Nassau Female Eagle Scouts Honored For 'Historic' Achievement

Bellmore NY

12 February, 2021

1:26 PM

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MINEOLA, NY— Three young women from Nassau County are among the first ever class of Eagle Scouts that include female recipients of the prestigious honor. Amritha Jacob of Bellmore, Julia Kirpalani of Merrick and Lea Feiner of Levittown were honored by Nassau County Executive Laura Curran on Thursday in Mineola for their achievements. Only 6% of Scouts become Eagle Scouts, a Scout rank that takes into account leadership accomplishments and skills. In 2019, Sydney Ireland, a 17 -year-old girl from New York City and Bridgehampton, made headlines for attempting to reach Eagle Scout rank. The rule change from Scouts BSA came that year, allowing female scouts to begin working toward Eagle Scout ranking. The 2021 class is the first with female Eagle Scouts in over a century since the Boy Scouts were founded, a milestone Curran called "a historic achievement." "They are part of the first class nationwide and I could not be more proud," Curran said at the ceremony. "You make all of us in Nassau County proud." The three girls are part of Troop 186 in Wantagh. Huntington resident Summer Levinksy is the fourth female Eagle Scout from Long Island this year.