Michigan Girl Scout eyeing cookie record

DEARBORN, Mich., Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A 16-year-old Girl Scout in Dearborn, Mich., says she is determined to shatter the record for the most Girl Scout cookies sold by a single member.

Jennifer Sharpe, who already holds the record for most cookies sold in a single sales season, said she hopes to reach the cumulative 60,000-box record during her current junior year of high school, The Detroit News said Monday.

The teenager, who sold 17,328 boxes of Girl Scout cookies last year to set the sales record, figures a strong junior year means she can relax during her ensuing final year of sales eligibility.

"It was hard last year," Sharpe said. "But this year with my goal of only 11,000, it should be pretty easy."

Girl Scouts can only sell the tasty treats for the youth organization before they leave high school.

With the Girl Scout cookie sales season officially beginning Monday, Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit spokeswoman Dianne Thomas told the News that the ongoing economic crisis should not impact Sharpe's ambitions.

"In tough economic times, maybe people can't buy a new car. Maybe you can't afford the fancy jewelry. But you can afford the $3.50 for a Girl Scout cookie treat," she said.