100-year anniversary an "amazing milestone'

Girl Scouts' mission of teaching leadership has been a constant, 90-year-old says

Elizabeth Hawkins shows her Girls Scout sash.
Elizabeth Hawkins shows her Girls Scout sash.

When her elementary school's Girl Scouts leader visited the third-grade classroom that day, Elizabeth Hawkins could hardly contain her excitement.

But big buildup led to big disappointment for Hawkins, who had skipped second grade and didn't meet the 10-year age requirement.

"I went home crying," she said.

While her start in Girl Scouts may have been slower than she preferred, Hawkins' heavy involvement in the organization since has more than made up for it. And one special moment in junior high set the stage not only for Hawkins' Girl Scouting days, but for Jefferson City's as well.