Meet the teen Girl Scout turning cookie season into a mission

Girl Scout cookie season is back, which means Thin Mints, Samoas, Toffee-tastic and all the classics are officially fair game again.

But for 16-year-old Liana Wancik, cookie season is not just about satisfying sweet cravings. It is about setting big goals and making a difference.

Last year, Wancik set out to sell 5,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies. By the end of the season, she had sold 5,647. This year, she is thinking even bigger. Her new goal is 10,000 boxes.

Wancik has been a Girl Scout since the third grade, starting in Virginia and continuing after she moved to Southwest Florida in 2021. What began as a goal of 300 boxes has grown into a personal tradition of pushing herself further every year.

“I like the challenge, and I like giving back to the community,” Wancik said. “It’s rewarding, and I like seeing the joy on other people’s faces.”

Her mom, Inese Wancik, says Liana’s success comes from her work ethic and her ability to connect with people.

“She puts in the time,” she said. “She gets to know people and gives them a reason to buy a box.”

One of the most meaningful parts of cookie season for Wancik has been what happens after the sales. Last year, she traveled across Southwest Florida delivering donated cookies to people and organizations in need.

“It changed my perspective,” Wancik said. “It was my first time going to many of these places, and it showed me how rewarding it is to give back.”

In total, she collected and donated more than 1,200 boxes of cookies. Those donations went to elderly residents, first responders, foster children and families with sick children. Cookies were delivered to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte County Fire Department, Page Nursing Home, Ronald McDonald House and Hope Academy.

Wancik has also grown through the Girl Scout Cookie Business Partner Program, which allows Girl Scouts to visit local businesses and learn skills like money management and communication.

“These are skills I would not learn in a classroom,” she said. “That is why I am still in Girl Scouts today.”

Beyond cookies, Wancik is proud of her Latvian heritage. Her mother and grandmother are from Latvia, and she hopes to be a positive example for her culture and her community. Last year, she received the American Legion Americanism Award for her service and was named a Youth Hero of Babcock Ranch.

Reaching her 10,000 box goal will help fund a two-week educational trip to Europe this summer, continuing her journey as a young leader with a global perspective.

You can find Wancik selling cookies around Southwest Florida throughout the season. If you cannot catch her in person, you can also order online and have cookies delivered to your home.