Meet Mariah, Cookie Entrepreneur Officer

Mariah receiving the awards she earned
last cookie season from Tracy Keller,
CEO of GSCCC.

She may only be in the fifth grade, but that doesn’t stop Camden resident Mariah from holding the title of CEO—cookie entrepreneur officer. Mariah, who sold more than 1,500 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies last year, was the top cookie seller in Camden and one of the top sellers in all of Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast, which covers northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. Mariah was recognized for this achievement last May at a luncheon hosted by Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast CEO Tracy Keller.

Thanks to the success that Mariah and her fellow members of Girl Scout Troop 5970 had last cookie season, the girls had a busy year. A highlight for Mariah was a visit to the Elizabeth City SPCA.

“We toured the building and walked the dogs,” Mariah said. “We also donated food, cleaning supplies and household items for them to use for the animals.”

Mariah also earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, the top award for Girl Scouts in elementary school and the third highest award a girl can earn in Girl Scouting, through her volunteer efforts at the SPCA.

This year, Mariah has set a goal to sell 2,000 boxes of cookies. She and her troop are hoping to raise enough funds to take a trip to an attraction in Williamsburg. When cookie season kicked off on January 9, Mariah began contacting last year’s cookie customers to see if they would like to buy cookies again. Throughout cookie season, she keeps selling and asks as many people as she can if they would like to buy cookies. She is persistent and committed to reaching her goal.

“I’m always kind and courteous to everyone that I meet,” Mariah said. “Even if they say no to cookies, I always say thank you and smile.”

As part of the nation’s leading financial literacy and entrepreneurial program for girls, Girl Scouts are learning skills that will last them a lifetime, including goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

Girl Scouts in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia are currently taking orders for cookies. Cookie booths begin February 20 and run through March 20. For more information, visit www.gsccc.org.