By: Abigail Richards

Girl Scout Troop 111 in Costa Mesa, California, has a lot to be proud of. The OC Register reports six troop members were recently honored with the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest national award a girl scout can earn. 

According to the source, earning this type of merit is not easy – troop members going for the gold must complete many requirements that can take multiple years to finish. Diane Jones has been Troop 111's leader since 2001 and recently expressed how proud she is of these six young ladies.

"I've been blessed to watch the girls grow from young Brownies to wonderful young women," Jones told the publication. "They have grown in their leadership skills and become committed in service to our community and the world around them. They came to have fun and left as young women who know how to get things done!"

GirlScouts.org reports to be eligible for Girls Scout Gold Awards, scouts must be in high school and a registered Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador. These types of awards have been a part of the Girl Scout honors since 1916 with the start of the Golden Eagle of Merit award.