Brittany Hinger of Madison earned the Girl Scout Gold Award with work at the National Children’s Advocacy Center.

Brittany Hinger earned the Girl Scout Gold Award. (Contributed)

The highest achievement in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award recognizes girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable “Take Action” projects. Each project requires more than 65 hours of work.

A freshman at Calhoun Community College, Hinger stocked a new bookshelf with books and craft materials. She donated puppets and a simple stage for the children to present shows. “My project helped create a bonding time and opportunity for positive parent and child interaction,” Hinger said.

She donated oversized puzzle and alphabet pads for play and seating for puppet show audiences, two bean bag chairs, DVD player, whiteboards, numerous books and games and flash cards that reinforce mathematics and phonics.

“All of these items will be good for educational purposes and promoting literacy,” Hinger said.

Hinger is a member of Troop 639 with leader Mitsy Fittipaldi. Her parents are David and Carla Hinger.

“By earning the Gold Award, Brittany has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart,” Trish Coghlan said. Coghlan is CEO of Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama.

A graduate of Sparkman High School, Hinger was a member of the Sparkman Senator Band.

At Asbury United Methodist Church, Hinger is a member of the CIA Puppet Team, mission teams that worked in Costa Rica in 2004 and 2007 and volunteered in several activities beneficial to children. In 2011, she collected supplies and prepared meals for tornado relief workers.

As owner of a pet-sitting business, Brittany’s Critter Sisters, she has used her experience to work at Paradise Pet Resort and Spa since 2011.

Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is a United Way community partner and serves more than 15,000 girl members from 5 to 17 years old and 5,000 volunteers in programs across 36 counties.

For more information, call 800-734-4541 or visit girlscoutsnca.org or girlscoutsnca.org/gogold.