A Palmerton Girl Scout has been recognized for obtaining the highest and most prestigious achievement in Girls Scouting.

Mackenzie Long was presented with a proclamation by borough Mayor Bo Rodrigues at last week’s borough council meeting.

Rodrigues recognized Long for obtaining the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is earned by young women who demonstrate extraordinary leadership, dedication to service, and a commitment to creating lasting positive change within their communities.

Long has distinguished herself through years of commitment to the values and ideals of Girl Scouting, successfully earning the Bronze Award, Silver Award, and ultimately the Gold Award, a remarkable accomplishment achieved by only a small percentage of Girl Scouts nationwide.

Through her Gold Award “Take Action” project, Long identified an opportunity to expand access to athletic participation for young girls by introducing them to the sport of field hockey through a series of instructional clinics designed to engage and inspire new athletes, particularly those who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience the sport.

Her project demonstrated exceptional leadership, initiative, and community spirit while encouraging physical activity, teamwork, confidence, and personal growth among the participants she served.

Rodrigues said he recognizes and commends Long for her “dedication, perseverance, and willingness to invest her time and talents for the benefit of others (who) serve as an inspiration to the youth of Palmerton and reflect great credit upon herself, her family, her Girl Scout troop, and our entire community.”

Long made history earlier this year when she joined her two older brothers, Jarrett and Joshua Long, both Eagle Scouts, in creating a rare “trifecta” of top scouting achievements within one family, a distinction held by very few nationwide.

For her Gold Award “Take Action” project, she designed and led a series of field hockey clinics in Palmerton aimed at introducing the sport to young girls who might not otherwise have access to it.

The clinics focused on skill development, confidence building, teamwork and nutrition, opening the door to a sport that has traditionally had limited exposure in the area.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the organization’s highest recognition, requiring hundreds of hours of leadership, planning, and community impact.

Only 5% of Girl Scouts have earned the award nationwide. Long developed her project from concept through execution, working to ensure the program would have lasting value beyond its initial launch.

This marked the first time in 15 years a Palmerton Girl Scout has earned the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.

Long was also awarded the Trifecta Award for earning all three of these Girl Scout awards.

She is a 2025 graduate of Palmerton Area High School, and was a member of Palmerton’s Troop 303 for 13 years, starting as a Daisy and graduating as a Girl Scout Ambassador.

Long is a student at Juniata College, majoring in neuroscience, and is a starting varsity field hockey player for the college.

She is the daughter of Scott and Heather Long.