Girl Scouts of Colorado Partners with CU Denver to Offer Guaranteed Admission to Gold Award Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts of Colorado and the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) are proud to announce their new partnership to expand educational opportunities to Girl Scouts across the state. As a result of this partnership, Colorado Girl Scouts who earn a 3.0 GPA and a Gold Award—the highest honor a Girl Scout can receive—will be eligible for guaranteed admission to CU Denver beginning with applications for the fall semester of 2025.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouts, recognizing girls in high school who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and a commitment to making a sustainable difference in their communities. Earning this prestigious honor requires completing a large-scale project that addresses the root cause of an issue. Of the more than 15,000 youth Girl Scouts in Colorado, about 800 girls earn one of the three levels of Highest Awards each year. Those who pursue the Gold Award join an elite group who have proven themselves as exceptional leaders, poised for future success in any endeavor they pursue.

“Gold Award Girl Scouts don’t just change the world for the better, they change it for good,” said Leanna Clark, CEO of Girl Scouts of Colorado. “We’re so grateful to partner with CU Denver to offer these outstanding Girl Scouts another opportunity to impact their community and become the leaders we know they can be.”

Gold Award Girl Scouts and CU Denver Lynx share a common vision: to make a positive impact on the world. Both groups are driven by a passion for lifelong learning, community service, and innovation. As they pursue their academic and personal goals, they are empowered to become leaders who shape the future and impact their communities; locally, nationally, and globally.

“At CU Denver, we see Gold Award Girl Scouts as driven changemakers who share our values of service, leadership, and lifelong learning,” said Ashley Weatherspoon, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Recruitment and Admissions at CU Denver. “This partnership is our way of recognizing their hard work and commitment to their communities by providing them a clear path to further their education and impact. We’re excited to welcome them to CU Denver, where they’ll find a community ready to support them.”

That’s been the case for Britney Berlin, a CU Denver student who earned her Gold Award in the Class of 2023. After noticing a lack of resources to teach teens and young adults basic life skills needed in adulthood, her Gold Award project focused on creating a website that consolidates online resources for anyone who wants to bolster life skills. She picked CU Denver because of the downtown Denver location, but the people have made all the difference.

“I love the community here. All the faculty and staff are really supportive and care about helping students grow,” Berlin said. “It feels like they foster an environment for students to meet their moment.”

This partnership is kicking off with a celebration and guided campus tour for any Girl Scout earning a Highest Awards (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) on Friday, Feb. 28, from 3 to 6 p.m. Guaranteed admission will start for potential students applying for the 2025 fall semester.

The Bronze and Silver Awards are key milestones for younger Girl Scouts, designed to build leadership skills and community involvement at earlier stages. The Bronze Award is earned by Girl Scouts in grades 4 to 5, who work as a team to plan and complete a project that addresses a need in their community. The Silver Award, earned by Girl Scouts in grades 6 to 8, challenges girls to take on a more complex, individual or small-group project with a lasting impact.

The CU Denver partnership strives to bolster excitement in Bronze and Silver Award Girl Scouts, foster aspirations for higher education, and create excitement around CU Denver as a place where they can grow as leaders. While this initiative focuses on Girls Scouts who have earned their Gold Award, CU Denver is committed to making education work for all and so welcomes all Girl Scouts, as well as their families and friends who may also be interested in meeting their moment.

We Are Girl Scouts 
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. 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 climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscoutsofcolorado.org.

About the University of Colorado Denver 
Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We’re the state’s premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top ranked bachelors, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners—at any stage of their life and career—for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.