In December, I wrote a column in which I encouraged readers to notify us when they have an Eagle Scout award in their family. That's the kind of thing a community news section like the North Raleigh News should publish, I said.

Eagle Scout is the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve, and those who attain it deserve recognition, I wrote.

Well, shortly thereafter I heard from Mary E. Schricker, who described herself as "a proud mother of two Girl Scouts."

Uh oh.

"I am writing to inform you that there are many Girl Scouts in North Raleigh that are earning service awards, equivalent to, if not superceding, the Boy Scout Eagle Award. In Girl Scouts, it is called the 'Gold Award.' "

Well, as the proud father of two girls myself, you don't have to twist my arm. So I am happy to tell you about three northern Wake residents who, this week, got Gold Awards from the Pines of Carolina Girl Scout Council.

Like the Eagle Scout award, the Gold Award requires a community service project.

Amanda Haislip collected crafts supplies, which her troop, Girl Scout Troop 1395, helped organize into craft kits. She donated the kits to terminally ill children at Duke Hospital and also to children at the Ronald McDonald House in Durham.

"The positive feedback from the children, family, and staff indicated that this was a much-appreciated endeavor," she said.

Amanda is the daughter of Michael and Pauline Haislip and attends Enloe High School.

Kate Daugherty raised awareness for the Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen, according to the council. She created and helped distribute brochures and note cards for The Shepherd's Table.

"By making more people aware of the Shepherd's Table, more people can become involved in helping them," Kate said in the award notice.

Kate is the daughter of Lynne and Jim Daugherty and attends Raleigh Charter High School.

Katie David helped the Durham Rescue Mission convert an old hotel into an inn for battered women and children. She painted a room and made bedspreads, curtains, pillows, and a headboard to donate.

"It is my hope that having brought an awareness of abuse to these younger people will make them less susceptible to being abused when they are older," she said.

Katie is the daughter of Mike and Liz David and attends Cardinal Gibbons High School.