Exeter High School sophomore Zeanndrea (Zee) Brown was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Silver Leaf Benefit Club’s Sophomore Pilgrimage scholarship.
Brown joined chosen high school sophomores from across the state in Jefferson City on the second Tuesday in April for a tour of government buildings and lunch with elected state officials.
Established by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) in Missouri in 1934, the Sophomore Pilgrimage gives recognition to students who exemplify excellence in scholarship, honor, courage, citizenship, leadership and service.
While a statewide committee coordinates the itinerary for the annual Sophomore Pilgrimage, the Cassville area’s Silver Leaf Benefit Club (a local affiliate of GFWC) works with local schools to identify student candidates for participation in the pilgrimage.
Brown will be a Junior at Exeter High School this year, where she is involved in softball, volleyball, FBLA, FFA, FCA, STUCO and NHS. She serves as the FFA president, the treasurer for STUCO and the secretary for FBLA.
Brown says she appreciated what she learned from the Sophomore Pilgrimage.
“It gave me the opportunity to see a lot of Missouri’s historic government sites, to learn how our government runs, and to learn many different aspects of leadership,” she said.
Brown’s Sophomore Pilgrimage represented a collaboration between the Exeter School District and the Silver Leaf Benefit Club. The school district chipped in for one night’s lodging, and the Silver Leaf ladies covered additional expenses, including gas and lunch.
“Students are nominated and selected by school staff, based on their academic and leadership skills,” said Diane Craig, Silver Leaf spokesperson. “The club provides the necessary paperwork to school counselors, and they take it from there.”
Sophomore students from any Barry County high school are eligible, Craig said. District counselors may contact Craig at misskay51@yahoo. com to obtain the paperwork for the Sophomore Pilgrimage.
The selection process for this year’s Sophomore Pilgrimage will begin in February for the April 8, 2025, pilgrimage.
