Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians honored retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee at the annual Trefoil Society luncheon in Knoxville on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at a packed Foundry at World’s Fair Park. Justice Lee was presented with a proclamation by Tennessee state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey.

Prior to keynote speaker Lee, we were welcomed by board chair-elect Cecilia Peterson and given a yearly progress update by chief executive officer Lynne Fugate.

Fugate highlighted the number of Girl Scout Award winners: 41 Bronze Award (elementary school age), 32 Silver Award (middle school age) and 19 Gold Award (high school age).

Justice Lee was introduced by Heather Anderson who gave some interesting insights to Justice Lee’s personality. In her spare time, she loves to binge watch shows like Ozark. She has a permanent fixture at her front door: an Elvis she costumes with seasonal outfits.

Justice Lee earned many badges as a Girl Scout in her hometown of Madisonville before she became a trailblazer on the bench.

“Everyone wants to feel special and included.” Lee said that’s what the Girl Scouts did for her. The Trefoil Society honoree said her participation in the organization gave her courage and confidence, taught her the value of friendship, working together and being part of something bigger than herself.

Lee pointed out several interesting facts. Women outnumber men in the University of Tennessee’s colleges of Law, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, confirmed by Chancellor Donde Plowman who was in attendance and is a former Girl Scout.

Lee connected Juliette Gordon Low’s mission with women’s right to vote and the evolution to women now serving in major offices such as vice president, governor and mayor as she called out Mayor Kincannon who also was a Girl Scout. She also named multiple other former Girl Scouts from Condoleezza Rice to Taylor Swift.

Another thought Lee gave us to ponder: how many organizations formed in 1912 are still here? Girl Scouts is still going strong.

Lee ended her keynote by producing her brownie handbook she had reprinted from her childhood. She read from the handbook a key teaching: “be a useful person.”

She closed to a standing ovation after reiterating how Girl Scouts taught her the life lessons she has carried with her: faith, community, family and to be herself.

Two girl scouts followed Justice Lee with their own personal stories: Nevaeh and Mia. Both were inspirational stories, but I met Nevaeh personally before the luncheon started, and she made a huge impression.

Nevaeh Kipp is 16 years old with poise and maturity unmatched by many adults twice her age. She was welcoming guests to show us to our tables and answering questions prior to the start of the event. I stopped her due to sheer volume of stars and badges on her uniform. I had to ask questions.

She has been a member of four troops and is now a member of troop 60 in Johnson City. The stars represented every year she has been a Girl Scout: 11 years. The badges cover the front and back and she has more that she couldn’t fit because she has earned every badge available.

Nevaeh said to me: “Girl Scouts is so amazing. We meet every other week, but we have events all the time. Instead of attending, though, I run events for the younger girls.”

Nevaeh has never done public speaking until one speech a couple of weeks ago so today’s speech is her second one, and she was relaxed and confident with her recitation of what Girl Scouts has done for her. She said, “One person can change the world.” After listening to her, Nevaeh Kipp will definitely be one of those who do!

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