Olivia Jukes, a Mancos High School senior, earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for creating a dress-lending closet that provides affordable formal wear to fellow students.
This year, 36 Colorado Girl Scouts received the Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting, for projects that address local needs, Girl Scouts of Colorado said in a news release. The lending closet aimed to ease the financial stress of school dances and formal events.
Jukes secured space at Mancos High School and organized donations, creating a sustainable service for “years to come,” the news release said. The closet, named “Once Upon a Gown,” helps students celebrate life’s moments without purchasing formal wear.
Jukes has held leadership roles throughout high school. In 2024, she was appointed student liaison to the Mancos Town Board and sworn in as a student member of the Mancos School Board for the 2024-25 school year. She has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten.
Jukes will attend The Pennsylvania State University in fall to study business management at the Smeal College of Business. She hopes to own a bookstore to share her love of reading.
The Gold Award recognizes high school girls who identify community issues, build teams, create plans, take action and educate others. Recipients gain leadership, problem-solving and management skills that prepare them for success, according to the Girl Scouts of Colorado.
Additional information about the award and other Colorado recipients is available online at https://bit.ly/2026-gold-award.
