American Heritage Girls gives top honor to first Abilene recipient

Carl Kieke
·3 min read

Abigail Songer, 18, is the first girl in Abilene to earn the Stars and Stripes Award, the highest award given to a member of American Heritage Girls.

She is the daughter of James and Amy Songer and a senior at Grace Christian Academy homeschool.

Requirements for the award include earning at least 16 merit badges (she has 36), holding a leadership position in her troop (Troop TX0641, meeting at Lytle South Baptist Church), leading a 100-plus-hours service project and writing a life ambition/spiritual walk essay. At least three reference letters and passing a board of review also were needed.

Songer's service project entailed building a prayer garden at the church. Over her career in the organization, she has logged more than 500 service hours on a variety of projects. She also has earned other prestigious awards within the program.

Songer will be recognized during a Court of Honor at the church, 1135 E. Industrial Blvd., at 6:30 p.m. on May 12.

Congratulations to one more “all right” kid in our part of the world.

Can you help?

I am helping coordinate a food drive for Food Bank of West Central Texas Saturday, and there is still a need for youth helpers.

You wait in front of a store and hand a flyer to incoming customers, asking them to purchase an extra item(s) for the food bank. That’s all you need to do.

People are needed to sign up for two-hour time slots, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. If you can, contact me at kiekec@suddenlink.net or 325-439-8685 (voice/text).

Upcoming events

  • Dia del Nina family activities, 5-7:30 p.m. Thursday, The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St., Abilene. Craft projects, including a mini-piñata to take home. Supplies limited; first-come, first served. 325-673-4587.

  • Girl Scouts of Central Texas summer camp information event Thursday. Virtual event; no fee, but pre-registration required. Also available to out-of-council members. Register at gsctx.org under “Events” calendar. Deadline has passed; check for availability.

  • Food drive for Food Bank of West Central Texas, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Abilene United Supermarket locations. Youth groups asked to volunteer for two-hour segments; first come, first served for times/locations. Contact Carl Kieke, 325-439-8685 or kiekec@suddenlink.net to sign up.

  • Girl Scout Camp Kachina open house May 1. No cost, but pre-registration requested at gsctx.org (under “Events” calendar). Registration deadline has passed; check for availability.

  • Tot Spot, 9:30-noon May 5 or 6, The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St., Abilene. For children (and an adult) ages 3-5. $5 per child (Grace members free). Register at thegracemuseum.org under “Classes and events”.

Deadlines

  • Friday for tent camping training for Girl Scout adult leaders May 13-14 at Stevens Ranch. $20 per person. Register at gs-top.org under “Events” calendar.

  • Friday for Junior Girl Scout Adventure Campout at Camp Rio Blanco May 13-15. $40 per girl, $30 per adult; some additional fees may apply. Provide your own meal Friday evening. Register at gs-top.org under “Events” calendar.

  • Friday for Camp Texlake open house May 8. No fee, but register at gsctx.org under “Events” calendar.

  • Sunday for Stevens Ranch cleanup day May 15. No charge, but register at gs-top.org under “Events” calendar. Note: Participants will provide own lunch.

  • May 7 for cleanup day at Girl Scout Camp Timberlake. Come-and-go or stay all day. Bring a sack lunch. No fee, but register at gs-top.org under “Events” calendar.

Contact Carl Kieke at 325-673-3552 (voice only); or kiekec@suddenlink.net. Deadline is Monday for publication the following Monday.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: American Heritage Girls gives top honor to first Abilene recipient