DSU to host 3rd annual Cookie University

November 27, 2017

“All Together Awesome” is the theme for Girl Scout—Dakota Horizon’s (GSDH) third annual Cookie University, taking place Saturday, January 27, from 1–4 p.m. at Dakota State University in Madison, S.D.

Cookie University is a financial literacy program which uses age-appropriate curriculum to teach Girl Scouts six financial concepts in advance of the 2018 cookie sales, which begin February 9. The sessions range from “Count it up” for the youngest Girl Scouts, to topics such as savvy shopping, philanthropy, and comparison shopping. The Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts will learn about buying power and good credit.

“Entrepreneurship is an essential life skill, a pillar of Girl Scouts and a competency they can begin honing at an early age,” said Marla Meyer, GSDH CEO. “When you also make it fun, as Cookie University does, it makes learning enjoyable as well as a skill they can lean on when they become young women and future leaders.”

The combination of GSDH’s Cookie University program and DSU’s resources “create an awesome partnership,” said Dr. Deb Tech, assistant professor in the College of Business and Information Systems. Tech is the DSU coordinator for the event.

“Girl Scouts from the region have the opportunity to learn sales and business techniques from professors who are experts in the field. In addition, DSU education majors have the opportunity to gain teaching experience by interacting with the young ladies who are eager to learn and hone their business skills – all wrapped in a fun learning environment,” she said. More than 200 Girl Scouts participated in each of the 2016 and 2017 events.

The 2018 Cookie University will begin with check-in and welcoming activities at the Dakota Prairie Playhouse; the one-hour learning labs will take place in various on-campus locations. The afternoon will conclude with a rally and cookie tasting at the Playhouse. By participating in the event, the girls earn their financial literacy badge and a “Cookie University” patch.

To register or receive more information on Cookie University, contact Member Support Lead Stephanie Busjahn at sbusjahn@gsdakotahorizons.org, or call the GSDH office at 1-800-666-2141. January 5, 2018 is the closing date for registration. In the case of inclement weather, the date will be January 28.

Other regional schools hosting similar events this winter include Minot State University, S.D. School of Mines, NDSU, UND and Dickinson State University.