March is a special month for the Girl Scouts. Not only is it Women’s History Month, it also marks the founding of their organization by Juliette Gordon Low in March 1912. As we celebrate women’s history month, let’s take a moment to recognize the Girl Scouts who have made history as well as the ones we are currently making their mark in the world.

Do a Good Turn Daily

According to the Girl Scouts, 64 percent of today’s women leaders in the United States were scout members as a child. In fact, there are Girl Scott alumnae leading the way in politics, the corporate world, science, entertainment, media, various sports, and more. These women have made great contributions to their chosen industry while also embodying the Girl Scout slogan, “Do a good turn daily.”

This slogan is said to be “a reminder of the many ways girls can contribute positively to the lives of others.” It’s a goal that we should all strive for. And with these aspirational goals, it’s no wonder that so many of these young girls have grown up to achieve amazing things.

Famous Girls Scout Alumnae

Some former scouts have gone on to start iconic companies, such as Anita Roddick, the founder of the Mindful Company, The Body Shop. Others have made history in STEM, such as Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in space. But that’s not all! Comedienne Lucille Ball, singer Mariah Carey, Olympian Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee, feminist activist Gloria Steinem, poet laureate Rita Dove, and reporter Barbara Waters were all Girl Scouts when they were young.

The number of former girl scouts who have ended up in government and politics is quite impressive. The first woman to become the United States Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, was a former Girl Scout. So was Condoleezza Rice, the first African-American Secretary of State. Former Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton and Former First Lady Laura Bush were also Girl Scouts. So was Former First Lady Michelle Obama—in fact, in 2009, she agreed to serve as its Honorary National President.

Among this number of impressive women serving their country is Tammy Duckworth, a former Girl Scout who is definitely making history.

Mindful Hero Goes to Washington

Mindful Hero, Senator Tammy Duckworth, is not just a Girl Scout. She is also an Iraq War Veteran and Purple Heart recipient. She has overcome injuries from her time in Iraq to further serve her country.

She worked as the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs before representing Illinois’ 8th district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Today, Duckworth is the U.S. senator for Illinois. She is also the first disabled woman elected to U.S. Congress, among the first Asian-American women elected to U.S. Congress, and next month, she will be the first senator to give birth while in office. That’s a lot of firsts!

With all of her success, Senator Duckworth is still a very proud Girl Scout. And she definitely sets a wonderful example for young girls everywhere.

I was a First Class (now called Gold Award) #GirlScout. Thanks, @girlscouts, for teaching me leadership skills I use in the Senate everyday

— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) May 4, 2017

#TBT here’s my old @girlscouts uniform—proud to be a 1st class scout (eagle scout). Excited abt new STEM badges, too https://t.co/hUxUzwMS4H pic.twitter.com/cp3mOkUGyC

— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) July 27, 2017

The Legacy Continues

The Girl Scouts aren’t resting on their laurels. They continue to innovate and inspire their troops to learn new things. They have badges that will give future leaders the tools they need for success. For instance, their Public Policy badge encourages young girls to speak up and act on important issues. And there’s the Entrepreneur badge that encourages young girls to brainstorm and plan out their own business.

Bonus. Want to learn more about the Girl Scouts? Check out this article!

Main photo credit: U.S. Institute of Peace / Flickr