Foundation now offers scholarship for Girl Scouts Alumnae

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Savannah Technical College Foundation now offers a $500 scholarship for Girl Scouts alumnae. Funded with an initial gift from Grant and Amy Shaffer, the scholarship is for former Girl Scouts, who completed Silver or Gold high awards as middle or high school students.  

“Girl Scout leaders tell girls there will be scholarships in college – especially once they have completed high awards,” said Amy Shaffer, a veteran Girl Scout troop leader, who is also STC’s director of communications. “We wanted to make sure Girl Scout alumnae would have the opportunity to earn scholarships at Savannah Tech. As the birthplace of Girl Scouts, Savannah is one of the best places to be a Girl Scout. We are proud to honor high achieving former Girl Scouts with scholarship support toward a technical education.”

Girl Scouts go above and beyond to make a difference in the community and the greater world. The skills and experiences Girl Scouts gain along the way set girls up for special recognition through the “highest awards.” The Silver Award is earned by middle school girls, who spend 50 or more hours on a sustainable project, and the Gold Award is earned by high school girls, who spend at least 100 hours on a sustainable project in their community. According to Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia (GSHG), only 4.5% of eligible girls earn the Silver Award and 2.3% earn the Gold Award.

“Earning the Girl Scouts Silver or Gold Award is an enormous honor – one that can truly make a difference. From implementing sustainable environmental change to creating and providing community outreach, Silver and Gold Award Girl Scouts are doing wonderful things in their communities,” said GSHG CEO Sue Else. “Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia is excited and proud that Savannah Technical College is providing rewarding opportunities to Silver and Gold Award Girl Scouts for their incredible achievements.”

To make a gift to the Girl Scout Scholarship at Savannah Technical College, visit http://bit.ly/SavTech_GirlScoutScholarship

The Shaffers have been volunteers with GSHG since 2012 when their daughter was a Kindergartner in Daisies. Amy stepped up to be one of her daughter’s troop co-leaders of the troop in 2013 and has been an active leader ever since. She is also the North Chatham service area manager for troop leaders, volunteers with the council and serves as a Savannah Advisory Board member. Grant, a Savannah Technical College Drafting graduate, has been a dedicated Girl Scout volunteer dad, who created bird house kits for younger girls to assemble, guided fourth grade girls to build three buddy benches for Heard Elementary and helped two seventh grade girls with advanced woodworking skills to build a bee hive for the Savannah Children’s museum last year for their Silver Award. Recently, both Shaffers were at Girl Scout Camp Low helping girls with service projects to benefit the camp.

To apply for the scholarship, applicants will submit a short essay about their high award project and a letter of reference from one of their former Girl Scout leaders. Scholarship funds will offset out-of-pocket student costs for books or tools. STC scholarship funds are managed by the Savannah Technical College Foundation, a 501 (c)3 organization whose sole purpose is to raise private funds to support the mission of Savannah Technical College. Gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

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# 2128 | March 23, 2021

Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 or ashaffer@savannahtech.edu