South Brunswick's Cookie Master Sells Over 10k Boxes for Girl Scouts

At the young age of only 10-years-old, a South Brunswick Girl Scout has become a fledgling cookie entrepreneur by reaching a sales plateau that very few cross.

Mahiyah Sampson recently became the first Scout in Central and Southern New Jersey to sell over 10,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, earning numerous accolades along the way.

"When I was little I started as a Daisy but I really wanted to become a Girl Scout to make new friends. I was just starting kindergarten and starting to accomplish stuff," Mahiyah said. "I really liked the cookies and earning badges, because I want to help my community and make the world a better place."

After seeing Girl Scouts on the cookie box when she was only 5-years-old, Mahiyah told her mother Tawanna that she wanted to be just like those girls on the box. So Mahiyah in her first year as a scout set out with the goal of selling 700 boxes so she could win a Girl Scout hoodie, which she easily accomplished. 

The following year, Mahiyah set a new goal and sold over 1,300 boxes to earn a trophy. She then exceeded that total each year, up to selling a personal record of over 3,500 boxes while in the fifth grade.

"We have a large family who is always supportive of Mahiyah. She always goes back to her return customers and it's a big deal to them that she always remembers what kind of cookies they like to buy from her," Tawanna said. "But we've never had a problem selling them. Girl Scout cookies sell themselves."

Whether using her sales skills on family and friends, or braving the elements at cookie booths all over town, Mahiyah continually outdid the goals she set for herself. But it wasn't just about selling cookies to earn prizes or badges, as she also sought to give back to those in need.

"She makes me so proud. She purchased cookies with her own money so she could donate them to the troops overseas and vets at the VA hospital," Tawanna said. "It's one thing to send them overseas, but for her to see someone in a wheel chair with no legs, meet them and give them cookies is a whole different experience. She also has donated cookies to kids in youth homes, and they love it."

While Mahiyah has taken selling cookies to a whole new level, the young cookie ace said she doesn't get involved in competitions with other scouts.

"I never compete against my scout sisters," she said. "I do not like it when parents say that their scout is going to out sell me. That's horrible and makes me sad. Mommy always say don't worry about that. Just stay focused on your own goal."

Having already earned her Bronze Award, Mahiyah is working towards her Silver Award with hopes of earning Gold in the future. Until then, she said she'll continue selling cookies, and trying to give back to the less fortunate through her ongoing community service projects, such as volunteering at Elijah's Promise Soup Kitchen.

"I feel like I really accomplished something that I hope will carry on with other Girl Scouts so they can feel as accomplished as I have," she said. "When I work at Elijah's Promise, I feel really blessed because some people don't have a loving family like I do. It makes me love my family even more."