Division HS Student Chosen to Represent Girl Scouts of America

Story by Liz Sobel.

Feb. 8, 2013 was National Girl Scout Cookie Day, and Levittown’s Division Avenue High School had a particularly sweet reason to rejoice. Junior Kaitlyn Genari was chosen to be a representative for the Girl Scouts of America Thanks-a-lot cookie campaign and has been through a whirlwind of media experiences that some young Scouts can only dream of.

National Girl Scout Cookie Day celebrates the world's largest girl-run business. The real purpose of the $790 million cookie program is to teach girls the five essential skills of goal setting, decision-making, money management, business ethics and people skills.

Last year Kaitlyn attended the Girl Scout National Convention as a delegate, and this fall, she attended a leadership workshop for Girl Scout ambassadors and adult volunteers that promoted the “good word” about scouting.

Through her leadership and decorative skills, she became one of four Scouts who now grace the package of this year’s “Thanks-a-lot” cookies, which are shortbread dipped in rich fudge and topped with an embossed “thank you” message in one of five languages.

Kaitlyn and her sister Scouts created and produced a video for YouTube advertising the Thanks-a-lot brand in which they rap and dance to promote this year’s cookie drive. “They’re Yummy and You Know It” has become a regional and national favorite, and the entire Division Avenue family congratulates Kaitlyn on her recognition for community service through GSA to support entrepreneurial aspirations for girls everywhere.