Scholarships | Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast

Let’s make her future dreams a reality.

Your years of Girl Scouting have prepared you for a lifetime of leadership and we cannot wait to see what your future holds. Your experience in Girl Scouts gives you unique advantages for scholarships and other awards. To see what opportunities await, view the local listings below or search GSUSA’s scholarship listings.

Girl Scouts of Courage, Confidence, and Character Scholarship toggle arrow

If you feel your personal courage, confidence, and character has grown in Girl Scouting, this is a great opportunity for you!

Jennifer Lynch dedicated this scholarship to her daughters Michaella & Morgan Lynch, Lifetime Girl Scouts, and her high school Girl Scout leader Anne Edwards. After 20 years as a leader for both of her daughters’ troops, Jennifer created this scholarship to give back to the organization that meant so much to her and her family.

Criteria:

Registered Girl Scout with the GSCCC council.
Graduating High School Senior
Plans to attend college, pursue a program in the trades, or other educational pursuits.

The $500 award will be sent to the institution of higher learning for the fall semester.

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

Maylea Brockington Beasley Love & Laughter Scholarship toggle arrow

Gold Award Girl Scout Maylea Beasley was a member of Girl Scout Troop 475 in Virginia Beach. She was a freshman at James Madison University when she was involved in a fatal accident on November 14, 2020. It was her family’s wish to recognize a Gold Award Girl Scout with a scholarship to honor Maylea’s commitment to making the world a better place.

One scholarship is available to a graduating senior. The graduating senior must be a recognized member of a Girl Scout of the Colonial Coast troop. The senior must also be a recipient of the Girl Scout Gold Award by their senior year of high school. The scholarship recipient must attend an accredited college or university.

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

She Believes She Can, So She Does Scholarship toggle arrow

The She Believes She Can, So She Does scholarship supports girls pursuing higher education opportunities, including vocational training and undergraduate education. The scholarship provides opportunities for Girl Scouts looking to further their skills and education while contributing to leadership positions and the workforce.

Criteria:

Registered for the upcoming fall semester for continuing/higher education.
Graduating high school senior or current continuing/higher education student in the Girl Scout Council of the Colonial Coast service area.
Current or prior Girl Scout member.

GSCCC will direct the scholarship funds to the institution of higher learning for the fall semester. The minimum award amount is $1,000.

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

The scholarship was created exclusively for girls who were members of Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast. If you’re interested in helping fund the She Believes She Can, So She Does scholarship, please make a gift today through our online donation system.

VFW Awards and Scholarships toggle arrow

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) sponsors many opportunities for girls to earn awards and scholarships throughout the year. You can get all the details and applications for these and other awards at vfw.org.

Scout of the Year Award | View Rules and Application

Gold Award Girl Scouts may enter a Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsored competition—Scout of the Year Award—and possibly receive a $5,000 scholarship! Those Girl Scouts who have earned the Gold Award and are in high school are eligible. All entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post by midnight, March 1.

Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Competition | Learn more

Since 1947, the Voice of Democracy has been the VFW’s premier scholarship program. Students—including Girl Scouts—compete by writing and recording an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. (The 2026-27 theme is: “What a Veteran Taught Me About America”) Each year, nearly 25,000 ninth through twelfth grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $1.3 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. All entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post by midnight, October 31.

Patriot’s Pen | Learn more

Youth in grades 6-8 are invited to enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. Each first place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level, and the national first place winner wins $5,000! The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the VFW Commander-in-Chief. (The 2026-27 theme is: “What a Veteran Taught Me About America”) All entries must be submitted to a sponsoring local VFW Post by midnight, October 31.

National Jewish Committee on Girl Scouting toggle arrow

The National Jewish Committee on Girl Scouting (NJCGS) offers a scholarship opportunity for post-high school education that can be applied for by Girl Scouts who have earned their Girl Scout Gold Award AND their Or Emunah Award, the NJCGS religious award that can be earned by Girl Scouts in 10th to 12th grade.

In addition to the Gold Award and Or Emunah requirements, applicants need to:

Submit the application form.
Complete a brief essay (200-300 words) describing how the applicant’s connection to Judaism has influenced her Girl Scout experience.
Submit at least one reference from a non-relative who knows about the applicant’s Girl Scout, Jewish and/or community activities.

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

North Carolina Community Foundation toggle arrow

More than 130 college scholarships administered by the North Carolina Community Foundation are now open for applications! Scholarships are available for students from all 100 counties, including for non-traditional students, and for students attending all types of institutions, including community colleges.

In 2025, we awarded over $3 million in scholarships to over 500 students, including $1.3 million to 110 students in western NC through our Disaster Relief and Resilience Scholarship.

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

Suffolk Foundation toggle arrow

The Suffolk Foundation is offering over $140,000 in local scholarships this year, through 17 scholarship programs, using a Common Application; this means that students can apply for all 17 scholarships using just one application!

Especially exciting is the Obici Healthcare Foundation Career Pathways Scholarship, a $10,000 per year scholarship for three students, potentially renewable through graduate or medical school (up to 8 years of study). This scholarship is for students who plan to return to Western Tidewater after studying in a healthcare field such as medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacology, emergency medical services, nutrition, public health, radiology, phlebotomy, etc. This is a merit based scholarship.

Learn More

Applications for 2026 are now closed.

Sweet Briar College toggle arrow

In partnership with the Girl Scouts of the USA, Sweet Briar College offers scholarships for young women who have completed the Gold Award. Thanks to generous donations, Girl Scouts who have been accepted at Sweet Briar from anywhere in the United States can apply for one of five $2,500 awards. Each scholarship award is for the first year of study. Learn more on how to apply.

TCC STEM Promise Program toggle arrow

Earn a STEM degree at TCC, pay $0 in tuition.

20 two-year scholarships are designed to boost the number of degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics awarded to women and students from underrepresented communities. They will graduate debt-free, ready for a well-paying career or transfer to a 4-year school!

Learn more about details on eligibility, application and enrollment.

Going Gold Pays Off

Achieving the Gold Award puts a Girl Scout on the fast track for college admissions and makes her an outstanding candidate for academic scholarships and other financial awards.

Eligible Gold Award Girl Scouts can apply for the GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship. (The submission dates for 2027 will be published soon.)