Katelyn R., 14, from Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles, is one of the bright shining stars featured on the NEW Trefoils®️/Shortbread Girl Scout Cookie box! A Girl Scout Senior who began her journey in the fourth grade, Katelyn is now part of a specialty troop—the Color Guard of Greater Los Angeles—with whom she travels and performs at sporting events, including Los Angeles Lakers, Dodgers, and Harlem Globetrotters games.
Katelyn loves to volunteer in her community, take part in STEM and robotics activities, get outdoors and go camping, sing in her school’s choir, and more. And now she’s representing the Girl Scout Movement across the country, too—talk about shining BRIGHT.
“I feel so humbled to be featured on the new Girl Scout Cookie box,” Katelyn said. “I’m excited to be a role model to the other girls in my troop as well as younger Girl Scouts who will see me on there and look up to me. I’m trying to represent Girl Scouts the best way I can and encourage other girls to join, too.”
Katelyn had a blast at the new cookie box photo shoot in New York City. She felt like a star while taking fun photos for the box at different locations throughout the city and surrounding areas. She met other successful entrepreneurs and mentors, made a ton of new friends, visited the New York Public Library (a dream come true for this avid reader!) and the Statue of Liberty, caught a Broadway play with her mom, and learned all about what goes on at Girl Scout headquarters.
Katelyn shows off her incredible interview skills with her Girl Scout sisters on the new Trefoils®️/Shortbread Girl Scout Cookie box!
“My trip to NYC and the cookie box photo shoot was such a unique experience,” Katelyn said. “It’s the most memorable thing I’ve done so far.”
Katelyn has learned so much from the Girl Scout Cookie Program about running a business, talking to customers, and working towards a goal. She’s also had the opportunity to go to Girl Scout day camps and, along with her troop, was even featured on Ladylike by Buzzfeed to talk about her cookie program experience. She’s met Girl Scout cookie bosses from all over California and checks in with them every cookie season. Beyond their own troops, the girls keep each other motivated to reach their goals every year—it’s that unique Girl Scout team spirit at its best!
In addition to rocking her cookie sale every year, Katelyn has earned her Girl Scout Bronze and Silver Awards. As part of her Bronze Award, Katelyn and her former troop completed a community involvement project, including fun Girl Scout events, that encouraged more community members to join and volunteer with Girl Scouts.
Then, for her Silver Award, Katelyn made “placemats for happiness” for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles after visiting a friend and realizing how depressing hospital rooms can be. The food tray placemats offer patients fun designs to enjoy and sometimes color with their meals. After completing 300 placemats herself—including designing, printing, coloring, and laminating them—Katelyn also provided the hospital with master copies of her designs so that they could make more and have the children color them as mental health therapy. What a great project!
“I want other girls to know that Girl Scouts isn’t just for little kids,” Katelyn said. “It’s basically the ultimate experience. You make new friends, try new things, take on leadership opportunities, and you can make it your own, too. ol I am so stressed out and have so much going on, so Girl Scouts is like my getaway. I can go relax and hang out with my friends and do fun projects with them. It’s a great place to be.”
For Katelyn’s mom, Tania, there is no better place for her daughter to be than Girl Scouts. “Girl Scouts really encompasses everything Katelyn loves,” she said. “At Girl Scouts, she can be herself and everything is truly girl-led. Plus, she’s always learning, but having so much fun doing it, that she doesn’t even realize it! There’s also a sense of friendly competition in Girl Scouts where girls lift each other up in an environment that is always positive and energetic. She has become such a good leader and a mature young woman. So much of that is because of Girl Scouts!”
We’re so proud of everything Katelyn has accomplished and can’t wait to see what the future holds for this unstoppable Girl Scout! Thank you for representing the Movement on the new Trefoil and Shortbread cookie boxes, Katelyn—we are beyond honored to have you as a passionate role model for girls across the country!