Four new Eagle Scouts help usher in a new era.
By Jennifer Proe
Left to right: Isabella Schott, Sofi a Wolken, Morgan Leeson, Sanjana Khot. Photo by Angelo Merendino.
The term “Eagle Scout” evokes a particular profile for most of us: an accomplished, outdoorsy adventurer who is a good citizen, a leader, thrifty, loyal, brave…and male.
It’s time to readjust your thinking. In 2019, Boy Scouts of America was re-branded as Scouts BSA and welcomed girls to join, allowing them the opportunity to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. On February 8, 2021 – the first date girls were eligible for this honor – four young women from Shaker Heights Troop 15 did just that: Sanjana Khot, Morgan Leeson, Isabella Schott, and Sofia Wolken.
“I’ve always loved the outdoors, adventure, and challenges, and Scouts had all of that.”
To earn the rank of Eagle, Scouts must advance through several junior levels in scouting, master a long list of skills to earn a requisite number of badges, demonstrate leadership among their peers, and complete an individual project that serves their community. It’s a challenging process that typically takes several years, and historically only four to eight percent of all Scouts make it. For the four young women to accomplish this feat in just two years makes their efforts even more remarkable.
Troop 15 has been continuously active in Shaker Heights since 1920. After girls were welcomed to join, the troop sub-divided into Troop 15B, led by Scoutmasters Brian Yusko and Kurt Koenigsberger, with 37 boys; and Troop 15G, led primarily by Scoutmaster Mike Leeson and Assistant Scoutmaster Julie Leeson, with 16 girls. Assistant Scoutmasters Jim von der Heydt, John Koppitch, and Umest Khot also lend support.
While the troops meet separately each week at Plymouth Church, they attend the same monthly campouts. Says Mike Leeson, “Gender is irrelevant. This is just a great program for everyone. It allows Scouts to problem solve and try new things, and sometimes fail, in a supportive environment.”
Stepping Up
For Sanjana Khot, a senior at Shaker Heights High School, joining Scouts BSA was a logical step. Her father was an Eagle Scout, and she grew up watching her brother and cousins enjoy Boy Scouts.
“I’ve always loved the outdoors, adventure, and challenges, and Scouts had all of that. It gave me more outdoor experiences and high-adventure events like ziplining, white water rafting, and mountain biking.”
Sanjana’s original project, which involved construction, had to be scrapped due to the pandemic. Instead, she made and donated more than 130 masks to the Shaker Heights community, at a time when masks were in very short supply and being reserved for front-line workers.
“I had never used a sewing machine before I started this project, so I had to learn and teach others in my troop how to make them.”
Her service work paid dividends in other ways, too. “Looking back,” says Sanjana, “I was a much quieter girl who followed the leader. Now, I’m able to step forward when needed to lead my troop.”
A Natural Fit
Morgan Leeson, a junior at Shaker Heights High School, started off her scouting career as a Girl Scout but was eager to join Scouts BSA when the opportunity became available.
“My father is an Eagle Scout and inspired me to follow in his footsteps,” she says.
For her project, Morgan partnered with the Shaker Historical Society to complete several outdoor improvements. She refurbished the overgrown garden beds that are rented out to community members; installed a bee house and bat house on the grounds; and re-landscaped the perennial garden behind the museum.
Completing the project also helped to cement her interest in a career in the natural sciences or medicine. Says Morgan, “Being in nature is signifi cant to my life and I hope to continue that in the future.”
Venturing Out
Isabella Schott, an eighth grader at Hathaway Brown, started working toward the rank of Eagle when she was in fifth grade.
“I chose to join Scouts BSA because it’s youth-led, and it off ered opportunities I couldn’t fi nd in other organizations,” she says. “During my three years of scouting, I’ve had the opportunity to spend a week at Summit High Adventure Base in West Virginia, learn many outdoor survival skills, and make lifelong friendships.”
For her project she partnered with Plymouth Church to construct a Little Free Pantry, serving members of the community who are experiencing food insecurity.
Says Isabella, “Scouts BSA definitely gave me the opportunity to branch out and experience unexpected adventures.”
Making an Impact
Sofia Wolken, a junior at Shaker Heights High School, saw Scouts BSA as an opportunity to become more confi dent and independent in the outdoors.
“I love camping, learning different skills, and doing it all with my friends,” she says. “It also gave me the chance to become a better leader.”
She used those leadership skills to coordinate a donation drive of more than 10,000 feminine hygiene products, bras, and underwear for girls and women experiencing homelessness and poverty in the Cleveland area. “Not many people understand period poverty, which was the focus of my project,” she says.
“Being a young woman accepted into a community that is known for being all male had its challenges,” says Sofi a.
But rising above it allowed her to see the small but powerful impact she could have.
“I believe with even more resources and relationships I can make an even bigger difference in people’s lives.”
For information on Troop 15 for girls: Troop15G@gmail.com
For boys: koenigkm@gmail.com
