Fifty Girl Scouts representing Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles (GSGLA) ushered in the new year on Jan. 1 by marching in the 2014 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade as part of the event’s prestigious Tournament Troop.

The young women are the 30th group of gold award Girl Scouts to be a part of the elite Tournament Troop, which also consists of Eagle Scouts from the San Gabriel Valley Council. In what has become a distinctive tradition, the Tournament Troop has the unique honor of carrying the banners announcing the award-winning floats through the 5.5-mile parade route. Taking part in the parade were local girls Catherine Giese of La Crescenta; Tracey Andrews, Lauren James, Andrea Klein and Erika Weiler of La Cañada; Erica Blanchard of Sunland; and Bea Breckheimer of Glendale.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts earned by girls who demonstrate impeccable leadership by leading impactful projects that address community or global issues in sustainable ways. These Gold Award Girl Scouts implemented projects that have local, national, and global impacts that spotlight critical issues such as the needs of underprivileged children in Africa and here in the poorest areas of greater Los Angeles; emergency preparedness; afterschool programs; environmental and animal care awareness; and improvements to schools and communities to name a few.

In 2013, a record high 298 young women of the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles council achieved the Gold Award, equaling a total of roughly 24,000 community service hours. The 2014 class of Gold Award Girl Scouts will be applauded in an official ceremony on June 8.

Ambassador Girl Scout Ana Marie Acosta, also a Gold Award recipient, served as the 96th Rose Queen.

“We look forward to honoring so many amazing girls for stepping up to make this world a better place,” said Lise L. Luttgens, chief executive officer, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. “We are very proud of all of our girls who choose to ‘Go Gold.’”