Seventeen-year-old Gabrielle Montoya of Valencia, New Mexico, just made history as the first young woman in her county to achieve Eagle Scout status, the highest rank in Scouting.
A founding member of Troop 831, which was created after the Boy Scouts of America opened the program to girls in 2019, Gabrielle stuck with the journey for five years, even through times when she felt burned out.
Gabrielle didn’t just meet the requirements, she far surpassed them, earning 48 merit badges when only 21 are required, and leading a service project that turned old tires into dog beds for a local animal shelter.
Her hard work paid off: at a special ceremony where she was honored for her achievement in front of family, friends, and fellow Scouts.
A senior at the Albuquerque Institute for Math and Science, she’s also working toward an associate degree and hopes to pursue biology and veterinary medicine after graduation.