Once a year, Gold Awards are given to local Girl Scouts by the Girl Scouts of Frontier Council. The girls take on special projects to earn the awards, which also recognize leadership and organizational skills.

Twenty-one young women recently received the awards. Each girl also is eligible for a $400 per year scholarship from the Gold Award Alliance, a committee of Frontier Council volunteers.

Here are the winners:

Becky Costanzo, 17, is the granddaughter of Dennis and Donna Johnson. She attends Chapparal High School.

Rachel Diehl, 18, is the daughter of Dwight and Karen Diehl. She attends Green Valley High School. She also is a Gold Award Scholarship recipient.

Hester Dingle, 17, is the daughter of Rich and Jennifer Dingle. A former Las Vegas resident, she attends Sehome High School in Bellingham, Wash.

Hilary Fagan, 16, is the daughter of Karen Lurie. She attends Palo Verde High School.

Katie Franzeo, 16, is the daughter of Rocco and Mary Beth Franzeo. She attends Foothill High School.

Jacqueline Hillenbrand, 17, is the daughter of Richard and Billie Hillenbrand. She attends Silverado High School.

Brittany Johnson, 17, is the daughter of Cordia Johnson. She attends Mojave High School.

Natalie Kane, 17, is the daughter of Ronald and Marinette Kane. She attends Palo Verde High School. She also is a Gold Award Scholarship recipient.

Kristy Kikuchi, 17, is the daughter of Guy and Iris Kikuchi. She attends Shadow Ridge High School.

Natalie McDonald, 17, is the daughter of Jack and Andrea McDonald. She attends Foothill High School.

Monica Michalka, 18, is the daughter of Paul and Marilyn Michalka. She is a 2004 graduate of Bishop Gorman High School. She also is a Gold Award Scholarship recipient.

Alexandria Olsen, 16, is the daughter of Jackie Olsen. She attends Coronado High School.

Rachel Pierce, 17, is the daughter of Michael and Karen Pierce. She attends Basic High School.

Jennifer Sanders, 17, is the daughter of David and Kellie Sanders. She attends Mojave High School.

Ashley Schuster, 18, is the daughter of Robert and Amber Schuster. She is a 2004 graduate of Silverado High School.

Joelle Siino, 16, is the daughter of Joseph and Sheila Siino. She attends Foothill High School.

Megan Stanphill, 17, is the daughter of Greg and Sharon Stanphill. She attends Green Valley High School.

Lisa Stotts, 17, is the daughter of Ilene Stotts. She attends Community College High School West.

Beth Taylor, 17, is the daughter of Martin and Michelle Taylor. She attends the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts. She also is a Gold Award Scholarship recipient.

Tamara Thiele, 17, is the daughter of Patrick and Peggy Thiele. She attends Mojave High School.

Brittany Worth, 18, is the daughter of Joseph and Ellen Worth. She attends Palo Verde High School. She also is a Gold Award Scholarship recipient.

If you know of a worthy candidate for the Youth Spotlight column, mail information to Monique Frigard, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125-0070, send faxes to 383-4676.