PITTSBURG, Kan. — 17-year-old Sarah Miller, of Pittsburg, is the first female in the Scouting America Mo-Kan District of the Ozark Trails Council to earn her Eagle Scout title. The Mo-Kan District encompasses Bourbon, Crawford, Cherokee, Vernon, Barton and Dade counties.

According to Scouting America, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America, only 7 percent of all eligible scouts attain Eagle Scout status.

“I feel like I appreciate outdoors and nature a lot more than I feel like I would have had I not done it,” Miller said about participating in Scouting America.  “I feel like it helped me to become the person I am.”

To become an Eagle Scout, Miller, who is in Troupe 151G, had to obtain 21 merit badges, but she pushed it further and earned 29 badges. Each badge had its own set of requirements, which took many hours to complete. She also moved through six different ranks, held a leadership role in her troupe for six months, and completed a final project that benefited a community or organization. Miller had to complete all prerequisites before her 18th birthday.

For her final project, Miller designed and helped create three concrete benches for the SEK Humane Society, located at 485 E. 560th Avenue in Pittsburg. Her desire to contribute to the local animal shelter arose from the loss of her dog, Casey, a few months prior.

“He had been with me like my whole life,” she said. “And I really wanted to do that for him, because I really missed him.”

Miller designed the engraving of “SEK Humane Society” along with the image of a dog and cat on the benches. She worked with Pittsburg State University to create the concrete legs, and worked with staff to help pour the concrete. Overall, Miller spent more than 40 hours on the project while juggling schoolwork and sports.

Two of the benches are near the entrance of the building, and one bench is positioned along a walking trail.

Miller entered Scouting America when she was in fifth grade, which coincided with the time they welcomed girls into the program. Her two brothers were active in Boy Scouts, and Miller wanted to follow in their footsteps because she looked up to them.

Miller’s mother, Kelly, said she is proud of her daughter’s determination.

“It's just been a life-changing experience for her, because she's just done so many things as a young woman that other young women don't do,” Kelly said. “Like in a weekend, she can go set up a tent somewhere and camp out for a weekend and feed herself. Not many 17-year-old girls would ever do that, and she could.”

In July, Miller will travel to New Mexico and spend three weeks camping and hiking with eight to 10 girls and a leader.

“I feel like I've been around a lot of different people at scouting camps and whatnot that I wouldn't normally be around, and I feel like it's taught me to not judge people by where they come from or anything like that,” Miller said. “I feel like I'm very versatile with who I'm like friends with because of scouting because I choose not to judge people. I feel like I'm friends with a lot of different people that I really wouldn't be friends with if I hadn't done scouts.”

In the fall, Miller will be a senior at Pittsburg High School, and while in school, Miller is involved in volleyball, soccer, orchestra, and choir.

Miller said she hopes that other girls go on to achieve Eagle Scout status.

“I think that they can do anything that they set their minds to, and I really hope that they accomplish it,” she said.

She also hopes more young girls consider joining Scouting America in general.

“Even though it might be very difficult at some points, and it may be like a lot of boys everywhere, it's worth it in the end, because of all the opportunities it will give you,” Miller said. “If I hadn't done it, then I wouldn't have a lot of the skills that I have now.”

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews.