Her recent experience as a participant in the Virtual Page Program has prepared Bernaisha Stokes for when she becomes a voter in the future.
Stokes was one of nine Girl Scouts from across the state to participate in the South Carolina Honorary Legislative Page Program.
Due to COVID-19, the week-long program was virtual this year. 
Stokes, a freshman at Marlboro County High School and a Senior in Girl Scout Troop 905 wanted to do something new.
“I learned about the different parties and by doing activities and research,” she said. “It has prepared me when I become a future voter.”
During the program, she enjoyed the campaigning and the mock trial activities. 
The campaigning activity was a chance to learn what it would be like to campaign for governor and learning about voting laws/systems in other countries. 
The mock trial allowed her to learn about the different people and terminology used in a courtroom.
While Stokes did not see herself going into politics, she wanted to learn about the voting process to be a more informed voter in the future.
Stokes, who is the granddaughter of Carolyn Stokes and daughter of Belma Stokes Jr., is looking at journalism as a future career.
This goal helped in the program when they had virtual special guests such as Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.
“I had the opportunity to ask questions and learn facts about them,” she said. “It is related to what I wanted to do in the future.”
She encouraged others to apply and participate.  Stokes added if the program was not virtual this year, students would have had the chance to go to the Statehouse to see what it would be like and to be able to be a page.
Troop 905 leader Dr. Gwendolyn Dixon-Coe was pleased Stokes was able to represent the troop and Marlboro County. 
“She is a very energetic and a very bright young lady,” Dixon-Coe said. ” As she has grown older, the younger scouts, the Brownies, tend to think if Bernaisha helps them, they can do things. She is taking her leadership role very seriously.”
Dixon-Coe had suggested she apply to the program after seeing how active and responsible Stokes has become with the cookie sales through setting up the booth, collecting the money, and handling the customer interaction. 
“I thought it would be a good way for her to get her feet in the door in the leadership role with Scouts,” Dixon-Coe said.
“I think it is a good way for our young women to get a foothold on how politics works in the state as well as funneling it down to their local community.”
She added it was an experience Stokes will never forget.
Her Godmother and Girl Scout volunteer Dr. Carolyn Prince said Stokes asked thoughtful questions during the program.
“I was really impressed by the thoughtful questions that she asked the governor and the other women in the Women’s Caucus,” she said.
Prince was also impressed that Stokes, a ninth grader, was able to hold her own with girls that were freshmen in college.
“She got a lot of positive feedback on her campaign presentation,” Prince said. “This just helps her reach the goals that she has. She is an excellent writer.”

    Troop 905
At this moment, Troop 905 is the only active troop in the county due to COVID-19. There is another troop in Wallace that is not active now. 
Dixon-Coe said while the pandemic has slowed down the troop, they have been able to work with the girls and their parents to keep them involved.
Dixon-Coe started the troop when she was principal at then Blenheim Middle School. When she left the school, the troop stopped. 
When she retired in 2015, she worked with some of the teachers and started the troop again with good parent participation.
Now the numbers are dwindling with adult leaders. Currently, there are 25 Girl Scouts and three official leaders.
“We would love to have more parents involved in the leadership,” she said. “We need to get some volunteers from the county and community.”
She noted with only four or five adults working with them that it is hard for them to handle more than 20 or 30 girls. 
The Girl Scouts of Eastern North Carolina has been supportive and trying to help get adults to volunteer or start other troops in the area.
If interested in volunteering or starting a troop, call Dixon-Coe at 843-260-4514 or email g.dixon-coe@att.net.