HUNTSVILLE – Savannah West, a senior at Grissom High School, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award.

To earn this top award, West pursued a project that she named “Habitat for Bats.” She was concerned about the rapid decline of the bat population and its effect on the larger ecosystem.

West built houses for the bats and held workshops throughout Huntsville and Madison to educate people about the creatures. She compiled information about the bat houses for Girl Scout troops to use in the future to can build more houses and continue to protect the animals.

“When I found out how important the local caves were to many endangered bats, I felt inspired to tell people and teach them,” West said. “This way the world would spread about how important the local ecosystems are.”

Melva Tate, interim chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, said West “has become a community leader. Her accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart.”

Girls who pursue and attain the Gold Award inspire other Girl Scouts. The leadership project for the Gold Award requires more than 65 hours.

Some universities and colleges offer scholarships especially for Gold Award recipients. Girls who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank for their achievements.

Girl Scouts have worked to earn the Gold Award since 1916. For more information, visit girlscoutsnca.org/gogold.

Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama is a United Way community partner and serves more than 15,000 girl members who are five to 17 years old. Approximately 5,000 volunteers assist Scouts in their activities across 36 counties.

For more information, call 800-734-4541 or visit girlscoutsnca.org.