6 minute read
Kennedy Jeffers, National Gold Girl Scout
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youth / school NEWS
Kennedy Jeffers was earn her Girl Scout’s bronze, silver and one of only 10 Girl Scouts in the country to gold awards, Jeffers had only one other possible scouting award to acquire – and, she recently added that one to her receive the national long list of scouting awards, after being designation this year named only one of 10 young women in the country to become a National Gold by PATTI STOKES Award Girl Scout. The national award
Kennedy Jeffers, a 2020 Northern is an honor the Girl Scouts say “is given Guilford High School graduate, says to Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors her scouting experience over the last whose Gold Award projects demon13 years has had a lifelong impact on strated extraordinary leadership, had her – and in turn, she’s made it her goal a measurable and sustainable impact, to make a positive impact on others in and addressed a local challenge related as many ways as she can. to a national and/or global issue.”
After fulfilling all the requirements to We’ll have to take her word for it, but when talking to this confident, poised young lady, it’s hard to believe she was a shy child who would stand behind her mother when others tried to have a conversation with Kennedy Jeffers her.
With the encouragement of her mother, Scout leaders and fellow Scouts – “and a lot of training” – Jeffers said she gradually “came out of my shell and started putting myself out there in the world.”
As she learned and grew through years of scouting, Jeffers set her sights on earning her Gold Award, the equivalent of the Boy Scouts’ Eagle award. For her Gold Award project, she chose both community-based projects and a global outreach project.
Locally, she initiated the World Changers Service Learning Club at Northern Guilford High School. Made up of other young civic leaders, the club’s projects last year included providing fellow students with information about service projects within the local community, partnering with Tiny Houses of Greensboro to do gardening and landscaping at its Tiny House community, and a Save the Environment initiative.
Jeffers also wanted to make a global impact, and for that she researched some of the challenges young women in Kenya have during their menstrual cycle.
“When they have their menstrual cycle, they have to stay out of school for up to a week every month, because they don’t have the resources they need. And that affects their education,” she said.
With help from her church mem-
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bers, Jeffers got enough materials and labor donated to assemble 100 reusable menstrual kits for girls in Africa so that their education wouldn’t be interrupted each month during their cycle.
After presenting what she had learned from her completed projects, Jeffers received her Gold Award. When she was later encouraged to apply for the National Gold Award Girl Scout, she didn’t hesitate. Out of 300 Girl Scouts from the Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont council who initially applied for the award, Jeffers was one of three nominated for the national designation.
Getting the call that she had been selected as one of only 10 Scouts in the country for this year’s National Gold Award Girl Scout was something Jeffers said she’ll never forget.
“I cried for at least 30 minutes,” she said. “I wanted this so badly. I would check my email every day – I thought they were going to email me. And then the day came, and it was awesome. I loved it so much.”
As a perk that comes with the national designation, Jeffers received a lifetime membership to Girl Scouts.
“I am a lifetime Girl Scout now, and I will carry the impact with me as long as I live,” she said.
Of all the many takeaways from scouting that she treasures, Jeffers cites the confidence and leadership skills she’s gained, the opportunity to make an impact – and above all, the sisterhood she enjoys with other Scouts.
“You have to have other people by your side to help you make an impact, and with that comes sisterhood. I wouldn’t be here without those people who I bonded with, and they also want to make an impact on the world,” she said.
Jeffers also credits her counselor, her adviser, and her principal at Northern Guilford, Janiese McKenzie, for helping her along her journey.
“Ms. McKenzie is an amazing principal – she is a 10 out of 10!” she said.
As a freshman this fall at UNC-Charlotte, Jeffers said her college experience has thus far been good, despite the social restrictions related to COVID-19.
“It’s not like how I remember when I came on a college tour, with lots of people walking around, but I’m making the best of it,” she said. And, she’s staying busy with all the classes she’s taking as a pre-nursing major, with her sights set on becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Jeffers is the daughter of Rodney Jeffers and Diedre Hobbs of Greensboro and was a member of Girl Scout Troop 40503 before graduating from high school last year.
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