Scouting, the Girl Scout Gold Award, for the 2026 Gold Award class.

For her project, Schwear expanded upon work she completed to earn her Silver Award. She had previously restored graves at a local historic cemetery, and she now wanted to teach others how to preserve history. She created a video for YouTube and TikTok, providing a tutorial of the steps required to repair headstones or other historic objects. Her project will be sustained as people can access the tutorial indefinitely.  

Schwear devoted a minimum of 80 hours to problem-solving, planning, and implementing her ideas for change. The impact of her Gold Award project will be felt long into the future, and Schwear has shown the next generation of girls what they are capable of accomplishing.

“We are so proud of Erica for achieving Gold Award Girl Scout status! MMI is a school deeply rooted in history, and Erica’s commitment to preserving the past is a deeply honorable one. Through her hard work, dedication, and service, Erica has proven herself to be a great role model to all of us at MMI,” said Mrs. Theresa Long, MMI’s Head of School.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn. It’s available to girls in high school who create sustainable change for a community or world issue. Gold Award Girl Scouts address pressing issues in their communities and create sustainable change to make the world a better place.

The Gold Award process not only enables girls to help their communities but also provides tangible benefits as they grow as individuals. By going Gold, girls build professional skills, earn scholarships, build their network, and, for those interested in serving their country, are able to enlist at a higher pay grade when they join the military.

About Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges, whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike, or advocate for a cause that motivates them. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors and millions of alumnae, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and enact change. To join, volunteer, reconnect or donate, visit www.gshpa.org.