Girl Scouts Troop 1734 includes Spartanburg High School students who have been together since kindergarten. Among them are Elon Jacobs, Kennedy Bozard, Jane Close, Anna Crittenden, Olivia Smith, Juliette Leopard, and Ann Caroline (AC) Adair, who have grown up together, learning the values of leadership, service, and friendship along the way.
Throughout their Girl Scout journey, the girls have taken on projects that make a real difference in their community. For their Bronze Award, they created handmade hygiene bags for children and teens at the Hope Center, which were then distributed to kids in foster care.
“Girl Scouts means helping my community through hard times, building my confidence, and trying to make an impact in the world,” Kennedy Bozard said.
Their Silver Award projects were equally impactful. Some girls built bookshelves filled with books for a local women’s center, while others developed a cookbook for families living in motels, offering simple recipes for snacks, meals, and desserts that could be made with few ingredients.
“Girl Scouts means getting to know and help others within my community,” said Jane Close, highlighting the purpose behind their efforts.
Currently, the troop is working toward their Gold Award, which included a 15-mile hike up Mount LeCrent. Jacobs, Bozard, Close, Crittenden, and Smith tackled the challenging trail starting on September 13th at 10am and finishing on Sunday at 1pm. Despite the difficulty, the girls supported each other every step of the way—playing music, sharing jokes, and singing songs to stay motivated.
“I stayed motivated by remembering that the Gold Award is the highest honor in Girl Scouts and that by completing it I will be helping others in my community,” Olivia Smith said.
The leadership and teamwork skills they’ve developed through Girl Scouts are shaping the girls’ future ambitions. Kennedy Bozard plans to become an elementary school teacher, Anna Crittenden aims to earn a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Auburn University, Jane Close plans to become a pediatrician, Elon Jacobs aspires to be a veterinarian, Olivia Smith plans to go to college and travel, learning more about the world, Juliette Leopard and Ann Caroline also plan to attend college to further their education.
Through their dedication, service, and friendship, Troop 1734 is leaving a lasting mark on their community—one project, hike, and shared laugh at a time.
“Girl Scouts means sisterhood and leadership to me,” Elon Jacobs said.