Congresswoman Grace Meng congratulated Fresh Meadows resident Kayla Chow, 19, for becoming the first female Queens resident to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
Chow was a founding member of the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) Female Troop 253, which was launched in 2019 after the organization permitted girls across the country to join its flagship program and, as a result, renamed it Scouts BSA. Today she serves as an assistant scoutmaster for Female Troop 253.
Chow was praised by Meng for her monumental achievement during her Court of Honor ceremony. This ceremony celebrates an individual who has earned the prestigious Eagle Scout rank. She officially achieved the rank on April 28, 2021, but the formal ceremony was postponed until May 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Friends, family and fellow scouts were in attendance for the ceremony in Flushing.
“I am incredibly proud to congratulate my constituent Kayla Chow and I commend her for this historic accomplishment,” Meng said. “She is an exceptional individual who through hard work, community service and determination rose to reach this great milestone. I was honored to take part in her ceremony and I know that she will serve as a wonderful role model and inspiration to other female scouts in our borough and across New York City. I wish her all the best for a bright and successful future.”
There are several achievements required for one to reach the rank of Eagle Scout. These include being active in a troop for at least six months as a life scout; showing dedication to scout oath and scout law; providing references from family, work and other entities and community groups; earning 21 merit badges; serving at least six months in a leadership position; proposing, planning and carrying out an Eagle Scout service project; attending a scoutmaster conference; and passing a board of review.
“Being the first female Eagle Scout in Queens is a huge honor,” Chow said. “I am extremely proud to have earned this accomplishment and I thank Congresswoman Meng for being part of it. I encourage younger scouts, or anyone who wants to join Scouts BSA, to go for the highest rank that they can possibly achieve and of course, it would be great to strive to become an Eagle Scout. Always do your best, don’t get discouraged and have fun along the way.”
Chow has received 26 merit badges thus far for finishing an area of study that increased her knowledge and abilities. These include first aid, communications, cooking, emergency preparedness or lifesaving, personal fitness, family life, personal management, camping, environmental science or sustainability, swimming and hiking or cycling, among many others. Additionally, she has been active in attempting to recruit more female scouts.
She began working on her Eagle Scout project in July 2020. Chow created and donated 100 canvas care bags to senior citizens at a Queens long-term care facility. The care bags contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, denture care, comb/brush, crossword puzzles and other items to assist and help occupy seniors. She overcame logistical obstacles caused by the pandemic to complete the project in February 2021.
After graduating from Benjamin Cardozo High School’s Da Vinci Program in Bio Medical with honors in 2021, Chow is preparing for her sophomore year at City College of New York. She received a full scholarship from the university and intends to major in architecture.
