Gunnison Girl Scout gains statewide recognition for service

Gracelyn Roberts is among the 26 Colorado Girl Scouts to be awarded with the 2026 Gold Award, a prestigious honor given to girls who create change in their communities. 

Roberts moved to Gunnison in 2022 from northern Colorado. She spent the majority of her youth being homeschooled by her mother, but as the two began to feel college looming, they decided Roberts needed a transcript and moved down to Gunnison to attend Gunnison High School. 

Roberts joined Girl Scouts in 2019, a little later in life than most, but was recruited by her best friend to join the troop. Shortly after joining, COVID took over and shut down in-person meetings. Roberts decided not to give up there and became a “Juliette,” or an independently registered member. She didn’t have a troop, but still dedicated to the idea of community. 

“Girl Scouts is a very worthy organization. They help you form your own path within it as well, ” said Roberts. “You get to meet fun people, get introduced to people in your community you wouldn’t have met and make lifelong friends.” 

“A lot of young women can benefit from it even in today’s world,” she went on to say, noting the programs’ commitment to helping young girls develop a sense of leadership. “There can be all different types of leaders. There’s not one way to direct a project or community work. I’m constantly learning to be adaptable, listen, be open and kind and willing to do hard work.” 

With this new-found independence Roberts was able to excel rapidly, much like she was in high school, and began winning national awards for her service. 

During her first year at GHS, Roberts was informed about Choice Pass, a program designed to help youth create life-long healthy habits and she began attending meetings. Still new to Gunnison, Roberts dove deep into the perks and benefits provided by the program.

Just like that, her project was born. Roberts was sure there was a way to get kids more invested in the program, help small businesses that relied on Choice Pass holder traffic and create third spaces for Gunnison youth. 

Roberts began crafting maps of Gunnison, Crested Butte and Lake City, creating a stylized representation of the businesses and the benefits they offer to pass-holders. Partnering with the Director of Choice Pass, she helped make the benefits feel more accessible to pass-holders, giving Gunnison youth an opportunity to give back to the community that is helping them form healthy habits while also finding more opportunities to connect with one another. 

Roberts is now a freshman at Western Colorado University, though credit-wise she is technically a junior, and continues her devotion to Girl Scouts and to the Gunnison Valley by fostering greater community engagement.