Katie Thompson, a soon-to-be senior at Pope John Paul the Great High School in Dumfries, recently was awarded the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, State of Virginia, “Scout of the Year” for 2011-12. Thompson is the first Virginia Girl Scout to receive the prestigious award, prior awards having been awarded to Eagle Scouts. She also was awarded the VFW District 10 “Scout of the Year” award.

 
Thompson received more than $700 in award funding for her leadership, moral/spiritual character and citizenship in scouting, school and the community by providing community service to youths, veterans and the elderly.

Highlights of her community service include producing and directing a Christmas Eve pageant to an assisted-living facility, and providing more than 100 hours of community service to the local, national and global communities. She also has fed the homeless, worked at asthma summer camps and served as an ambassador for the Northern Virginia Healthy Kids Coalition.